After an eight-year hiatus caused by a lack of meaningful opportunities and typecasting, Akanksha Chamola , best known for her role in Swaragini , returned to television last month with Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye . During her break, the actress auditioned for numerous projects. Reflecting on that frustrating period, she shares, “It was incredibly disappointing and disheartening. I auditioned for various shows, including mythological ones, but nothing came through. I also felt typecast after Bhootu. While I didn’t mind playing a mother, I didn’t want to repeat myself. I’m glad my patience paid off. I couldn’t have asked for a better return than Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye. I hope this marks the beginning of a long, uninterrupted journey.”

She also reveals how misconceptions about her age have impacted her career. She says, “I think I lost out on some opportunities because people mistakenly believed I was 41, as mentioned online when I’m actually 34. I’ve had people on set tell me I don’t look 40, and I’d correct them, but I can't help but feel I missed out on projects because of this assumption.”



During this challenging period, Akanksha found immense support from her family and her husband, actor Gaurav Khanna . She shares, “I went through a phase of self-doubt. I’d show Gaurav my audition clips and ask if something was wrong with them. It can shake your confidence, but I kept auditioning to stay in practice and improve my skills. There was a time when I considered taking the first offer that came my way, but Gaurav encouraged me to be patient. He said, ‘You’ve waited this long, why not wait a little longer?’ It was tough, but I stayed positive. My family, especially Gaurav, played a huge role in helping me stay grounded.”

Ask her about competition in a relationship where both partners are in the same profession, especially during uncertain times, and she responds, “We’ve talked about it, but it was never about competition. It was more about the frustration of why things weren’t working out. I’ve never been competitive — I’ve always believed that whatever is meant for me will come my way.”