After the film Velle (2021) and the show Kaun Banegi Shikharwati? (2021), Anya Singh will be seen in the second season of the Zee5 web-series Never Kiss Your Best Friend.
Though she was part of Season 1, Anya Singh said shooting for the second season was more challenging. “Because apart from the weather, that we always choose for shooting, I don’t know why, we also had the pandemic,” she said. “When we got to London, most of our team didn’t have their visas. So my director singlehandedly handled most of the project and the team joined us much later. We couldn’t shoot for the first 10 or 12 days. Then we were shooting in biting cold while running against time and weather.”
Directed by Harsh Dedhia, the first season of Never Kiss Your Best Friend saw Anya Singh’s character Tanie and Sumer (Karan Wahi) as best friends who fall in love. But they go through a break-up in the second season.
On what one can expect from Tanie, Anya Singh said, “You can expect the unexpected because in this season she is not the same girl you saw in Season 1. I think both Tanie and Sumer have changed as characters and people. The story is now two-and-a-half years later and it’s another stage that they add in their lives.”
She added, “The way they deal with things has changed. Tanie today has taken a 360° turn from what she used to be in Season 1, the more sorted, focused and balanced girl that she was. In this season she is confused, lost and childlike. Tanie used to be the one with her head on her shoulders. But in this season, it’s like a role reversal. Hence, there will be a lot of friction in this season between the two characters.”
The actress said the biggest challenge was maintaining the flavour of the first season though the characters have matured. “It was also challenging to put this project together," she said. "We had been trying for months to head to London [but couldn't] due to COVID-19 and flying restrictions. It was challenging for Nakuul as he was shooting Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2. One was in India and the other in London.”
Anya Singh shot for Kaun Banegi Shikharwati? before Velle and it was the experience of a lifetime for her. “It was a huge learning experience because I was working alongside very, very celebrated and some great actors like Naseer sir [Naseeruddin Shah], Raghuvir [Yadav] sir, Lara Dutta, Soha [Ali Khan], Varun [Thakur] and Cyrus [Sahukar]. All are very good at what they do.”
She continued, “Cyrus and Varun are also comedians and very good ones. I have grown up watching Naseer sir, Lara and Soha. I have been in awe of them. Raghuvir sir is an institution in himself. For me it was just sitting, observing and enjoying myself. We became like family being together for two months. We were in a bio-bubble and weren’t allowed to go anywhere.”
Her experience of shooting for Velle was very different as they were shooting in her hometown Delhi. “I got time at home while filming that film,” she said. “It was so nice that after the shoot you could actually go home and be with your family. The team was so pure. They were young and dedicated.” Directed by Deven Munjal, Velle starred Karan Deol.
Anya Singh does not come from a film family, so her journey has been special for her. “When I came to Bombay, I didn’t know anyone,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect. Every step has been a new and unravelling moment. I could not expect anything that has happened on my journey. I have had various phases without work. That really played on my mind. So I am grateful for the last year as I got to do a lot more work and play different characters.”
Also starring Karan Wahi and Sarah Jane Dias, Never Kiss Your Best Friend (Season 2) will be streamed on Zee5 from 29 April.