Seasoned actors Shweta Gautam and Manish Goel are of the same age, and actually started their careers more or less at the same time years back…

However, considering today’s scenario, Manish Goel stays younger, while Shweta has gone past his age…

Does this make you laugh? Inquistive, eh?                                             

Well, both the actors are presently part of &TV’s Bhagyalakshmi (Rashmi Sharma Productions) wherein Shweta plays the mother of the male lead, while Manish plays the younger generation antagonist…

Interestingly, Manish and Shweta had shot for a shelved show 18 years back, which featured Manish, Shweta and Reena Kapoor in central roles. It is heard that Manish and Shweta struck a great chord of friendship while they were shooting for the show. However, with the show getting shelved, they could not continue shooting for long.

Post this, Manish as we know, has had a flourishing career and the same holds good for Shweta too. But the fact remains that never in the last 18 years did Manish and Shweta meet each other, even after being part of the same industry.

Now, Bhagyalakshmi brings them back together, and we hear that both Manish and Shweta reminicised their happy moments when they saw each other for the first time on the sets.

Aww, nostalgic, isn’t it if you meet a person after so long a time!!

But what makes Shweta and Manish laugh out loud is the vast age difference that they carry in this show…

Tsk, tsk, there is a saying that ‘women never age’… But for Shweta, it is the reverse of it, as Manish remains younger in the show, while Shweta plays the elderly ‘maa’ avatar.

And can you imagine that their very first shot had Manish saying the lines, ‘Namaste Auntyji’… addressing Shweta in the show.

Oops!! Heart-breaking was it for Shweta?                            
         
We decided to buzz Shweta to query her on this interesting coincidence. “It’s definitely a nostalgic moment. Yes, meeting Manish after such a long time is a pleasure. It’s nice to see him being so dedicated to his work. Well, on me playing the mother role here, I have to say that nobody did put me on gunpoint and asked me to play the mother. However, when an actor accepts a role, he/she needs to do justice to the character. And having accepted such a role, I have to look a mother and perform it to the best of abilities. So I really don’t mind if Manish calls me a ‘Maa’ or ‘Auntyji’. But yes, on the funnier side, it is a tricky situation to be in, when a guy who was cast opposite me earlier, starts addressing me as ‘maa’…”

We also caught on with Manish who had to say this, “It is indeed great to be shooting with Shweta again. I do remember that when we started, we gelled really well. I was still a newcomer then, and she actually helped me with my lines. I used to rehearse with her before the shots. It is very strange that we did not meet again for so many years, even when we were in the same industry. Well, on the age factor, I have only this to say. Shweta was the chirpy and bubbly sweet girl when I met her years back. And even now, she remains the same sweet girl who is very warm and friendly.”

Well, certainly a heart-warming coincidence.. Three cheers to your friendship, Shweta and Manish!!