As the festive drums echo, the spirit of Navratri brings a vibrant celebration of feminine power, courage, and grace. For talented television actor Samiksha Jaiswal, who is all set to mesmerise audiences in Star Plus’ upcoming supernatural drama Apsara, produced by Mukta Dhond’s Malhar Content Creators, this festive season carries a deeply personal resonance.
Navratri is a time for togetherness, dance, and unbridled devotion. Samiksha opens up about what she misses most from her pre-acting days and how she truly unwinds during the festival. “What I miss most is being able to enjoy festive moments spontaneously, without having to think too much about schedules or public attention. Navratri is a beautiful time to come together with family and friends, dress up, enjoy the music and simply be present in the moment.”
For me, Garba is about enjoying myself, celebrating with everyone and letting the music take over.
When it comes to hitting the Garba floor, her approach is refreshingly relatable and full of joy. “I would say I am somewhere between a choreographed perfectionist and an enthusiastic beginner! I love getting into the rhythm and enjoying the energy of the music, but I am not going to stop the fun just because every step isn’t perfect. For me, Garba is about enjoying myself, celebrating with everyone and letting the music take over.”
Summing up her festive state of mind this year, she shares, “This Navratri, I am celebrating the power of being unapologetically myself, embracing the inner Shakti and moving through life with confidence, grace and a whole lot of festive energy!”
Transitioning from her previous milestones to headlining Star Plus’ Apsara feels like a profound and exciting evolutionary step in her career. “Leading Apsara feels like an exciting new chapter in my career. Every project teaches you something different, but playing Sunehri allows me to explore a character with a distinct identity and an important journey of her own. It also comes with a sense of responsibility because I want the audience to connect with her story and emotions.”
In Apsara, Samiksha plays Sunehri, a protagonist who mirrors the very essence of feminine strength celebrated during Navratri. Describing her character’s core ethos, she explains, “Sunehri is a character with her own strength, identity and emotions. She represents a woman who is not waiting for someone else to define her journey but is ready to shape it herself. What I find interesting about her is the balance between her grace and inner strength. With Navratri celebrating the many forms of feminine power, I feel Sunehri’s journey connects beautifully with the spirit of the festival.”
Breathing life into such a layered character required careful introspection, emotional depth, and attention to detail. “Bringing Sunehri to life involved understanding her emotions, body language and the way she responds to the situations around her. I wanted to make sure that her strength comes through naturally, without losing the softer, more vulnerable aspects of her personality. The look, expressions and small details also play an important role in building the character.”
As viewers prepare to welcome Samiksha back to their television screens in this supernatural fantasy drama, her ultimate hope is that Sunehri’s narrative serves as an empowering beacon. “I hope audiences see Sunehri as a reminder that a woman can be graceful and powerful at the same time. She does not need to wait for someone else to give her strength or validate her choices. If her journey encourages even one person to believe in themselves and take charge of their own story, that would mean a lot to me.”
