Jayati Bhatia on Mumbai monsoon struggles: 'I'd hitch my sari to my knees'
Synopsis
Jayati Bhatia's rain-boots-and-hitched-sari monsoon walk became an accidental viral moment — but her real point was about the crew members on bikes and buses who brave Mumbai's floods every day with no cab to fall back on. Thirty years in the city, and the waterlogging story hasn't changed.
Key Takeaways
Jayati Bhatia has lived in Mumbai for nearly 30 years and says the monsoon commute ordeal remains unchanged.
She once bought rain boots and walked to set with her sari hitched to her knees — bystanders filmed the moment.
Bhatia highlighted the harder plight of unit crew who travel by scooter, bike, or bus through heavy rains.
She plays Sharda Bua in Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile , airing on Zee TV .
Despite the disruption, she described the monsoon as essential, noting Mumbai depends on it for its water supply.
Actress Jayati Bhatia, best known for playing Sharda Bua in the Zee TV show Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile, has opened up about the annual ordeal of commuting to sets during Mumbai's monsoon season — including a memorable moment involving a pair of rain boots that turned her into an unlikely viral subject.
Three Decades, Same Story
Bhatia, who has lived in Mumbai for nearly 30 years, says the city's monsoon chaos has remained stubbornly unchanged. 'I've been in Mumbai for almost 30 years now, and every monsoon it's the same story,' she said. 'I've had countless moments where I've had to wade through flooded streets just to reach the set.'
The actress recalled purchasing rain boots a couple of years ago as a practical solution to the annual waterlogging. 'I would hitch my sari up to my knees, wear the boots, and walk with an umbrella over my head. It was quite a sight. A lot of people even made videos of it. But honestly, I was comfortable because I can't stand wet clothes or soggy slippers — they're extremely uncomfortable,' she said.
The Harder Reality for Unit Members
While Bhatia acknowledged the privilege of having access to cabs and ride-hailing services, she was quick to point the spotlight at the crew members who have no such cushion. 'We are still fortunate that we have cars, Ubers, or Olas to get to the sets,' she noted. 'I actually feel the most for our unit members who travel on scooters, bikes, or by bus and then have to walk all the way to the set in heavy rains. These four months are especially challenging for them.'
Her observation cuts to a rarely discussed reality in the Hindi television industry — that the glamour on screen is built on the back of technicians and support staff who brave the city's notorious waterlogging with far fewer resources.
A Necessary Evil
Despite the hardships, Bhatia struck a philosophical note about the season. 'What can we do? We have to welcome the monsoon with open arms because, after all, without it, Mumbai wouldn't get the water it needs,' she said.
This comes as Mumbai continues to grapple with recurring flooding during the June–September monsoon window, a perennial challenge that disrupts daily life and shoots up commute times across the city.
About Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile, currently airing on Zee TV, follows two individuals from contrasting backgrounds whose lives intersect through fate. Jayati Bhatia plays Sharda Bua, a key supporting character in the show's ensemble. The series explores how circumstance, rather than choice, can redefine relationships.
Point of View
But the sharper observation is the one she slips in almost as an aside — that actors with cars and ride-hailing apps have a fundamentally different monsoon experience than the technicians and junior crew who keep productions running. Mumbai's flooding is a perennial infrastructure failure dressed up each year as a seasonal inconvenience, and the entertainment industry is a microcosm of that inequality. The rain boots moment went viral; the crew member on a waterlogged bike did not.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jayati Bhatia and what show is she currently in?
Jayati Bhatia is a veteran Indian television actress currently playing the role of Sharda Bua in the Zee TV drama Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile. She has been based in Mumbai for nearly 30 years.
What happened when Jayati Bhatia wore rain boots to the set?
A couple of years ago, Bhatia bought rain boots to navigate Mumbai's flooded streets during monsoon. She would hitch her sari up to her knees, put on the boots, and walk with an umbrella — a sight that prompted bystanders to film and share videos of her.
What did Jayati Bhatia say about Mumbai's monsoon flooding?
She said the situation has remained unchanged over her nearly 30 years in the city, describing repeated instances of wading through flooded streets to reach the set. She also expressed concern for unit crew members who commute by scooter, bike, or bus during the heavy rains.
What is Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile about?
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile is a Zee TV drama that follows two people from different backgrounds whose lives intersect through circumstance rather than choice. It explores how unexpected situations can reshape relationships.
Why does Jayati Bhatia say Mumbai must accept the monsoon?
Despite the flooding and commute hardships, Bhatia noted that Mumbai's water supply depends on the monsoon, making it a necessary season even with all its disruptions.
