Reem Sameer Shaikh will be headlining the new show, Fanna-Ishq Mein Marjawaan, with Zain Imam and Akshit Sukhija. She plays the role of Paakhi, a young beautiful girl who becomes the obsession of Agastya (Zain). Fanna will be premiering on Colors tonight at 10.30 pm. 

Ahead of Fanna's premiere, PeepingMoon spoke to Reem about the story of the show and what attracted her to the show. The actress, who started working at a young age, opened up about sustaining in the competitive television industry and losing projects due to her age and 'chubby cheeks'.

Excerpts from the interview:  

What attracted you to the show?

The story of Fanna is very different and something intriguing. We are trying something new. I love thrillers, especially those revolving around obsessive love. It is a love story which is very thrilling. It is not something that you can predict. 

Fanna explores obsessive love. Why do you feel people will relate to it?

The audience cannot relate to every story and that's not expected too. It is important that the emotion stays back. Yes, there are obsessive lovers in the world too. The story of Pakhi, Agastya and Ishaan is full of ups and downs. These characters go through various emotions. There is a reason behind Agastya's obsession and once the secret unfolds, we hope that the audience will understand him better. As actors, it is our work to pull off our characters with conviction. It is important that people connect with the emotions rather than relate to the characters. 

Can Fanna be called a clutter-breaking show? 

Inshallah, it can be. Fingers crossed. Everyone, right from the technical team to actors, has put in a lot of effort and it is a labour of love. We hope it becomes successful. 

You started working at a young age. When did the acting bug bite you?

Since childhood, I was a drama queen. As a kid, I would often enact Deepika Padukone's Ek Chutki Sindoor scene from Om Shanti Om standing in front of a mirror. My father wanted me to try acting and now, unki soch rang la rahi hai.   

Can you share how did you bag your first acting project?

I was just 6 when I did my first daily soap. Before that, I would go for multiple auditions and got my first ad opposite Kajol. When I went for my first audition, I couldn't speak a single word as I was nervous. Over a period of time, I got better. I got selected for my first daily soap after the first audition itself.

Did you lose any projects because of your age?

Yes, I did. Not just age but I lost out on some projects because of my chubby cheeks. Main thode khate peete ghar ki hu. 

Your first Bollywood film as the lead was Gul Makai. Was it difficult to bag that role?

I had a meeting with the director and that was a dream character for me. When I heard the narration, I hoped and prayed for it. For the first few months, I didn’t hear back from them. I wasn’t expecting it.   

It is often heard that TV actors are not treated equally in the film industry. Did you experience it?

I never experienced it and I was well-treated and respected. It is true that people from other mediums are not treated with respect and don’t get a fair chance. But now, I can see the change. People don’t realise the amount of hard work that needs to be put into making a television show. To make a 2 hours film, people get around 6 months to work on it but we get only 1 to .15 days to shoot a 25 minutes episode. TV actors have to be on their toes and have to switch on and off instantly. Making a television show is not easy and I don’t know why we are looked down upon. Sustaining in the industry is not easy as there is cutthroat competition. I am proud that I managed to sustain in the industry and call myself a TV girl.