“I did it because it was different and challenging,” starts off Tanwar, who consciously chose the role that helped her explore her skill as an actor, beyond the scope of things she has previously done on television. “Mai was something I had never done before. It was totally out of my comfort zone. I have played so many central characters before Mai, but this was like a full-on roller coaster. [There was] action, underworld, scams, corruption, crime, anger, guilt, and everything dark that I had not explored earlier. And who wouldn’t want to play a hero who is thrashing baddies and settling scores with them?”

The actor believes that credit should be given where it’s due. Tanwar says that creator Atul Mongia and director Anshai Lal helped her to develop the layered role of Sheel Chaudhary. “I loved the role, but I wasn’t sure if I was suitable for it or [if I] could [even] do it. After the mock shoot, I was exhausted and apprehensive as I realised that it was going to be a demanding shoot. But they were happy and I was on board,” recollects the actor, adding that finding the balance between the good and bad was the best part of the script. “Sometimes, I would know what to do before the scene would start, but it was a struggle and I would find it somewhere while doing the scene. I can say it has been the toughest project till now.”

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Tanwar believes that awards encourage artistes to do better. “Since childhood we are all conditioned to work in a manner that gets us appreciation. So, when you get an award you do feel happy, but my biggest validation is when people tell me that they liked a particular performance. It feels like I got an invisible certificate for my good work.”

Also Read: Working with Sakshi Tanwar on 'Mai' reminded Wamiqa Gabbi of her own mom

Cast your vote for the Hitlist OTT Awards

Sakshi Tanwar has been nominated in the Best Actor (Female): Series category for Mai: A Mother’s Rage. The other nominees are:

. Amruta Subhash (Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt Ltd)
. Fatima Sana Shaikh (Modern Love Mumbai)
. Huma Qureshi (Maharani S02)
. Masaba Gupta (Masaba Masaba S02)
. Shriya Pilgaonkar (Gulty Minds)
. Shriya Pilgaonkar (The Broken News)
. Shefali Shah (Delhi Crime S02)

There are 16 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistott to cast your vote.

Voting lines close on February 22.

More about Mai

The series was directed by Anshai Lal and Atul Mongia