Sonal Khilwani previously gained wide recognition for her performances in Bindiya Sarkar and Bade Ghar Ki Beti. Known for playing relatable, grounded characters, she now steps into her most emotionally complex role yet as a motherly figure on Dangal TV‘s new show Hamari Bhabhi No 1. The show, produced by Jay Productions, is set against the unique cultural backdrop of Dwarka, Gujarat. The storyline breaks away from traditional soap opera tropes by focusing on the heartfelt Bhabhi-Devar relationship.
Talking about the unique premise of the show and her role’s emotional depth, Sonal gets into an exclusive conversation with IWMBuzz.com. “The storyline is very attractive. It is different, and a show like this with a Gujarati backdrop has not been shown until now on Dangal TV. It is a pure Bhabhi-Devar storyline.”
She decodes Bansari’s layered character by saying, “Bansari is very balanced and not overdramatic. Representing today’s generation, she may not be highly educated, but she is street-smart and fiercely protective of Laalo. With the Anant angle, she is a character who keeps her family together despite the emotional gap and sacrifices she goes through with her husband.”
On learning Gujarati culture and her on-set memories in Dwarka, she says, “When we were shooting in Dwarka for my introductory scene, I had a line saying ‘Aage Khaso’ while driving a scooty. I wasn’t aware of its meaning at first, but later got to know it means ‘move aside, aage chalo.’ I am still learning to live the character, which is quite different from what I have done so far.”
Embracing the depth of a ‘Bhabhi Maa’ role, she avers, “I have not played a mother till now onscreen. Stepping into the shoes of a ‘Bhabhi Maa’ brings a lot of emotional depth as a character. I am continuously learning and am confident about getting into the soul of the role.”
Praising the production and creative team, she says, “We as actors gel well, no doubt. But I will want to mention the entire team here. The team is very nice. The direction and the behind-the-camera crew are extremely supportive and good at what they do.”
Teasing a mature love story with actor Pratham Kunwar amid family dynamics, Sonal says, “As of now, Anant (Pratham Kunwar) and Bansari are seen as an adarsh jodi by everyone, recognised like a Ram-Sita couple. But within four walls, only they know what she goes through for Laalo. Viewers will get to see a very mature love story unfold between Anant and Bansari.”
Contrasting Bansari with her previous roles, she states, “In Bindiya Sarkar, I played a village girl who gets married, and in Bade Ghar Ki Beti, the character was a modern, educated girl focused on doing things for her parents. Bansari, on the other hand, is street-smart—she holds relationships together and showers her brother-in-law with motherly love.”
