Niharika Chouksey, who is currently seen as Anu in Zee TV’s popular show Tumm Se Tumm Tak, believes feedback is part of the journey, and she treats it as fuel rather than friction. She said, “I do read the comments. If I come across constructive criticism, I reflect on it to see where I can improve. I don’t pay attention to mindless hate or random negativity.”
“But if something is written with the intention of helping me grow or do better, I absolutely take it seriously and focus on it,” she added.
Her most challenging preparation demanded learning an entirely new skill from the ground up. She said, “For Faltu, I had to learn cricket, and that was the toughest skill for me because I knew absolutely nothing about the sport.”
“I learned how to take a stance, hold the bat, and everything from scratch, specifically for that show. I believe it really paid off because all of you gave Faltu so much love,” she added.
She also studies her own work with care, creating distance before returning to it with clarity.
She said, “I watch every single episode of my show. Since I’m an overthinker, I try not to watch it immediately after wrapping a shoot. I go home and put on a comedy show instead.”
“But I make sure to catch my episodes while travelling or sitting with my family, because that experience is totally different. Seeing their reactions is amazing. I believe every actor should watch their own work so they know where to improve and what could have been done better,” she added.
Sustaining freshness in a daily soap is as much about self-care as it is about performance choices. She said, “It’s crucial to keep both your performance and yourself fresh when you’re working around the clock. I try to take care of my health and eat my meals on time, though that doesn’t always happen, and I prioritise sleep, making sure I get eight to nine hours of rest. I also approach every scene as if it’s a fresh one.”
“In television, scenes can become monotonous due to story requirements, so ultimately it comes down to your performance and how freshly you can bring yourself to each moment,” she added.
Looking ahead, she wants to formalise her learning and uncover new layers of her craft. “I’ve never taken acting workshops before, but after this show, I’m definitely planning to enrol in some. I want to discover more about myself as an actor, and I feel workshops will help me do exactly that,” Niharika ended.
