The Hot Hit Pair Eisha and Sarrtaj

In a short span of time, ‘Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani’s lead pair Eisha Singh and Sarrtaj Gill has garnered accolades from the viewers for their performance and on-screen chemistry. In a candid chat, the duo recounts their journey and tells us what makes them a hit pair.​

How did you guys break the ice when you met each other for the first time?

Eisha: It was so hot that ice melted itself (laughs). I guess it was when I asked him something related to his shows.

Sarrtaj: It happened gradually. I’m a great guy with lots of patience (laughs). She initially did not open up. It took her 10 days to be comfortable with me.

Was it awkward filming romantic scenes?
Eisha: No. We are actors and I’m very much comfortable with him. At the same time, we are good friends. We know how to switch off and on.

Sarrtaj: Not at all. When your co-actor is so comfortable with you, then there won’t be any awkwardness. We even portrayed as if we are kissing each other many times but still we are OK, because we are good friends.

What makes your on-screen chemistry work?
Eisha: Our hard work and dedication towards the show.

Sarrtaj: Our friendship and comfort bond with each other. We understand and react to each other the way we want.

Who is better co-star among the two of you?
Eisha: I am (laughs). Actually both of us! We support each other. We make each other comfortable. We respect each other’s point of views.

Sarrtaj: I am (laughs). Because I’m open to suggestions, whereas coming to Eisha, especially in the initial days when you tell her something, she would give looks and say “I know”. She was not open to advise at that time. But now we can say anything we want.

Who takes more retakes?
Eisha: Sarrtaj. Whenever he gets more lines he takes more retakes.

Sarrtaj: Couple of days before Eisha took nine retakes. So you can guess who takes more. My retakes are 3-4.
Mostly I give my optimum by 2nd or 3rd take.

Is there any scene that made you go “Oh I wish I had done it better”?
Eisha: We realise it on sets that “I can do better or take one more retake for this scene”. If we don’t realise at that moment, then I think when we see the telecast then I feel, “Wish I could have done better”. It happens sometimes.

Sarrtaj: Every scene. My director calls me “USA- Unsatisfied Aunty”.

What is the one thing you like and dislike about each other?
Eisha: The thing that I like about him is that he is a very good person and supportive. He is innocent kind of a guy and a very good co-star. What I don’t like is, he eats lots of sweets and when he has to be serious he isn’t serious.

Sarrtaj: I like her childishness and innocent eyes. What I initially disliked was her egoistic nature. Now we are best buddies.

What’s your off-screen equation like?
Eisha: We are very good friends and he is my food partner. We both are big foodies.

Sarrtaj: Great. We behave like kids. Our director always tells us to be quiet. We go for movies with our parents. I share my birthday with her father.

Is there interesting fan comment on your Jodi that’s caught your eye?
Eisha: So many comments. But yes, there is one comment saying that we both are fair and we look like brother and sister (laughs).

Sarrtaj: Ah, I have seen a comment where they said that I was giving awkward looks while kissing Eisha on-screen, which I did not.

Who is crazier among st the two of you?
Eisha: I think both of us. We both are very crazy. We do stupid things around the sets all the time. We behave like five-year-old kids.

Sarrtaj: Myself. Eisha calls me a nutcase and tells that I don’t behave according to my age.’

Rapid-fire

Your favourite corner on the sets?
Eisha: Mid-stairs of the sets. We sit most of the time there.
Sarrtaj: Garden and swimming Pool.

Your favourite food on sets?
Eisha: Chole-Batura, Rajma and Harga peti.
Sarrtaj: Upma with papadi.

The thing you cannot do on sets?
Eisha: I can do everything on sets. I cannot go and sit in the loo and change my clothes over there (laughs).
Sarrtaj: You have to keep quiet, which we can’t. And you can’t go late to the sets.

Your favourite line on sets?
Eisha: Are yaar, set itna dur kyu hein?
Sarrtaj: Shri Sadgaru Sainath Maharaj ki jai. It means ‘pack up’ - my language.

Your wildest fantasy?
Eisha: I don’t have any particular one.
Sarrtaj: Go to Goa without coming to shoot and the production house is OK with it.

Favourite actor and actress from television?
Eisha: Well, I like all actors from TV
Sarrtaj: I don’t watch much TV. So as of now, no one.

Favourite actor and actress from films?
Eisha: Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor.
Sarrtaj: Sridevi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan.

Favourite show (other than yours)
Eisha: ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma’.
Sarrtaj: ‘Breaking Bad’.