The Famous Five

Ragini Khanna as Suhana in Sasural Genda Phool

A spoilt brat but very sensitive by nature,Suhana is genuinely affectionate and affable. Brought up in a well-to-do family,everyone expected her marriage into a middle-class family to result in a disaster. If it didn’t,it’s because she is both loveable and smart. “Her appeal lies in the fact that she is genuine in whatever she does — even if that means asking her mother-in-law to show how one goes about with household chores. She behaves like a girl and is fun,” says actor Surekha Sikri.

Ankita Lokhande as Archana in Pavitra Rishta

This decade’s very own Tulsi,Archana is straight out of a matrimonial ad. She portrays the typical strong-woman character who will never falter though their men might. The marriage came as a shock,where the husband didn’t turn out to be who she thought he was. Yet she stood by him and has now changed him to a better human being. “The show is coming to an end now,but one saw that she achieved what she had set out to do. Archana represents the strength of a woman,” says actress Gauri Pradhan.

Priya Wal as Misha in Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kaahani

The ultimate brat and a tomboy,she rides a bike,smuggles hip flasks to “boring non-alcoholic parties” and uses her dad’s pet status to her advantage. Very convincingly awkward around men,with distaste for anything that spells love,Misha’s attraction lies in her spunk and unpredictability. Actor Karan Singh Grover feels that Misha — one of his favourite characters on TV — represents urban women. “Her character demonstrates that traditional rules cannot be used to judge women today,” he says.

Pratyusha Banerjee as Anandi in Balika Vadhu

Having lived a tumultuous yet sheltered life ever since her marriage to Jagya at the age of eight,it is only in the recent past that Anandi’s character graph has undergone a change. After Jagya disowns her and marries his girlfriend,Gauri,Anandi studies women’s rights and is now serving society. “She is close to the traditional on-screen bahus and has followed the rules set by tradition. However,Anandi realises that there are faults with it and has mustered up the courage to break away from them,” says actress Sadia Siddiqui.