'These were really exciting scripts but..': Raveena Tandon on why she rejected Sushmita Sen's Aarya for Karmma Calling

Raveena Tandon is all set to entice fans with the Disney+ Hotstar web series, Karmma Calling. However, before this series, not many people knew that the Sushmita Sen starrer Aarya was supposed to be Raveena’s OTT debut on this streaming platform. But it seems like destiny had other plans and the actress turned down the same and eventually starred in the Netflix crime drama Aranyak and the now, Hotstar series Karmma Calling.

In an interaction with Hindustan Times, the actress said, “While these were really exciting scripts, but somewhere I wanted to do something that the audience have never got a chance to see me as before. Hence, I chose Aranyak to be my digital debut. It really worked well for me. That year was just full of awards. That gamble paid off.” She went on to add, “There are many times when I've met Ram and Nikhil (Madhok) from Hotstar then, that I said, ‘We have to do something (together).’ I'm really waiting to work with Ram. I had to explain to him why I couldn't do Aarya. Then he understood my reason.”

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The Mohra actress furthermore explained what attracted her to the character of Indrani Kothari from the series. She said, “Identifying with the character? I did not, because she's someone completely different. And that's what won me over. A lot of actors are comfortable in playing what they are in real life. And they're big successes at that. But for me, that does not work. I see to it that every role I pick up is completely different from the last one. I've achieved that with Indrani because she's this high-society woman. Yes, the only similarity might be she was a ‘90s actor and has given up her work. I started in the ’90s, but I haven't given up work.”

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Karmma Calling has been directed by Ruchi Narain. The show will start streaming from January 26, 2024. It also stars Namrata Sheth and Varun Sood in pivotal roles.