Portraying a character a third time over is like returning home. Actor Amit Sial attests to that, as he gears up for the third season of Maharani, in which he plays the nemesis to Huma Qureshi’s Rani Bharti. They may lock horns on screen, but off it, Sial is all praise for Qureshi’s ability to motivate the crew with her sheer presence. “Her energy on set is inspiring. Regardless of whether we are tired or bored, we have to give our best to each other. It’s like a friendly boot camp where we are all there for each other, trying to get the shoot going and make the process better for one another,” he says. 

Over the last two seasons, Sial has been appreciated for his performance of a conniving opposition leader to Qureshi’s former chief minister. The SonyLIV political drama is one in a string of series that has earned him the audience’s attention. But attention also comes with its own demands. “I have been told many times to [cash in on] this attention, to hire a [public relations] machinery. I have tried that too, but I suck at it. It’s not in my genes,” he laughs.