HKUP’s Zaara Warsi says, “With ‘Chamchi’, I have gained professional success and recognition”!

Actor #ZaaraWarsi, who plays #Chamchi in &TV’s gharelu comedy, #HappuKiUltanPaltan, has come a long way as a child actor. With her character Chamchi, who is Katori Amma’s (Himani Shivpuri) favourite grandchild and the daughter of Happu (Yogesh Tripathi) and Rajesh (Kamna Pathak), she has been tickling the viewers’ funny bones for the last four years. In this interview, Zaara gets candid about her journey in the entertainment industry and how her current show has made her a household name.

How much do you enjoy playing Chamchi in Happu Ki Ultan Paltan?
I love everything about my character and completely relate to it. The character Chamchi I portray is an affectionate and lively young woman who shares a close bond with her siblings. This portrayal reflects my real-life personality, as I also hold a deep respect for my elders and cherish my close relationships with family. Through this role, I have gained professional success and recognition and valuable and meaningful connections. In the show, she is closest to her grandmother (Katori Amma), played by Himani Shivpuri Ji. They are both partners in crime, and she is like the real ‘Chamchi’ of her Dadi. Our characters are also named “Katori’ and ‘Chamchi’ (laughs). I have never seen my Dadi ji (grandmother). She passed away before I was born, and my grandmother’s love and care were missing in my life until I joined ‘Happu Ki Ultan Paltan’. Thanks to this show, I had the pleasure of meeting Himani Mam, who has become a caring grandmother. Words cannot fully express my love and admiration for her. She is interested in my academic pursuits and provides valuable guidance on improving my on-screen performance. Her knowledge and experience are invaluable, and I constantly learn from her.

Do people refer to you as Chamchi in real life also sometimes?
My schoolmates, who used to mock me for my name, are among those who take notice. However, I chose to perceive it differently. I believe that being acknowledged for my role is a testament to its favourable reception by the audience. Furthermore, I find my name endearing.

How did your journey as Chamchi begin?
Well, that’s an interesting story. So, Yogesh Tripathi sir, playing my on-screen father Daroga Happu Singh, and Salim Zaidi sir, who essays Tilu in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai, had come down to Lucknow for one of the events in Lucknow. It was like a talent hunt audition, and both were impressed by my dance and advised me to try acting. We exchanged numbers, and on their suggestion, I came down to Mumbai with my mother, and with their help, I bagged a cameo role in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai. The show’s director, Shashank Bali Ji, liked my work, but there was not much coming my way after that, so I moved back to my hometown of Bariely. But to my surprise, after seven months, I got a call from the team that they were doing an extended show on ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai’, character Daroga Happu Singh and wanted me to be cast as one of the nine children of Happu Singh. It was a dream come true for me, and without a second thought, I packed my bag and came to Mumbai with my mother again.

Was it your choice or fate to become an actor?
As a four-year-old, I would stand in front of a mirror and imitate my family members and characters from TV shows. My mother and other relatives were fond of acting, and they believed that I had the potential to become an actor. However, my mother’s unwavering determination and effort paved the way for me to enter the industry. With her persistent hard work, I eventually became an actor, and I now cherish this profession.

Your reels with your on-screen mother, Rajesh (Kamna Pathak), are being loved on social media…
The affection and appreciation we have received as a dance duo have been truly astounding. My partner, Kamna Di, and I share a passion for dance and often find ourselves enthralled by dance reels on social media. One day, we created a video featuring a trending Bhojpuri song, which Kamna Di shared on her handle. Within a short span, it garnered 100k views, which motivated us to produce more such content. Now, we are recognized as the quintessential mother-daughter dance duo.

Any dream role?

Given my passion for dance alongside acting, my ultimate aspiration would be to portray a renowned dancer in a Bollywood biopic. It would be the ideal role that could perfectly amalgamate my two favourite things.

Watch Zaara Warsi as Chamchi in Happu Ki Ultan Paltan at 10:00 pm, airing every Monday to Friday on &TV.