Maleeka R Ghai Excited to Embrace Punjabi Roots with ‘Ikk Kudi Punjab Di’
For Maleeka R Ghai, the seasoned actress with an extensive portfolio, playing a Punjabi character in the Hindi television series “Ikk Kudi Punjab Di” marks a significant and thrilling milestone. Born in Punjab, Maleeka expresses her joy at finally getting the opportunity to portray a character deeply rooted in Punjabi culture, breaking away from her previous roles that spanned various linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Talking about it in a recent interview, Maleeka shares, “Over the past decade, I have played characters from different regions in the country, except my home state of Punjab. Ironically, I’ve spoken dialogues in almost every language except my mother tongue.” She goes on to explain that despite playing characters set in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and even portraying a Bengali character in her last show, “Maitree,” playing a character in her mother tongue is particularly thrilling. Maleeka believes that her familiarity with Punjabi culture will enhance her performance, making it relatively easier compared to characters set in other states where she had to adapt to different nuances and perfect the tone.
In “Ikk Kudi Punjab Di,” Maleeka R Ghai takes on the role of the protagonist Heer’s (Tanisha Mehta) mother-in-law. Describing her character, she says, “My character is strong and multi-shaded. She appears sophisticated but deep down, she is corrupt and gets her work done by any means necessary. I consider this role one of the best since my return to television, and I believe it will set a benchmark for my career.”
Acknowledging the limited opportunities for versatility on television, Maleeka emphasizes her commitment to avoiding monotony by deliberately selecting roles that differ from her previous ones. Despite often being offered motherly roles with a restricted character graph, Maleeka strives to diversify her portfolio, playing both positive and negative characters. She concludes, “I have played both positive and negative characters, but I am inclined towards taking up negative roles or those with a comic flavor.” This deliberate choice, she explains, keeps her engaged and interested as an actor.
