“Family No. 1,” a revered Indian television series that aired from 1998 to 1999, starred Kanwaljeet Singh as Deepak Malhotra, a divorced individual navigating life with his three children: Rahul, Rashmi, and Guddu.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes TV, Aparna Tilak, who portrayed the character of Rashmi, reminisced about her experience being part of this iconic show.
Describing her time on the show, Aparna expressed, “For me, ‘Family No. 1’ was an assembly of bright-eyed, well-known actors. The child actors like Kabir (Sadnanand), Umesh, Ajju, and myself were joined by seasoned actors like Kanwaljeet and Tanvi ji. It felt like a delightful picnic, a time of learning, bonding, incredible luck, and opportunity. Little did we anticipate that this show would pave the way for numerous opportunities. It turned out to be one of the most successful shows.”
Reflecting on her initial foray into television, she mentioned, “We had extensive shoots from 9 to 9. It was my debut TV show. Interacting with an ensemble cast was an entirely new experience. Each individual from the cast and crew contributed to enhancing my performance. The off-screen camaraderie was vital; if we didn’t enjoy ourselves off-screen, it would reflect on-screen. We embarked on our careers with a group of like-minded individuals, sharing a collective consciousness and journey.”
Discussing the close-knit bond among the cast, Aparna remarked, “It was a period of immense learning. Observing everyone’s acting techniques was invaluable. The camaraderie among the kids was remarkable. We would rehearse lines together, and stress was absent. They became my ‘family’ – friends who evolved into family.”
Transitioning into acting from her prior stint in a chat show, she credited Benaifer Kohli for recognizing her acting potential. “My character Rashmi was akin to me, a girl who enjoyed makeup. Benaifer saw something in me and cast me after a video test where I had to enact scenes with dialogues. It was a rewarding journey,” Aparna concluded, reminiscing fondly about her transformative experience with “Family No. 1.”