– Maharaj’s Shalini Pandey Relives Her “Crazy” Acting Dreams In Bandwaale As Small-Town Girl Mariam –
A small-town confrontation and a big leap of faith led Shalini Pandey to her celluloid dreams.
Arjun Reddy fame Shalini Pandey is starring in the recently released series Bandwaale on Prime Video. Playing a wannabe poetess in the series, her character had to overcome internal and external factors to achieve her dreams. The actress saw herself in the early stages of her career as Mariam, she said to a publication. Read all about it below, and know more about the new show as well!
Bandwaale’s Shalini Pandey Related To Her Character’s Struggles
In an interview with PTI, Shalini Pandey admitted that Mariam, a small-town girl with big ambitions, allowed her to “relive” that time in her life when people did not see eye to eye about an acting career. Called “crazy” for wanting to pursue it further, she had to fight tooth and nail to make her way into the entertainment industry.
Hailing from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, her dreams of becoming a movie star were met with scorn and disbelief. Most people around thought it was too burdensome. Though vocal about her goal, her path to becoming an actor took courage and hard work.
— Shalini Pandey (@ShalzpOfficial) January 11, 2026
Adding that she was proud of her role in Bandwaale, she hoped that Mariam would serve as a role model for small-town girls. Though it may seem difficult, it is possible to go for what one wants!
Shalini Pandey added that her on-screen showdown with her father in the Prime Video series mirrored her own experience. It brought back memories of the time she sat her parents down to explain that she was serious about pursuing acting.
turn up the volume, the Bandwaale are here 🎵🎤#BandwaaleOnPrime, Feb 13 #ShaliniPandey #ZahanKapoor @swanandkirkire @onlymuchlouder @ankurtewari #TusharrKumar #Preran #AkshatVerma @yashrajmukhateX #KausarMunir@ashishvid #AnupamaKumar pic.twitter.com/WdLB8whQ6o
— prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) February 11, 2026
Also Read: Shalini Pandey On Comparison With Alia Bhatt: “We Don’t Need Another Alia”
Created by Swanand Kirkire and Ankur Tewari, Bandwaale follows Miriam (Shalini Pandey), an aspiring poet from Ratlam (yes, that town from Jab We Met). She anonymously uploads her work online and is supported in her endeavour by a DJ and a brass band singer. With 8 episodes out, the series is an ode to small-town India and its big city dreams.
Catch Bandwaale on Prime Video today!
First Published: February 17, 2026 9:55 PM
