For young actress Arshiya Sharma, becoming a part of Star Plus and Rajan Shahi’s Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has been nothing short of a dream come true. The actress, who plays Maira in the popular show, says she was determined to bag the role and was overjoyed when she was finally selected. She also opened up about understanding Maira’s emotional journey, receiving support from co-stars Rohit Purohit and Samridhii Shukla, and the warm atmosphere on the sets.

Talking about joining the long-running show, Arshiya says, “I was very happy when I got selected. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is such a legendary show and has been running for so many years. I feel very blessed to be a part of it.”

Arshiya admits that while she was nervous about joining such a popular show, her excitement was much greater. “There was definitely some nervousness because it is such a big responsibility, and being a part of such a huge show is not a normal thing. But more than nervousness, I was excited because I really wanted to do this show, and when I got it, I was very happy,” she shares.

The actress says adapting to Maira’s energy was initially challenging, especially because the character was previously portrayed as a much younger child. “Matching the energy of an eight-year-old child was difficult for me in the beginning. But the directors have been very supportive. They told me to just be myself and not over-act, and that really helped me,” she says.

Arshiya describes Maira as having several layers. “Maira is very fun-loving, full of energy and extroverted. At the same time, she is mature and has also evolved with time. Now she is learning to control her emotions and think about others even when she is hurting herself. That change in Maira is something I am really enjoying exploring.”

Interestingly, Arshiya finds herself quite similar to her on-screen character. “I relate to Maira a lot. She is very extroverted and open, just like me. I am also very crazy, fun-loving and full of energy. I would say Arshiya and Maira are almost the same, except Maira has her own trauma,” she says with a laugh.

Speaking about her bond with Samridhii Shukla, who plays Abhira, Arshiya says that while their on-screen interactions have been limited, they have developed a lovely off-screen friendship. “Whenever we sit together, we talk a lot, and not always about work. We discuss all kinds of random things. It is always a lot of fun with her,” she says.

Arshiya is also full of praise for Samridhii’s acting skills. “She is very cute, and I really admire her acting. Whenever we have scenes together, I observe how deeply she performs. Her emotions are often complex, and she has to express so many feelings at once. Her acting is very inspiring, and I will definitely try to learn from her.”

The actress shares an especially close bond with Rohit Purohit, who plays Armaan. “I spent a lot of time with Rohit sir because most of my scenes initially were with him. He is very nice, sweet and loving, but he is also extremely funny and always cracks jokes between scenes,” she says.

According to Arshiya, Rohit has also played an important role in helping her understand Maira and her relationship with her father. “He showed me some of the older scenes and explained Maira’s bond with her father. He helped me understand the character and would tell me to feel Maira’s pain while performing emotional scenes. Even during difficult scenes, Rohit sir and Samridhii didi have been very supportive,” she says.

Summing up her experience on the set, Arshiya says the welcoming atmosphere made her feel comfortable from day one. “I was initially wondering how everyone would be, whether I would be comfortable or not, but it was completely the opposite. Everyone is so warm and welcoming that you don’t feel like you are new. I think the off-screen atmosphere and the bond everyone shares is really special,” she says.