After making a mark in television and Punjabi cinema, Sargun Mehta Dubey, who started her career with 12/24 Karol Bagh in 2009, has turned TV producer with Udaariyaan. While she has previously backed Punjabi films, she says making a television show from scratch was daunting. “I was ready to quit every five days, and sometimes every day, but then I would push myself to take the next step,” says Mehta.

From facing the camera to figuring out the logistics behind creating a show, the role shift was dramatic, bringing with it a fair share of challenges. The actor-producer says the biggest hurdle was to build a massive set in Chandigarh, where the series has been shot in entirety. “Nobody here had ever made such a lavish set for a television show. We had hired labour from Chandigarh itself. Once it was done, I felt nothing else seemed as challenging as this. [When we started filming] we realised there was not a lot of technical support in the city. So, I had to fly down technicians from Mumbai,” says Mehta, who conceptualised and wrote the daily soap two years ago. “[An experienced producer] would have saved more money. Mujhe toh lagta hai maine bahut paisa jala diya,” she laughs, before adding, “In the end, I am happy with the team.”