Niaa Sharma's seeing red these days

When you walk on to the set of the Star Plus drama series Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, don’t be surprised if you bump into a red-eyed Maanvi (played by Niaa Sharma). Niaa is suffering from the after effects of glycerine which she is being forced to use as her character is grappling with the fact that she is afflicted with cancer and has to weep buckets. “A couple of days ago we had highly emotional scenes,” says Niaa. “When we ended shooting, my eyes were red and paining.” In the show, she states she has not been able to reveal her affliction with the Big C to her family. And to top it, all her sister Jeevika (played by Krystle Dsouza) has met with an accident and needs lots of blood and Virat has confessed to her that it is Maanvi who he loves. “Because of the cancer, I obviously cannot be among the blood donors and I can’t tell my family why I can’t donate as they don’t know I have cancer.” Furthermore, Niaa does not see the cancer track ending fast. “They will stretch it as far as possible as it very popular. I am sure they will take it to an extreme where I will be on the death bed before some miracle saves me,” she says laughingly. She admits the serious track has come as a big change for her and is testing her abilities. “I was always shown laughing and joking around in the show,” she reveals. “I intend to meet a few cancer survivors and will try to find out how they pulled through the disease and its effects.” She says that viewers will get to see her a new avatar over the next few episodes of the show as the effects of chemotherapy to treat her cancer kick in. “I will be shown without make-up and all. Rather they will make me look bad with my face sunken and eyes drooping etc,” she says. In closing, a shuddering Niaa says, “Just doing the character of a cancer patient has really shaken me up. I am very scared and hope such a killer disease never befalls anyone.” Well said young lady!