Actress Shikha Pandey, who is currently seen in the television show Mannat and has previously been part of shows such as Mehendi Wala Ghar and Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein, is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Oye Chill Maar. The actress shot for the film in 2023, soon after moving to Mumbai, making the project a particularly memorable milestone in her journey.

Talking about what her first feature film means to her, Shikha said, “Your first project in films is always special. No matter how many films I do in the future, this one will always remain close to my heart because it gave me the opportunity to take on the responsibility of playing a lead character.”

In Oye Chill Maar, Shikha plays a simple village girl who is an orphan and lives with her stepmother. Her character goes through several challenges during the course of the story but continues to remain positive despite the circumstances. Her life takes a new turn when the male protagonist enters it.

The film also gave Shikha a new perspective on the craft of acting. Recalling how the experience changed her approach, she shared, “My perspective towards acting has changed a lot. I had done theatre before, but after working on this film, I realised that there is a whole different world beyond theatre, and it is a very beautiful world. The experience helped me understand acting in a different way.”

Shikha also credits the people she worked with for making her first film experience memorable. She said that her co-actors and directors were extremely supportive throughout the shoot and added that she feels fortunate to have been associated with the project.
Speaking about what audiences can expect from Oye Chill Maar, Shikha said, “The film has a lot of fun banter, suspense, romance and action. There are different elements coming together, and I am sure the audience will enjoy watching it.”

While she is stepping into Bollywood, Shikha believes her television journey has also played an important role in shaping her as an actor. She said, “I have done only three television shows so far, and all of them have been popular. For me, television, Bollywood and OTT are all different mediums, and as an actor, I believe one should explore all of them. One project often leads to another, and the one thing that is always within an actor’s control is hard work.”

Talking about the changing entertainment landscape, she added, “I live one day at a time and want to explore every medium. Today, everyone has a mobile phone in their hand and content can be watched anywhere. Daily soaps are still stable and people continue to watch them. The options for entertainment have increased, but every platform has its own audience.”

Shikha also feels that exploring different mediums is an important part of an actor’s journey. “Every actor wants to do films. I got an opportunity to do one, so I took it up. As an actor, I have learnt to balance opportunities and understand what works for me at different stages of my journey,” she concluded.