'I shot a lovemaking scene in front of my fiance'

'I am very lucky to have a partner who considers my career as important as his.'

'Rohit doesn't mix our personal and professional life. He has never made me feel uncomfortable in front of my co-stars.'

Diya Aur Baati Hum heroine Deepika Singh gets candid. 

Deepika Singh, who plays Sandhya in television's number one show Diya Aur Baati Hum, will tie the knot with the show’s director Rohit Raj Goyal on May 2.

The show that gave her a life partner and a great deal of popularity is obviously very close to her heart.

In this interview with Rajul Hegde, Deepika discusses her hit show and tells us how she fell in love.

Let’s talk about your fiance Rohit.

Rohit has taught me everything. He has moulded me into an actress. 

Initially, we shared a very professional relationship; we knew each other only as actor and director.

Since both of us are from Delhi, we slowly started getting along as friends. 

He was a huge support during my sister’s wedding. We bonded well.

It’s only much later that we started seeing each other.

.

So how did it all begin?

Once, we were exchanging messages at 5 in the morning when suddenly I got an SMS from him expressing his feelings.

I was surprised because he is a very shy person. I never expected him to make the first move (smiles).

Even though I liked him I didn’t think I would fall for him because ours was a relationship of respect.

He is my guru first and I address him as ‘Sir’.

Will you continue to address him as ‘Sir’ even after marriage?

(Chuckles) Many times I have tried to call him by his name but it doesn’t happen.

Professionally, yes, I will continue to call him ‘Sir’.  

Will your marriage affect the popularity of the show or your equation with the director?

Sooner or later we have to get married, so why not now?

The environment is friendly on the set, but we hardly get time for each other so we thought we should get married.

The best part about our relationship is that he loves and respects my professional life.

I am very lucky to have a partner who considers my career as important as his.

Rohit doesn't mix our personal and professional life. He has never made me feel uncomfortable in front of my co-stars.

In fact, I shot a lovemaking scene in the show in front of him and there was no awkwardness.

He loves Deepika and not the character that I play. He knows that Sandhya will look good only with Sooraj (onscreen husband Anas Rashid). He always tries to get better chemistry between the characters though I am his girlfriend.

This is your first show. How do you see things so far?

It has been a beautiful learning experience.

When I gave my auditions, I didn’t know that it was for the role of Sandhya.

I thank Shashi Mitta (producer) for believing in me. I have grown as an actress, played different roles in the same show, which is unusual.

It’s interesting because initially I played the role of a bahu. As per the current track, I am getting trained to become an IPS officer.

For this, I had to work hard and follow a regime to look fit for the uniform.

How do people react to the transformation of your character?

When I was shooting in Karnal (in Haryana) for the IPS training track, I would go cycling as part of the regime.

I had made friends with some young kids who would come cycling with me.

They said that they want to become like me. When I asked whether they want to become an actress like me or IPS officer like Sandhya, their reply was ‘IPS officer like you’.

The character of Sandhya is presented by the team with so much conviction that people believe that she is a police officer. I have become an inspiration for them.

In another incident, a lady came to the Karnal set. My hairdresser helped her to meet me because she was crying and saying she wanted to meet Sandhya.

When I met her, she told me that her wish was to become an IPS officer but she couldn’t as she got married early.

Now, after watching Diya Aur Baati Hum she is motivated to do a part time job to continue her studies.

I am glad that I play a role that is actually motivating people, especially women. As an actress, I don’t think you will get a better role than this.

Are you open to doing reality shows?

As of now, I am happy with what I am doing. I don’t have time for anything else because the priority is my role.

In future if I get any interesting offers, I can think of it.