Paridhi Sharma Reveals How Jodha Akbar Co-Star Rajat Tokas Saved Her From Drowning - EXCLUSIVE

Television actress Paridhi Sharma, best known for her portrayal of Jodha in the iconic historical drama Jodha Akbar, recently opened up about a terrifying on-set incident that could have ended in tragedy.

In an exclusive conversation with Telly Talk India/Zoom, Paridhi recalled how her co-star Rajat Tokas, who played Emperor Akbar, saved her life during the shoot of a crucial water sequence.The actress said that despite the rumours and speculations that once surrounded their off-screen dynamic, what truly mattered was the sincerity with which they both performed, something clearly reflected in the show’s massive success and everlasting fan love.

Paridhi's off-screen equation with Rajat

Recalling her journey on the show, Paridhi said, “Professional to bahut accha experience tha kyunki jitne bhi scene, ya jo connection logon ko mehsoos hua hai tabhi hua hai jab dono actors ne usi shiddat ke saath perform kiya hai. To vo saare experiences to bahut hi acche the. Full dedication, involvement in every scene!”(Translation: Professionally it was a very good experience because all the scenes or the connection that people felt happened only when both actors performed with the same intensity. So all those experiences were very good. There was full dedication and involvement in every scene!)ALSO READ: Haq Actress Paridhi Sharma Recalls Auditioning For Emraan, Yami's Film - Everybody Loved My Performance | EXCL

When Rajat saved Paridhi

She then narrated the unforgettable moment when a sequence involving deep water took a dangerous turn. Paridhi shared, “Aur ek mujhe scene ekdum se yaad aa raha hai… How does it matter now, it’s been so many years. But jo acchi baat main batana chahungi ki ek scene tha jismein vo paani mein tairne wala scene tha.”(Translation: And I suddenly remembered one scene… How does it matter now, it’s been so many years. But the good thing I want to share is about a scene that involved water.)She explained how the director asked whether she knew swimming, and confident in her skills, she agreed. However, things changed drastically once she entered the river wearing Jodha’s heavy costume and jewellery. Paridhi continued, “To director ne poocha ki aapko swimming aati hai? Maine kaha aati hai… To maine kaha theek hai, kar lenge swimming.… To mujhe swimming costume mein swimming karna aati thi. Jodha ki jewellery, ghaghra aur full costume mein to main apna hi weight nahi sambhal paa rahi thi.”(Translation: The director asked if I knew swimming. I said yes… I said okay, I’ll manage. I knew how to swim in a swimsuit. But with Jodha’s jewellery, lehenga and full costume, I couldn’t handle my own weight.)What she thought was a simple performance turned into a real struggle for survival. Paridhi recalled, “And that moment Rajat usko laga tha main scene kar rahi hoon—‘bachao bachao’, main sach mein doob rahi thi. And Rajat literally saved me… usne hi mujhe poora kheench ke matlab sach mein us moment pe bachaya hai.”(Translation: At that moment Rajat thought I was acting—saying ‘save me, save me’, but I was actually drowning. Rajat literally saved me… he pulled me out and truly saved me in that moment.)Watch the full interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vupel2nCdX0

Jodha Akbar, which aired from 2013, remains one of Indian television’s most loved historical romances. Its grand sets, powerful performances and epic storytelling made it a standout series. Paridhi and Rajat’s chemistry as Jodha and Akbar played a major role in the show's popularity, turning them into household names. The show often required the actors to perform physically demanding and emotionally intense scenes, and Paridhi’s latest revelation proves just how far they were willing to go for authenticity.