Rashami Desai posing at a promotional event for her new daily soap series Sayoneee
Bollywood

Rashami Desai Ends 8-Year Fiction Break With New Show Sayoneee

The TV star opens up about playing Maya and why she rejected numerous offers before finding the right purpose in her latest drama project.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Rashami Desai is officially making her big comeback to daily fiction television. The fan-favorite actress is headlining the upcoming drama series *Sayoneee*, ending an absence from daily soaps that stretched close to eight years. Although Desai never truly left the public eye—staying consistently active through reality shows and digital projects—her return to full-time scripted drama marks a major moment for her followers. For years, viewers have associated Desai with iconic television characters from mega-hits like *Uttaran* and *Dil Se Dil Tak*. Those career-defining roles established her as one of the most bankable stars in the industry, which also meant she set an exceptionally high bar for her next long-term television project.

Why did Rashami Desai take an eight-year break from daily soaps?

According to reports surrounding the new show, Desai’s extended hiatus from daily fiction was entirely by choice. While plenty of scripts landed on her desk during her time away, the actress admitted that none of them resonated enough to warrant a full commitment. For Desai, simply maintaining a screen presence was never a valid reason to sign a contract. She remained determined to wait for a project that felt right, turning down multiple offers until the right story presented itself. That long wait finally came to an end when she read the script for *Sayoneee*, finding the exact narrative strength and character depth she had been hunting for.

Who is Rashami Desai playing in Sayoneee?

Desai is stepping into the shoes of a character named Maya for the new series. Rather than playing an idealized or overly exaggerated figure, Desai describes Maya as a realistic and practical woman whose actions are rooted in real-world logic. Speaking about her long-awaited return to the fiction space, Desai explained that she was never looking for a quick comeback just to get back on television. Instead, she was searching for a genuine purpose in her acting work. With Maya and *Sayoneee*, she feels she has finally found the meaningful project she held out for.

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Rashami Desai: the roles, the split and the reality-TV fallout

Uttaran makes her a household name. A marriage breakdown and Bigg Boss put her private life on screen. These are the milestones behind Rashami Desai’s television career.

  1. Tapasya puts her on the map

    Rashami Desai — Tapasya puts her on the map

    Desai joins Uttaran as the adult Tapasya, opposite Tina Datta’s Ichcha. The long-running drama makes her a household name, with Tapasya’s jealousy and scheming giving Desai her defining television role.

  2. The marriage ends

    Rashami Desai — The marriage ends

    Desai and Sandhu divorce. Their split follows a joint appearance on Nach Baliye 7 in 2015, when the couple finish as runners-up.

  3. Shorvori brings a different kind of drama

    Rashami Desai — Shorvori brings a different kind of drama

    Desai takes the role of Shorvori in Dil Se Dil Tak, alongside Sidharth Shukla and Jasmin Bhasin. Its marriage-and-surrogacy storyline puts her at the centre of a family drama rather than in Tapasya’s antagonist territory.

  4. 2019–2020Flashpoint

    Bigg Boss exposes a private fault line

    Rashami Desai — Bigg Boss exposes a private fault line

    Desai enters Bigg Boss 13. During the season, host Salman Khan reveals that Arhaan Khan, with whom she is romantically involved, has been married and has a child. The disclosure turns their relationship into a public controversy. Desai reaches the February 2020 final and finishes fourth.

  5. Naagin adds another fiction

    Rashami Desai — Naagin adds another fiction

    Desai joins Naagin 4 as Shalaka in March. The supernatural serial gives her a fiction role after both Dil Se Dil Tak and her Bigg Boss 13 appearance—an important date in the chronology of her scripted television work.

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People also ask

What is Rashami Desai's new TV show?
Rashami Desai is returning to daily fiction television as the lead character Maya in the drama series Sayoneee.
How long was Rashami Desai away from daily television soaps?
Rashami Desai took a hiatus of close to eight years from daily fiction serials, though she remained active on reality TV and digital platforms.
What hit shows is Rashami Desai known for?
Rashami Desai earned widespread recognition for her performances in popular Indian television shows like Uttaran and Dil Se Dil Tak.