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After participating in Khatron Ke Khiladi 12 and expanding her career to the OTT space, Shivangi Joshi is trying a different format with Lock Upp . Unlike adventure-based reality shows, the series is driven by personalities and interpersonal dynamics, something she says she is approaching without expectations. “I’m just going with a very clean slate, honestly. I don’t know much about the show. I don’t know how I’m going to look, who all are there, so you’ll see, right?” she said before entering the show.

For many viewers, however, Shivangi continues to be synonymous with Naira , the character she played in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai . Although she later headlined shows such as Balika Vadhu 2 and Barsatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka, Naira remains the role audiences most readily associate her with.

When asked whether the popularity of the character has overshadowed her later work, Shivangi said, “I don’t think so. If it was like that, then I would have stopped getting any other interesting characters after that. My characters after the show were equally loved. Naira was one of my favourite characters and will always be. Naira and I, as Shivangi, were the closest. So I relate to this character the most. And I like it when people call me Naira.”

With television, OTT and reality television now part of her journey, is Bollywood the next step? “Maybe, you never know. You never say never. I like challenges, and that’s what I’m doing right now. I think it’s every actor’s dream to be on the big screen one day. But I like to go slow and take it step by step,” she shared.