Jio Studios’ sitcom ‘UP-65’ has captured the hearts of viewers with its unique tale of ‘Nishkaam Prem’ (unconditional love). The chemistry between the lead actors, Pragati Mishra and Shine Pandey, has been described as quite refreshing and extremely captivating, leaving audiences wanting for more. Pragati Mishra who plays Shubhra takes us behind the scenes, sharing the story behind ‘Nishkaam Prem’ and the immense popularity it has garnered.
At a time when love is often associated with conditions, ‘Nishkaam Prem’ brings forth the idea of eternal and unconditional love. Pragati Mishra shares, “So the dialogue in the show states - 'Nishkaam Prem, mane jo prem bina kisi kaamna, iccha ya vaasna se kiya jaye, wo prem 'Nishkaam' hota hai'. I love the fact that the concept of falling in love with someone unconditionally, is resonating with the audiences. It was also an integral part of the novel, hence there is a huge fan base that's finding it very relatable.”
The remarkable chemistry between the lead actors has played a pivotal role in the success of ‘UP-65’.
Pragati adds, “Assi ghat plays an important role in all the lovely meetings of Shubhra and Nishant on the ghats of Banaras. The scenes on the boat have their own separate fan base. Even though Nishant falls in love with Shubhra first it is Shubhra who takes him out on their first date at the Pizzeria, and expresses her love for him at the top of the terrace. In episode 5 you will see how 'Nishant' says that there is no reason why anyone falls in love. If there was a logical reason to it, it would become like a mathematical equation, and we might lose the purity of love. This is something that the audience is relating a lot to.”
Pragati also shares a trivia from the sets, “In Season 1, episode 5, there is a guest appearance by the author of the novel ‘Up-65’, Nikhil Sachan and his wife Shubhangi, the real life couple on whom Nishant and Shubhra, their characters are loosely based on.”
Due to the unique format of releasing one episode daily fans have been actively engaging with the show, leading to a flood of DMs expressing their curiosity about the storyline.
Notably, after the episode titled ‘KarwaChauth Ka Chand’ aired, the lead actors had fans asking them if 'Nishant' broke his fast? And, Why did 'Shubhra' not keep a fast for Nishant? The fanbase has created beautiful reels and expressed their relatability to the love story set against the picturesque backdrop of Banaras.
Pragati shares, “Every night after a new episode aired at 11 pm, we have received an overwhelming response in our DMs. Shubhra is Nishant's soul guide in the story. In my opinion, Nishant and Shubhra are a great couple because they complement each other very well. While Nishant is an introvert who takes his time in doing things, Shubhra is more extroverted and spontaneous. They share a deep foundation of friendship which makes them an ideal couple, and allows them to be present for each other. I do believe that it's really important to be good friends with the person you fall in love with, it makes the relationship very organic.”
The evolving dynamics between the characters hold the promise of further exploration in potential seasons. As fans eagerly await news of a potential Season 3, the future of ‘UP-65’ remains uncertain. With the wealth of material from the original novel and the potential for characters to evolve and navigate their college years, viewers eagerly anticipate what lies ahead.
