Rani Laxmibai comes of age, as actress Kratika Sengar replaces Ulka Gupta

Jhansi ki Rani, one of Zee TV's current TRP-grabbers, recently switched its eight year-old lead Ulka Gupta with 20-something Kratika Sengar. The change was long due. Producers Contiloe Films had initially decided on showcasing the childhood of gutsy Rani Laxmibai for just 30 episodes. But Gupta's surprising popularity changed their decision, and she continued horse-riding and sword-fighting through 100-odd episodes.



Sengar, who has bagged her first lead role with Jhansi ki Rani, is gung-ho, especially about the fact that she shoots next door to Salman Khan's Dabangg sets at ND Studio. Apparently, the film star even gave her tips on horse-riding. Earlier, it was reported that controversy-ridden TV actress Twinkle Bajpai had been offered the role of the older Laxmibai. For waiting-in-the-wings Sengar, this couldn't have been further from the truth.