Rashami Desai returns to TV after 8 years with 'Sayoneee' on Star Plus
Synopsis
After turning down roles for nearly eight years, Rashami Desai is back on Indian television — and she insists the wait was intentional. With 'Sayoneee' premiering on Star Plus on 23 September, the 'Uttaran' star says she chose purpose over paycheque, and believes the story is bigger than any of its cast members.
Key Takeaways
Rashami Desai returns to Hindi fiction TV after nearly eight years away from the genre.
Her new show Sayoneee premieres on 23 September on Star Plus and JioHotstar .
She plays a character named Maya , described as 'very practical' and grounded.
Desai says she declined multiple offers over the years due to lack of connection with the stories or characters.
She made her Hindi TV debut in 2006 with Raavan and rose to fame as Tapasya in Uttaran .
Actor Rashami Desai is set to make her long-awaited return to Hindi television after nearly eight years away from fiction, starring in the upcoming drama Sayoneee, which premieres on 23 September on Star Plus and JioHotstar. Desai, who has been selective about her screen appearances, said the role — not the prospect of a comeback — was what finally drew her back.
Why She Said Yes to Sayoneee
Desai plays a character named Maya, whom she describes as grounded and real rather than dramatised. 'Maya is not just a character or an imagination. She is a very practical character that I am going to play in Sayoneee. And as an actor, I wouldn't deny that I received many offers, but I turned them down because I didn't feel connected to the stories or the characters that were coming my way,' she said.
She emphasised that visibility alone was never the goal. 'I wasn't looking for a comeback on television; I was looking for a purpose. As an artist, we get a number of opportunities, but it's not necessary to just be visible, work and earn money,' Desai added.
The 'Purpose Over Visibility' Approach
Desai says she held out for a project where the writing matched her standard for meaningful work. 'Every artist wants to play a character that is beautifully written,' she noted, adding that Sayoneee has 'that spark' and that 'the story is bigger than the artists themselves.' This philosophy reportedly led her to decline multiple mainstream offers over the better part of a decade.
Rashami Desai's Television Career So Far
Desai made her Hindi TV debut with Raavan in 2006 and rose to nationwide recognition playing Tapasya in the landmark 2000s serial Uttaran. Over the years she appeared in Pari Hoon Main, reality formats including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 6, Zara Nachke Dikha 2, and Nach Baliye 7, and made a special appearance in the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 2. Her most recent small-screen outing was Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey, based on cartoonist R. K. Laxman's iconic Common Man characters.
What to Watch For
With Sayoneee launching on 23 September, audiences and industry observers will be watching to see whether Desai's calculated patience pays off — and whether a story she considers 'bigger than the artists themselves' can cut through an increasingly crowded OTT and linear TV landscape.
Point of View
But it also reflects a genuine tension in Indian television today: the best-known faces from the 2000s soap era face a credibility problem if they return to formulaic roles after years of selective absence. The real measure of her gamble will be whether 'Sayoneee' delivers on the writing quality she says drove her decision — if it does, it validates the wait; if it doesn't, it risks undermining the narrative she has built around her own choosiness. Star Plus, which has struggled to recapture prime-time dominance against streaming platforms, is counting on names like Desai to anchor appointment viewing in an era when audiences have never had more alternatives.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Rashami Desai's new show Sayoneee premiere?
Sayoneee premieres on 23 September on Star Plus and JioHotstar. It marks Rashami Desai's return to Hindi fiction television after nearly eight years.
Who does Rashami Desai play in Sayoneee?
Rashami Desai plays a character named Maya, whom she describes as 'a very practical character' rather than a dramatic or fictional archetype. She says the role is one she genuinely connected with, unlike the many offers she turned down.
Why did Rashami Desai stay away from television for eight years?
According to Desai, she received numerous offers but turned them down because she did not feel connected to the stories or characters being pitched. She said she was 'looking for a purpose,' not merely a return to visibility or income.
What is Rashami Desai best known for in Indian television?
Rashami Desai is best known for playing Tapasya in the popular 2000s serial Uttaran. She made her Hindi TV debut in 2006 with Raavan and has also appeared in reality shows and films, including a special role in Dabangg 2.
What was Rashami Desai's last TV appearance before Sayoneee?
Her most recent small-screen role was in Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey, a show based on cartoonist R. K. Laxman's iconic Common Man characters. Sayoneee is her first fiction drama in nearly eight years.
