“Age Shouldn’t Decide Who We Fall in Love With”: Aditi Dev Sharma on COLORS’ ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’

COLORS’ ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ is challenging the age-old notions of romance with a refreshing love story that explores whether age should really define who we fall in love with. Rooted in the thought ‘Dil Bas Dil Dekhta Hai’, the finite series follows Preeti Arora (played by Aditi Dev Sharma), a 35-year-old independent woman who has spent years navigating societal expectations around marriage, stability and the ‘right age’ to settle down. After a heartbreak, Preeti finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Aarav, a charming and emotionally mature man who is ten years younger than her. As she navigates this unexpected relationship, Preeti’s journey becomes one of rediscovering herself, finding the courage to start over and choosing what feels right over what looks right to the world. Starring Aditi Dev Sharma, Daksh Puri, Kunal Karan Kapoor and Aishwarya Sakhuja, ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ explores love, societal perceptions and the courage to follow one’s heart. Speaking about the show and her character, Aditi Dev Sharma opens up about the age gap between Preeti and Aarav, challenging societal perceptions around relationships, and why this story holds a special place in her heart.

1. Tell us about your character.
A. I play Preeti Arora, a 35-year-old confident, independent and hardworking woman who is professionally successful but continues to face the familiar pressure of settling down from her parents and society, while enduring office politics. She has spent five years with Gaurav and believes she is finally moving towards the life she has always been expected to build, until his UPSC posting changes him and their relationship ends in betrayal. For Preeti, this becomes a moment of questioning everything she thought she wanted and whether she has been making choices for herself or for the expectations around her. Then Aarav enters her life. He is 25, ten years younger than her, and completely unexpected. Yet, with him, Preeti feels understood and comfortable in a way she hasn’t experienced before. I think that is what makes her story so relevant. At 35, she is still allowed to discover herself, take chances and fall in love, even if the person she falls for doesn’t fit the conventional idea of a match. Her journey is really about finding the confidence to put her happiness first.

2. How was your experience working with Daksh Puri?
A. It was a wonderful experience. The story requires a lot of emotional honesty between Preeti and Aarav, so having a comfortable and trusting equation with Daksh was very important. He always makes sure that I am comfortable, which makes it easy for us to work together. What has really impressed me is how confident he is, especially considering that this is his first show. When I was his age, I didn’t think I was nearly as confident as he is today. He brings a lovely freshness, sincerity and maturity to Aarav, which makes their relationship feel natural on screen. Beyond work, he is also one of the best human beings I have met, and I have genuinely enjoyed working with him and discovering these characters together.

3. How was your experience working with your co-actors on this show?
A. Working with my co-stars has honestly been one of the most beautiful parts of this journey. Kunal is such a wonderful person to work with, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing the screen with him. Aishwarya, who plays my best friend and soul sister Sandhya, is someone I absolutely adore; watching her as Sandy often makes me think that I should have a ‘Sandy’ in my personal life too! She brings so much warmth and positivity to the set. Working with Grusha and Vinod, who play my parents, has been an absolute honour. They bring so much experience and wisdom to the table, and I feel truly blessed to have them around and learn from them every day. I genuinely feel lucky to have such an amazing team around me, and every day on this show teaches me something new. I’m not just enjoying the work, but also the people and the beautiful journey we are creating together.

4. How did you prepare for your role in ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’?
A. Preparing for Preeti was quite personal for me because I have been at that stage in life where people start attaching a lot of expectations to a woman’s age. I also watched the Korean Drama ‘Something in the Rain’ while preparing for the role, which helped me understand the nuances of the story and the emotions of the characters. I know what it feels like to have people believe that by a certain age, you should have your personal life figured out and should be making all the ‘right’ choices. So, in many ways, I didn’t have to look too far to understand some of what Preeti is going through. What I really wanted to explore was the emotional side of being 35 and having to start over after investing five years in a relationship that you thought was your future. There is a certain vulnerability that comes with that, even when you are otherwise a very confident and independent woman. Then there is Aarav, who is ten years younger, and suddenly Preeti has to deal with an entirely different set of questions from the people around her. I wanted to make sure that her age-gap relationship never felt like a gimmick. For her, it is simply about finding someone with whom she feels understood and happy. I think having lived through different stages of life myself helped me understand that there is no particular age at which you stop discovering yourself or finding love.

5. Unlike typical romantic dramas, ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ brings a fresh perspective to love while beautifully exploring the idea that age is just a number. Now that the show is on-air, how do you think audiences are responding to this unique premise and its underlying message?
A. I think what makes the show special is that it doesn’t simply say age is a number; it makes us question why we allow age to decide whether a relationship is right or wrong. Preeti and Aarav’s relationship may be unconventional, but the emotions they experience love, companionship, insecurity, vulnerability and the need to feel understood are universal. Preeti has spent years being measured against a societal checklist, while Aarav sees her beyond all of that and makes her feel seen, safe and happy. It has been heartening to see audiences connect with these emotions and with Preeti’s journey of choosing what feels right over what looks right to the world. Ultimately, I think the show reminds us that when it comes to love, dil bas dil dekhta hai.

6. The story is set in Delhi, and you’ve spent a good amount of time shooting there. How was that experience for you?
A. Shooting in Delhi was a wonderful experience because the city is such an integral part of the show and adds authenticity to our characters and their world. Since both Preeti and Aarav are closely connected to Delhi, shooting at real locations helped us create a world that feels natural, lived-in and relatable. Aarav’s familiarity with the city also adds another layer to his character and his journey.

7. ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ is adapted from the internationally acclaimed Korean drama ‘Something in the Rain’. What was it like being part of a story that has already resonated with audiences globally?
A. We were very happy when we got to know that we are officially adapting the show. It is exciting to be part of a story that has already connected with audiences globally, while also bringing it into an Indian context. The emotions of love, heartbreak, relationships and societal expectations are universal, but our characters, circumstances and relationships have been adapted keeping Indian social and cultural realities in mind. I think that balance between a globally loved concept and a relatable Indian treatment makes Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar special.

8. ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’ is now on-air. What can audiences look forward to as Preeti and Aarav’s story unfolds?
A. The show is now on-air, and with the first five episodes out, I think audiences have already got a glimpse of Preeti and Aarav’s world and the unexpected connection they share. But this is just the beginning. You’ll see how love finds a way, even when society, circumstances and age stand in its way. Preeti’s journey is also about rediscovering herself, finding the courage to choose happiness and allowing herself to believe in love again. So, if you haven’t watched the first five episodes yet, don’t miss them! There’s so much more to come, and I’m excited for audiences to see how their story unfolds. Ultimately, dil bas dil dekhta hai.

Watch ‘Shayad Yahi Hai Pyaar’, every Monday to Friday at 9:30 PM only on COLORS’ and JioHotstar.