JOIN USIt wasn't love at first sight.” This is probably the only thought that is commonly shared by actors Asha Negi and Rithvik Dhanjani. Apart from this, almost everything that the telly couple says is in stark contrast.
“When I first met Rithvik, I thought he was snobbish. He had recently returned from Dubai and had already done a few shows by the time we met,” says Negi as her beau adds that he too was unimpressed by her. “She came across as pretty, chatty, loud and over-the-top. I could refer to her as Miss Uttarakhand from Dehradun,” is Dhanjani’s tongue-in-cheek comment.
Speaking to Metrolife, they both insist the “sparks never flew”. Their camaraderie grew with time to transform into admiration followed by love. Negi says, “I still remember how I used to make fun of him when he was acting in the serial Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani. When I realised that I was being paired opposite him in my debut serial, I told my roommate, ‘He is the same guy who sticks his tongue out while delivering his dialogues’,” she says her laughter ringing out loud.
“We don’t remember our anniversary,” she adds as Dhanjani seconds, “Our relationship took its own time to grow.”Usually reel-life romances get a spark in real-life. But in this case, the opposite happened with the romance of their real life being made into an episode on Bindass channel’s show ‘Yeh Hai Aashiqui’.
“Not many people get a chance to portray themselves on screen. So when the opportunity came across, I thought it would be an epic experience to present on screen what we faced in our lives,” he says.
On the contrary, Negi shares that she wasn't comfortable doing so. “I had to present myself from the day I landed in Mumbai. The shy and obedient girl in me used to listen to Rithvik in those days. Now, we are extra-comfortable and quite content in each other's company.”
This not-so-typical love story took a giant leap only when the two agreed to participate in the dance reality show, Nach Baliye Season 6. “Before the shoot started, I took a break and went home. As a matter of fact, I told my parents that I am participating in the show with Rithvik since it allows only real-life jodis,” says Negi, as she shyly admitted being in a relationship to her family.
“We didn’t really leave an option for them but to accept our relationship,” adds Dhanjani who is also from the “old school of thought and could never discuss upfront love matters with parents.”Their synchronisation helped them win the dance show. Still, she considers him as “a source of motivation" when exhausted, while he finds her "words comforting when frustrated”.
A confident Dhanjani confides that he misses “Asha's pampering whenever away from her” while Negi coyly admits, “I can never compare myself to him, even though we both are from the same industry!” Truly, a case of opposites attracting each other!