For Nidhi Singh, the lead actress of the hugely popular web-series ‘Permanent Roommates’, good content is the most pre-requisite for its success with the audience. The actress, who shot to fame after the popularity of the web-series by TVF stated, “Humour is one of the aspects that make a video viral but it is not the only thing. It can’t be forced humour anyway- it has to come naturally.”
The actress, who first caught people’s attention with the hilarious viral video ‘Shit Delhi Girls Say’ can easily be called a web-star. Having worked with TVF on an earlier spoof video, Singh knew the crew of ‘Permanent Rooommates’ well when she began shooting. “I was introduced to the TVF team by Nidhi Bisht (casting director of ‘Permanent Rommates’). We both had worked in a play together and she had introduced me to Arunabh and the team. They gave me my first TVF video which was a spoof on the TV show ‘Emotional Attyachar’.’
When the work on ‘Permanent Roommates’ began, Singh states everyone was a bit ‘apprehensive about what the outcome would be.” “We all focused, but when we started off it was an experimental thing. What really attracted me towards it was its story- it was so good and real.”
The Allahabad girl came to Mumbai to pursue her graduation from St. Andrews college and was active in theater for a long time before she started doing viral videos. How similar is she to Tanya, her onscreen character, we asked, “I am more goofy than Tanya. There is a bit of Tanya in me of course. But I somehow feel she is a lot like my mother,” said the actress and added, “A lot of women in India are like her. I was briefed that she is the sanest person in the show.”
TVF’s ‘Permanent Roommates’ got rave reviews when it premiered in 2014. India’s first web-series, the show narrated the story of a long distance couple, Tanya and Mikesh, who decide to live-in before taking the plunge of matrimony. The show along with TVF’s other web-series ‘Pitchers’ are the only two shows from India to feature in IMDB’s top 250 shows of all time. The second season of ‘Permanent Rommates’ preimered on 14th February this year.
A die-hard fan of ‘Game Of Thrones’, Singh herself likes ‘Pitchers’ more than other web-series. “It is more relatable,” she quips. And when we ask her what is the most important factor for the success of a live-in relationship, Singh says,”The friendship that the couple shares. Romance is important but I’d say a relationship works only if the couple are really good friends.”
Before signing off, we ask her would she date someone like Mikesh in real life? She laughs first and says,” Why not! He can be annoying but he is still cute and a nice guy. I’d date someone like Mikesh.”