Ankita Lokhande, who rose to fame as Archana Karanjkar Deshmukh in Pavitra Rishta, marked 16 years of the iconic TV show on June 1 by stepping into the shoes of her beloved character once again. To celebrate the milestone, the actress shared a special vlog on her and husband Vicky Jain’s co-owned YouTube channel ANVI, where she explored the streets of Mumbai dressed as Archana Karanje, reviving memories of the Balaji Telefilms show that made her a household name.
Ankita Lokhande marks 16 years of Pavitra Rishta with nostalgic tribute to Archana; remembers late actor Sushant Singh Rajput
The vlog included a heartwarming surprise — a video call from producer Ektaa R Kapoor, who expressed her joy over the enduring popularity of Pavitra Rishta. Kapoor, who conceptualised the show under Balaji Telefilms, shared her pride in the cultural impact it continues to have over a decade later.
Ankita also invited veteran actress Usha Nadkarni to join the celebration. Nadkarni, who played the formidable Savita Deshmukh — Archana’s mother-in-law and the mother of Manav Deshmukh — brought back fond memories of the show’s early days. Together, the two actresses reminisced about the camaraderie on set and how the show brought them closer as a family.
A poignant moment in the vlog came when both actresses remembered the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who played Manav Deshmukh, Archana’s husband in the series. Ankita, who was in a long-term relationship with Sushant during their time on the show, grew emotional as she spoke about his support during their early acting days. “Sushant itna achha actor tha. Woh mujhe bahut help karta tha. In logon ke saamne jab main jaati thi na, mujhe dar lagne lagta tha ki main kaise itne bade-bade scenes karun. Toh woh mujhe sikhata tha, ‘aise bol’ (Sushant was such a good actor. He used to help me a lot. I used to get nervous performing in front of everyone, unsure about how to handle such intense scenes. So, he would teach me, saying, ‘say it like this’)”, Ankita shared.
Pavitra Rishta, which aired from 2009 to 2014, remains one of Indian television’s most cherished dramas. With multiple videos across platforms where she spoke to the show, Ankita Lokhande paid a heartfelt tribute to the legacy of the show, its characters, and the memories it gave to millions of viewers.
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