1- Kainaaz (Dia Mirza) in Kaafir
Caught in a cross-border struggle between Indian and Pakistani armies, this story is inspired by the life of an innocent Pakistani Shainaaz who is wrongly convicted for 7 years. A compelling, sensitive character set in the time of political upheaval, Kainaaz has been portrayed beautifully by Dia Mirza who owned every scene.
2- Naina (Rani Mukherjee) in Hitchki
Housing a sea of emotions as a Tourette syndrome patient who is ambitious and skilled as a teacher, Rani Mukherjee becomes Naina with ease and convinces viewers of her talent, her disability and everything in between. An endearing story set in a school with each character playing her/his part perfectly, Naina steals the show with her gestures and honest acting.
3- Dr. Ishani (Surbhi Chandna) in Sanjivani 2
A righteous character with many layers to her personality, Dr. Ishani is the protagonist in this iconic medical drama. With parental baggage and a suppressed personality but immense skill and talent as a doctor, Surbhi Chandna gets into the skin of Dr. Ishani and headlines the show brilliantly. She shares in an interview that Malhotra organized a special workshop that could help her transform and understand the intricacies of Dr. Ishani and her behavior.
4- Dr. Riddhima (Jennifer Winget / Shilpa Anand / Sukirti Kandpal) in Dil Mill Gaye
A medical romance drama that changed the course of content in its time, Dill Mill Gaye was a game-changer. Dr. Riddhima’s role as main lead carved a niche for itself in the hearts of all the viewers so much so that they had to find a reason to bring her back in the show. Portrayed by different people at different points of time, Malhotra says Dr. Riddhima is a unique character close to his heart.
5- Durga (Sanjeeda Sheikh) in Ek Hasina Thi
Women seeking justice for a crime committed in the past. However, her method of seeking justice is unconventional. She uses her mind and refrains from conventional modes of finding her solution.
Durga is not only rich, brave, focused with a heart of gold but is also strong, powerful, calculating and manipulative, using her intelligence to stay a step ahead of her adversaries. She doesn’t mind stepping across the boundaries of ‘right’ and flirts with the dark side, but she always remains within the confines of good, never losing touch with her humanity.