25 June,2026 04:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Chetna Pande (Picture via Instagram)
Actress Chetna Pande, who recently received appreciation for her performance in Haunted 3D, opened up about the struggles that shaped her acting journey. In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, she revealed how she was unexpectedly replaced from her first television project and how that setback eventually motivated her to stay in the industry.
Recalling how she entered the world of entertainment, Chetna shared that she was pursuing an MBA in Pune around 15 years ago but felt uncertain about her future. "I was doing my MBA and I used to think that I don't want to study. I was just lost, trying to find out what's there for me," she said.
Her life took an unexpected turn when producer Ekta Kapoor spotted her outside a club in Pune. "She just turned around and kept staring at me. Then she sent her PA to me, took my number, and met me the next day," Chetna recalled. Ekta reportedly told her that she was looking for a fresh face for one of her shows and invited her to audition.
Despite having no acting experience, Chetna was selected for Kitani Mohabbat Hai, starring Karan Kundrra. Determined to pursue the opportunity, she left her MBA course and moved to Mumbai. However, after completing a week-long workshop, she received devastating news.
"One day before the promo shoot, they called me and decided that they were replacing me with Kritika Kamra. My world crashed," she said. "I fought with my family, left my MBA, and suddenly I didn't know what I would do with my life."
The actress admitted she was heartbroken and questioned why it had happened to her. "I used to see posters of the show coming out and everyone getting successful. I would sit and feel sad. But today, when I look back, I feel God was preparing me for something really big."
Following the setback, Chetna spent over two years attending auditions and facing rejections. "I had no experience of acting, so I learned through my rejections. My rejections have built who I am today," she said.
Her breakthrough eventually came when producer Vikas Gupta remembered her story and offered her a role in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. Though it was a small part, it opened new doors. "People still remember me from that one episodic show," she said. The opportunity led to projects like MTV Webbed and MTV Fanaah, where she once again worked alongside Karan Kundrra, marking the true beginning of her acting career.
