Anupama - Namaste America casts Padma Shri awardee Sarita Joshi in a key role; read details here

Hotstar is bringing a prequel to the long-running popular soap opera Anupamaa, which has cast veteran actor Sarita Joshi in a key role.

According to a press release, the Hotstar Special series Anupama - Namaste America will see Joshi, who is often seen on TV shows in maternal roles, play Moti Baa. Her character is described as "the don of the show. Moti Baa is the matriarch of the Shah family and Vanraj's (Sudhanshu Pandey) great-grandmother.

The prequel will also see Rupali Ganguli reprise the titular character and will focus on her early years. Joshi has previously worked with the actor in Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, a dramedy series about a joint family that is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 

In a statement, Joshi said that she is excited to reunite with Ganguli on screen and that she has always been a fan of Anupamaa. The press release adds that Moti Baa will play an integral role in furthering Anupama's dreams of becoming a dancer.

"The character of Moti Baa has lived through Anupamaa’s tribulations and knows how society holds back women, but she wants to mend it by complimenting and uplifting Anupamaa’s life in a refreshing new way. I feel extremely proud to have got to play her. I hope Anupamaa’s fans enjoy the character of Moti Baa too because I had a gala time playing it," added the actor, who was honoured with the Padma Shri last year.

Anupamaa, which premiered in July 2020, follows the domestic trials and tribulations of the titular character, and her duties and responsibilities as a mother, wife and daughter-in-law. The show also deals with the issue of infidelity in marriage among other issues.

Besides Pandey and Ganguli, the prequel will also see Alpana Buch, Arvind Vaidya, Paras Kalnwat, Ashish Mehrotra and Ekta Sariya reprise the roles of Baa, Bapuji, Samar, Toshi and Dolly respectively.

Anupama - Namaste America releases on April 28 on Disney+ Hotstar.