19 August,2026 08:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Erica Fernandes (Pictures via Special Arrangement)
After a five-year hiatus from television, Erica Fernandes is back with a role that combines two worlds rarely explored together on the small screen medicine and the armed forces. In 108 Base Hospital-Uri, the actor dons the white coat once again, this time playing a doctor stationed in Kashmir. Known for memorable characters in Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi and Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2, Erica tells mid-day that the show's fresh concept, gripping narrative and emphasis on authenticity drew her back to TV. From being saluted while shooting in an army uniform to mastering complex medical terminology, she opens up about her experience on the show, the changing television landscape and why she believes audiences are now looking beyond TRPs for relatable, quality content.
After five years, you are returning to television with 108 Base Hospital-Uri. What intrigued you most about playing a doctor in the show?
The reason being that the show is so different for television, it's the first time it's been made, that we have something which is a combination of medical and army base. So it is, I have played strong characters in the past, but this is an even stronger character. And to come back with something like this was the selling point for me. It was, yes, definitely, why not? And it was something that was very intriguing to play.
I was looking forward to actually start shooting for it, because there was so much that, when I was preparing also, I was getting excited with the small, small things in it. And when we did the first reading, and it is a very fast-paced show, it is gripping. It is not something that will be dragged and you will be bored of it, like you will change the channel or you will flip through it. And it's very gripping, it's very entertaining at the same time. It has a blend of emotions, it has a blend of patriotism, then you have passion, then you have romance, there is a blend, and friendship also, there is a blend of everything in it. And that is what is special about 108 Base Hospital-Uri.
How much of this treatment with shooting 108 Base Hospital-Uri do you think is bringing a change in TV?
This is definitely something that will bring a major change in TV, in terms of making, in terms of the quality, in terms of storyline, in terms of authenticity, a lot of things. Because we want to watch something now that we can relate to. We don't want to live in a fictional world, and in a fantasy, that, we escape from time to time, but we need to relate to something too. So this is that show.
Seeing women in uniform, especially in Kashmir, how was that experience when you were surrounded by army officials everywhere?
We used to be in our army outfits for the shoot. So whenever we were in the uniform, we used to be saluted to. And that was a great feeling. And they used to be like, "Which unit, ma'am? Jai Hind, ma'am. Which unit?" That was a good feeling in that attire, because I didn't see even one woman officer in Kashmir. So when the two of us were driving to those shoot locations, they were like, "Oh, who is that?"
Was safety a major concern while shooting in Kashmir?
Yes, it was quite important, because we were escorted by army officials around for our own safety, since we were also in army uniforms, and we needed that protection. And, when you're shooting in a location which is sensitive zone. And we have action sequences, and guns being fired, you definitely need the protection.
How much of the doctors' jargons have you managed to get right?
There were parts where, you know, in scenes like Gashmeer (Mahajani), we were like, "Tu bolegi, tu bolegi." I'm like, "No, it's your line, you say it." And we used to fight about giving the terms. We had to really go through quite tough ones, and we had to be so natural with it. That, you know, this is our language. Our language, yeah, the way we speak, yeah. And we used to go on repeating, like, 10,000 times in our heads. Yeah, that was really the most difficult part.
TRPs have been a major part of the TV circuit. Do you think that pressure is necessary for an artist?
It's not the TRPs anymore, because there are a lot of people who want relatable content. There are so many mediums where you can get such things. Why do we still run after TRPs? Because it's something, what we're looking for is great content, something that will keep you gripped, something that will probably teach you something. So that is what we're looking at. TRPs don't run on OTT platforms, do they?
