Bikaner palaces turn into sets for TV show Bahu Begum

The palaces of Bikaner have turned into shooting sets for the upcoming TV show Bahu Begum. The star cast of the show – Arjit Taneja, Samiksha Jaiswal, Diana Khan reached Bikaner last week to shoot for a few episodes while actress Simone Singh joined the cast later. The cast will be shooting in Bikaner till June 26.
Diana Khan is playing the love interest of Arjit. She tells us that the show’s narrative is based in Bhopal and the only reason to come to Bikaner is because of the city’s majestic heritage properties.“Everything is so beautiful here. I’m certain that shooting in Bikaner will make our show look visually quite appealing,” she says.
Arjit Taneja as Azaan and Daina Khan as Shayra shooting for Bahu Begum in Bikaner
Simone Singh, who is known for her diverse roles in films and TV is playing the character of the bahu begum of Bhopal. Simone tells us that her character is that of a beloved begum who cares for people while dealing with a troubled personal life.
(L-R) Samiksha, Arjit and Daina
Simone has been to Rajasthan, including Bikaner quite a few times before and says that she loves coming to the desert state for personal or professional work. “I have been to Bikaner before and simply love the cultural and culinary offerings of the city. Simone adds, “Shooting here amidst the palace like properties is amazing.” She also plans to explore Bikaner during her free time. “I would love to go exploring in the city, try out the local cuisine and do some shopping if I get a day off, as I adore everything about Rajasthan,” says the actress.
Simone Singh
On the other hand, Samiksha Jaiswal, who is playing the role of Noor in the show, has no plans to explore the city. “I’d rather sleep than go out and do all touristy things,” she laughs. “I am enjoying my stay at the palace. Palaces fascinate me and you don’t often get a chance to stay at such properties,” she adds. Talking about her experience of shooting in Bikaner, she says, “It’s a different experience to shoot in palaces and heritage properties than studios. It’s also little difficult to shoot outdoors during the day due to the scorching heat. But otherwise, the experience has been great so far.”

Talking about her role, Samiksha says, “Noor has a lot of shades and is different from the usual female protagonists that we get to see on TV. I am happy that through the character, I’ll be able to showcase my versatility as an actor.”
Arjit Taneja, who plays the male lead, says, “I am playing the role of a nawab of Bhopal.” Arjit has been to Rajasthan a couple of times before including Jaipur, Udaipur and Mount Abu. He has even shot a music video in Jaipur. However, this is his first time in Bikaner and due to the heat, shooting for the show has become taxing for the actor. He says, “It’s extremely hot. We are shooting at a palace near Bikaner and the scorching temperature has already taken its toll on my health. But since it’s a new show, we are excited and geared up for the shoot.” Like Samiksha, even Arjit has no plans to go out and explore the city. “We have been shooting back to back. As soon as we are done shooting, we eat and crash,” he says.