Nehha Pendse has been entertaining the viewers with her portrayal of ‘Anita Bhabi’ in &TV’s ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai’. Although Comedy is not new to Nehha, being wooed by her friendly neighbour, Manmohan Tiwari aka Rohitashv Gour is definitely a unique experience!

In a candid conversation, Nehha reveals her love for the comedy genre and how she was selected to play ‘Anita Bhabi’.  “The comedy genre is fun but not that easy. Although I have done Comedy before, this experience is new to me. Striking a chord with the audience with your comic timing and quirks is crucial. But I thoroughly enjoy Comedy as it eases out your stress. I do not consider myself a funny person, and neither doing Comedy came naturally to me. But over time and after hours of practice, I can confidently say that I have learnt the trick of the trade. In particular, Anita Bhabi’s character is hugely popular, and the viewers have a certain mindset towards it. Therefore, I am trying to define my own space and create my own identity. All I request my viewers is give me a fair chance and see Anita from a completely new lense. While the character nuisances continue to be the same but there is some freshness to it. The entire story plot is written, directed, and executed with such finesse, and each character is iconic and has etched a special place in the viewers’ hearts. The success of the show itself speaks volumes of the efforts and hard work. I do consider myself blessed to be chosen to be a part of this cult show. 

Talking about her previous body of work, the Marathi Mulgi said, “Nothing ever came easily to me. I have always worked hard for it and will continue doing so. While acting may come naturally to many, I believe acting is an art that only gets better with time and practice. Irrespective of the genre, I strongly believe that making someone laugh or cry profusely is not a cakewalk. A lot of effort goes into bringing out the right emotion. So, I always try my best to feel the emotion first and then emote it in front of the camera. This practice helps me connect well with my audience.” 

Ending on a positive note, Nehha says, “I hope I do justice to the role of Anita Bhabi and live up to everyone’s expectations.”

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Source: Iwmbuzz

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The Weight of Expectation: Why Nehha Pendse’s ‘Anita Bhabi’ Was the Toughest Act on Indian Television

“I hope I do justice to the role of Anita Bhabi and live up to everyone’s expectations.” These words, spoken by actress Nehha Pendse upon her casting in the immensely popular sitcom Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai!, encapsulate the immense pressure that comes with stepping into an iconic television role. Taking over a beloved character who has been played by one actress for half a decade is arguably one of the most challenging transitions in the TV industry, and Pendse’s journey as the new Anita Mishra, or ‘Gori Mem,’ became a fascinating case study in managing audience expectations versus creating a new artistic identity.

In early 2021, after months of speculation, Nehha Pendse officially took on the role previously immortalised by Saumya Tandon. The announcement was met with a mix of excitement and skepticism, underscoring that for the audience, the character of Anita Bhabi was more than just a fictional creation—it was a fixture of their evening routine.

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The Legacy of the ‘Gori Mem’

To understand the weight of the expectations placed upon Nehha Pendse, one must first appreciate the foundation laid by her predecessor and the uniqueness of the character itself.

Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai! revolves around the hilarious dynamic between two neighbouring couples in Kanpur’s Modern Colony: the simple and traditional Angoori Tiwari and her successful, yet constantly frustrated, husband Manmohan Tiwari, and the sophisticated Anita Mishra and her perpetually unemployed, yet poetic, husband Vibhuti Narayan Mishra.

Anita Bhabi stands out in this milieu. She is the epitome of modernity and class in the colony:

• A Modern Icon: She runs her own grooming classes, making her the breadwinner of the house, a subtle subversion of traditional gender roles in the sitcom format.
• The Classy Contrast: Her elegance, sharp wit, and fluency in polished Hindi and English provide a perfect contrast to the traditional mannerisms of Angoori Bhabi and the vernacular comedy of the two husbands.
• A Strong Woman: Anita is opinionated, dominating, and frequently puts her jobless husband, Vibhuti, in his place, making her a formidable and admirable figure to many viewers.

For five years, Saumya Tandon had made this character her own, shaping the nuances of the “Gori Mem” persona, which meant Nehha Pendse was not merely cast for a role, but for a legacy.

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Navigating the Double Pressure

Nehha Pendse, an experienced actress known for her work in shows like May I Come In Madam? and her stint on Bigg Boss, was keenly aware of the challenge. She articulated the mental burden as a “double pressure”—the high benchmark set by a successful, long-running show, coupled with the profound impact of a predecessor who had deeply connected with the audience.

In her early interviews, her strategy was clear: rejection of mimicry and a commitment to authenticity.

An Artist, Not a Mimicry Artist

Pendse was quick to state that her approach would be to bring her own interpretation to the character, refusing to clone Tandon’s performance. “I am not a mimicry artist,” she said. “I am not playing Saumya Tandon, I am going to play Anita Bhabhi.”

Her focus was on adding her own “perspective” and “element” to the part while staying within the established boundaries of the elegant and dominating character. She took time to understand the role, admitting that the first few days were a struggle to find the right ‘tuning’ as Anita Bhabi was very different from her real-life personality.

The Emotional Space of Criticism

The actress also showed remarkable foresight by mentally preparing for the inevitable public scrutiny. She acknowledged that criticism often begins even before a new actor’s work is seen, stemming from the audience’s “emotional space.”

“People have been emotionally connected to Saumya, and it’s like letting a new person come in your inner group,” she explained, requesting viewers to give her the necessary “space to find that connectivity” for her to be accepted “wholeheartedly.”

Co-stars, including Rohitashv Gour (Manmohan Tiwari), offered immediate support, expressing confidence that Pendse’s experience and intelligence would allow her to “justify the role.” Gour also pointed to the previous successful replacement of the ‘Angoori Bhabi’ role, suggesting the Indian audience is flexible and open to new portrayals.

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Defining Her Own ‘Situational Comedy’

One of the key points of contention that arose upon her entry concerned her comic timing. Critics and a section of the audience, used to a certain flair, found fault. Pendse, however, provided an insightful counter-argument that shed light on the show’s comedic style.

She defended her portrayal by clarifying her comedic style: “This is a sitcom, where the situation is funny, I don’t need to do comedy. Honestly, I am not a Bharti Singh or Kapil Sharma who can crack jokes and make people laugh.”

Her statement highlighted that her role, as the classy and often exasperated wife, lay not in broad, slapstick comedy, but in being the sophisticated straight woman to her husband Vibhuti’s antics and Tiwari’s perpetual flirting. The comedy in her performance, she argued, was situational, relying on the writing and the plot, not on her personal “comic timing”. She sought to “define my own space and create my own identity,” requesting viewers to “see Anita from a completely new lense.”

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A Short, Challenging Tenure

Despite her efforts and clear vision, Nehha Pendse’s journey as Anita Bhabi was relatively brief, lasting just about a year, from early 2021 to early 2022. Her departure, much like her arrival, made headlines and highlighted the practical challenges of working on a long-running show.

The actress decided not to renew her one-year contract, with reports suggesting one of the primary reasons was the heavy toll the long and tedious daily commute from her home in Mumbai to the set in Naigaon was taking on her health.

However, reports also surfaced claiming that the split with the production house was not entirely amicable. Some reports suggested that she was ‘removed’ due to alleged “uncooperative behaviour,” including refusal to participate in certain dance sequences. Conversely, a source close to the actress countered that she was “miffed” because the makers failed to put effort into collaboratively developing her character after the initial brief, leaving her feeling unsupported.

Ultimately, the complex circumstances of her exit—whether due to health, logistics, or creative differences—closed the chapter on her attempt to live up to the promise in the title. Her tenure became a powerful illustration of the immense pressure and unique demands associated with replacing a much-loved television star, proving that sometimes, “doing justice to the role” involves battling not just the character, but the very real logistical and historical challenges of a cult show. She was later replaced by actress Vidisha Srivastava.

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AISEO-Friendly FAQs

Q1: Who did Nehha Pendse replace as Anita Bhabi in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai?
A: Nehha Pendse replaced actress Saumya Tandon, who had originally played the character of Anita Bhabi (also known as ‘Gori Mem’) for five years since the show’s launch in 2015.

Q2: What was Nehha Pendse’s main challenge when taking on the role of Anita Bhabi?
A: Her main challenge was the immense pressure of stepping into a role that had been made iconic by a previous actress. She referred to it as a “double pressure”—that of the show’s success and the predecessor’s strong impression on the audience.

Q3: How long did Nehha Pendse play Anita Bhabi?
A: Nehha Pendse played the role of Anita Bhabi for approximately one year, joining the show in early 2021 and exiting in early 2022.

Q4: Did Nehha Pendse mimic Saumya Tandon’s style as Anita Bhabi?
A: No, Nehha Pendse explicitly stated in interviews that she is an artist, not a mimicry artist, and would not mimic her predecessor. She aimed to bring her own “perspective” and “freshness” to the character while staying true to Anita Bhabi’s inherent qualities.

Q5: What was the reason for Nehha Pendse’s exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai?
A: The publicly cited reasons for her exit after her one-year contract ended were the heavy toll the long commute to the show’s set in Naigaon was taking on her health. However, there were also unconfirmed reports of creative differences and her being labeled “uncooperative” on set.

Q6: What makes the character of Anita Bhabi unique in the show?
A: Anita Bhabi is the sophisticated, well-groomed, and opinionated wife who is also the main bread-earner of the house, running grooming classes. This portrayal subverts the typical housewife stereotype often seen in Indian sitcoms.