At a time when actresses are not even willing to go for de-glam roles, young Nia Sharma went ahead and donned a bald look to play a cancer patient in her TV show "Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai". She admits it wasn't easy to do so.

"Frankly speaking, it wasn't easy for me to sport such a look. I remember I cried in front of my mother saying I don't want to do something like this, " Nia, who plays Maanvi in the Star Plus show, told.

"But she convinced me. She said now that you have entered the industry, you can't crib about things, just go for it. With her encouraging words, I gathered all my strength and just went for it, " she added.

Nia forayed into the small screen with "Kaali-Ek Agnipariksha" and was later seen in "Behenein". However, it is her role in 'Ek Hazaaron Mein...' that catapulted her to popularity.

The current track shows Maanvi suffering from leukemia and Nia admits that the intensity of the role did have an impact on her personally.

"Initially, when it was revealed that my character suffered from cancer. The intensity of the role did leave a void deep within. With the bandana tied on my head and with the extremity I had to play out the emotions, I found myself in some other world. But now everything is sort of fine, " said the 21-year-old.

Acting happened to Nia by chance. She was pursuing her graduation in mass communication when she gave an audition for "Kaali..." and got selected.

"If not acting, I would have been working as an intern in any of the media organisation, " said Nia, who wanted to be an anchor.

However, she says her stint in daily soap rarely leaves any time to socialise. "I don't party or go out clubbing. At the end of the shoot, I am so tired that I only wish to go and sleep at my home, " she added.

Despite being young, Nia has learned her lessons well and said: "In this industry, you get to meet so many new people but at the same time it is important for you to not get influenced by them. Remain grounded and keep yourself calm and compose."