Maharani 4 actress Rajeshwari Sachdev: 'As long as there is politics in the world, Maharani will keep going' | Exclusive

Maharani Season 4 has been receiving great reviews from fans and critics. Starring Huma Qureshi as Rani Bharti, the series takes a more personal turn in the new season as Rani moves to the national political arena. In Maharani 4, Rajeshwari Sachdev, who played Gayatri, the wife of PM Joshi (Vipin Sharma), had an exclusive chat with OTTplay, where she reacted to Maharani 4 success, hinted at Maharani 5, and more. 

Rajeshwari Sachdev interview excerpts

Rajeshwari Sachdev on Maharani 4 success

Reacting to the overwhelming responses for Maharani 4, Rajeshwari told us, "I am so thrilled, very happy. It was already a great show, and now I am also a part of it; it is getting good reviews, so I feel really happy." 

Rajeshwari Sachdev on what drew her to her character Gayatri

"The show itself has been wonderful, all the past seasons, and the fact that they asked me to do a part of this was very thrilling for me because I enjoyed those shows. When I heard the script, it was a very brilliant show so like there was no chance of denying it. The way it was presented and written has been a wonderful experience.'

Your character in Maharani 4 carries a very specific emotional and political weight. How did you internally map her journey before stepping onto set?

"If you notice, Maharani, all characters are beautifully etched and when you place this character (Gayatri) with the PM of the country, it is very obvious what kind of a woman would be there and the way it was written, we thought it was the best way to portray her and that's what we tried to do. She has to be intelligent, she has to know politics, and she has to know the ways."

Did you bring any personal improvisations to your scenes that made it to the final cut?

"As actors, you always bring after it is written, consumed and given to you as a material. You start playing it after and you always bring something to the table. Sometimes obvious, sometimes subtly and I think it happens organically. So yes, I would like to believe, as an actor, I did my part." 

Also Read: Maharani Season 4 Review: Huma Qureshi's series rules the throne of political drama again with a predictable cliffhanger

Do you feel the show has evolved in the way it represents women in power since Season 1?

"Yes, I would believe that women are a very active part of politics and are doing well for themselves. It is a tough job and they are doing their best. They are being applauded, too and being elevated to positions of power, which is good." 

Maharani’s world is full of morally grey characters. Where do you place your character on that spectrum?

"She is a woman with power and in the corridors of politics. So, she has a bit of white and black and grey shades as the occasion demands." 

OTT has changed the way political stories are told—more bold, more realistic. How does Maharani fit into that ecosystem, according to you?

"Whatever I have understood about politics, Maharani has a big role in that. They have created the series with a lot of details of how politics work from the beginning. We only know what we read in the newspaper but the inside interactions, games were shown in Maharani."

Also Read: Maharani 4: Vipin Sharma talks about his Prime Minister role in Huma Qureshi's series, hints at Maharani 5 | Exclusive

Gayatri’s relationship with Joshi is layered—personal, strategic, and emotional. How did you balance these shades on screen?

"It's not simple for me. This is how like when you play a game of chess, you pause, plan, move, go back, move forward, go right and left, every which way. So as long as you want to be the power and you want to stay alive, you will keep your eyes on the board."

How was working with Huma Qureshi, Vipin Sharma, and the rest of the cast of Maharani 4?

"It was wonderful. They are all wonderful actors, wonderful people to work with. Huma has been there since the beginning; she is the Maharani. The good thing about the series is that it's an all-song cast. Everyone is a wonderful actor: Shweta (Basu Prasad), Shardul (Bharadwaj), everyone, Vipin (Sharma). When good actors are there by your side, the fun of that work is something else; the energy is different."

Any hint about Maharani Season 5?

"(laughs) I would like to hope that it happens. I am sure we have a lot more stories to tell, and as long as there is politics in the world, Maharani will keep going. It is very well written." 

Catch Maharani Season 4 on SonyLIV and OTTplay Premium!

FAQs:

Q: Who plays Rani Bharti in Maharani?

A: Huma Qureshi portrays the lead character Rani Bharti in the series.

Q: On which platform can I watch Maharani Season 4?

A: Maharani Season 4 is now streaming on SonyLIV (OTTplay Premium).

Q: What is the story of Maharani 4?

A: Maharani 4 follows Rani Bharti (Huma Qureshi) as she moves from Bihar's Chief Minister to the national political arena, where she clashes with Prime Minister Sudhakar Sriniwas Joshi (Vipin Sharma).