Prime Video Original Dil Dosti Dilemma is a young adult drama that emphasises the significance of embracing one's roots,
nurturing relationships, and discovering oneself. An adaptation of the book Asmara’s Summer (Penguin Random House) by Andaleeb Wajid, Dil Dosti Dilemma stars Anushka Sen, Kush Jotwani, Tanvi Azmi, and Shishir Sharma in lead roles. The 7-episode, feel-good series is also supported by Shruti Seth, Suhasini Mulay, Vishakha Pandey, Revathi Pillai, and Elisha Mayor.
The plot: Asmara (Sen), a witty and charming young girl from a privileged family in Bengaluru, is excited to take a trip to Canada for her summer break. However, a mistake lands her at her grandparents’ house at Tibbri Road, a middle-class neighbourhood. What she initially sees as a punishment soon transforms into journey of new experiences and realisations.
We caught up with Sen and Jotwani to understand more about the show. Edited excerpts.
What can you tell us about the show, the characters and why young viewers would find it relatable?
Jotwani: The story revolves around a girl accustomed to a certain way of life, but a misstep leads her to spending her summer at her nani's (maternal grandmother's) house in a neighborhood that's far different from her usual environment. I portray Farzaan, her romantic interest, who happens to be one of her nani's neighbors. Although the book Asmara's Summer primarily follows Asmara's journey, it also introduces a rich cast of characters, and our director ensured each one was given depth and significance in the adaptation. The show is filled with twists and turns, dilemmas, and intersecting love stories—romance blooms among parents, grandparents, and children alike.
Sen: Dil Dosti Dilemma is a delightful, wholesome, heartwarming, and comforting story. It's an easy watch, but that doesn't mean the characters lack depth. Each character has their own journey and arc, much like real life. You're the main character in your story, but you know your best friend has their own path. You'll find the show highly relatable and learn many things—you'll laugh and cry along the way.
What I love about the show, something quite rare, is that you can watch it with anyone—whether it's your partner, family, friends, or even grandparents. Everyone will enjoy the show, and it's one you can rewatch because there are so many hidden arcs that you might only catch the second time around.
Kush, this is your debut acting project. Tell us how it was to be a part of the show and to play Farzaan.
I relate a lot to Farzaan—I’d say we share about 8 of 10 characteristics. The biggest difference is that Farzaan is quite inexpressive, while I'm the complete opposite. Sure, Farzaan has had his share of struggles, which have made him more reserved, but I'm quite expressive. I enjoy showing my emotions and making sure others know how I'm feeling and what's on my mind. I'm grateful I got to be part of this project with Prime Video, and I'm thrilled to have worked with Anushka in my debut role. To use one of Farzaan's lines from the show, "Mai muskurana bhul gaya tha aur ab mai muskura raha hoon," I truly am grateful for that.
Anushka, how was it playing Asmara for you and living her summer? Was there anything challenging about it?
I had a fantastic time shooting for this project. We shot it last summer and even filmed some scenes in Bangalore. Asmara is a bit of a snob but has good intentions, the mistakes she makes stem from her being a teenager and naive, not because she's a bad person. So when playing Asmara, finding that balance was a bit challenging, but I'm really grateful to Debbie Rao for her direction.
I'm also thankful to our producers because I got to meet some great people. Kush is no longer just a work friend; he's someone I can talk to about anything, and he's a fun person to be around. I'm really proud of the amazing work he's done, and I believe Asmara and Farzaan are incomplete without each other.
I have a wonderful bond with Revathi (who plays Naina) and Elisha (who plays Tania). In the show, we have a close-knit trio of friends, and they are just delightful. Our characters have been friends since childhood and grew up together, which can be hard to pull off when you've just met as actors. However, they were so warm and welcoming that I formed a strong connection with them during the shoot.
Anushka, this story is about Asmara finding her roots and coming into her own as she realises there’s more to life than materialistic things. Today, everyone compares their lives to that of people they see on social media. As someone who has created a social media niche herself (39.4M on Instagram + 104K followers on X), what’s the one piece of advice you would give to someone who is struggling to stay true to themselves?
I know it's easier said than done, but you have to be comfortable in your own skin. Once you're secure with yourself, it's easier not to compare your life to the lives of people on Instagram. Everyone has their own journeys and struggles. You might think someone has a privileged life based on what you see on your feed, but everyone has their own problems. Remember, life is not working against you; it's happening for you and with you. It's unfortunate that beauty trends can affect your self-esteem at times, but if you like yourself and love who you are, then nothing else matters.
Kush, your role in the show is of someone who grounds Asmara and acts like a compass for her while staying true to himself. You are starting your journey in the acting industry with this show, and are bound to run into some challenging situations. Do you have people in the industry who will be your Farzaan?
I bonded with Anushka when we started shooting, and she's now my go-to person for everything. Even during the filming of Dil Dosti Dilemma, when I faced some personal challenges, Anushka was always there to support me. I'm grateful that she's one of my first co-stars, and her extensive experience across cinema, TV, and OTT platforms is a significant advantage for me. I can learn a lot from her—whether it's about making decisions, learning something new, or even unlearning old habits. Although she's younger than I am, she's like a mentor whom I can call anytime; she even lives nearby. Also, my elder brother Karan Jotwani, who's been an actor and writer for 10 years, always has my back. So, I know these two people are always there for me.
Do you have a standout memory from the set you’d like to share?
Sen: I have so many memorable experiences, and I've been on so many wonderful sets, but this one is by far my favorite. It's going to be very hard to top this; the only thing that could is getting to shoot with them again—hopefully in season 2. One particularly sweet scene that I really enjoyed performing was the airplane scene. You know how it is when someone you like is upset, and you really want to talk to them, but they don't want to and aren't answering your calls? It's one of those moments. Asmara tries a very old-school method to get Farzaan to talk to her, and it's a really lovely scene—both in the way it's written and the way it's shot. It was filmed at sunset, which made it even more perfect.
Jotwani: This is my first project, so every day was filled with new experiences. We had several bike scenes where I was riding with Anushka sitting behind me. Since she also enjoys bike rides, there were times when the shot had long finished, but we kept on riding and returned later. One of my favorite scenes involves Asmara, who doesn't yet know where Farzaan lives, trying to figure it out. I can't give too much away, but there's a terrace scene where Asmara asks for the Wi-Fi password. The backstory is that she came into my shop one day and accidentally took something without paying for it. Farzaan's plan is to expose her, even considering putting up a sign that says, "chor yahan allowed nahi hai," and the Wi-Fi password is also along those lines. I love Anushka's reactions in that scene, and I get to play off her energy. I was given the freedom to be myself because Anushka and I are naturally playful and often engage in lighthearted banter.
What was the most difficult scene to shoot for you and why?
Sen: My first challenging scene was on my first day working with Tanvi ma'am. It was my first day, first scene, and it’s the one you see in the trailer where I’ve made a big mistake. Although we’re both professionals and understood that it was just part of the script, it was still daunting to shoot with such a senior actor. There was another scene where Asmara stands up for something she believed was right, but it was tough for me because I had to raise my voice in front of all the senior actors. However, they all appreciated my performance, and it turned out well.
Jotwani: I remember a particularly vulnerable scene between Asmara and Farzaan. It's set under a bridge, where he finally opens up to Asmara and shares everything that's been on his mind. It's the scene in the trailer where he says, "lagta hai ab sab theek ho jayega." I believe that when you can effectively portray vulnerability on camera, you've reached a significant milestone in a project. Our director, Debbie Rao, really loved the scene, and I couldn't believe it. She even told Anushka, “aaj Kush ne acting solid kiya hai.”
Working with senior actors like Tanvi ma'am and Shishir sir, who are both so talented, was initially intimidating for me. But as we began working, I realized they were incredibly warm and supportive.
Prime Video recently announced a huge slate including almost 70 titles, what are you most excited about from that list?
Sen: Mirzapur’s new season for sure but I’m also excited about the possibility of Family Man Season 3. It is my most favourite show and I have a dream to play Manoj (Bajpayee) sir’s daughter and I imagine it starting with the basuri scene. And ofcourse, Dil Dosti Dilemma on April 25!
Jotwani: I second that, Mirzapur’s new season and I’d love to watch Family Man Season 3 too.
Here are some more stills from Dil Dosti Dilemma, now streaming on Prime Video.
