Actor Smriti Khanna is winning hearts with her emotionally powerful performance in the ongoing vertical action drama Maafiya Baap, a gripping series that combines high-intensity action with the deep emotional turmoil of a fractured family. The story revolves around a former contract killer who has left behind his violent past to live a peaceful life as a café owner. However, his world comes crashing down when his daughter is abducted by a dangerous human trafficking syndicate, forcing him to return to the dark underworld he once escaped in a desperate attempt to save her.
Smriti Khanna stars alongside Gaurav Chopra, who plays the determined father willing to risk everything for his child. Describing the project as an “emotionally layered action-oriented vertical drama,” Smriti shared that working on the series was both creatively enriching and physically demanding.
Interestingly, Maafiya Baap marks Smriti Khanna and Gaurav’s second collaboration after their earlier project Betiyaan. Even though the two actors share only a handful of scenes in the series, Smriti revealed that their comfort level developed naturally because of Gaurav’s encouraging and collaborative nature on set.
“Though we had very few scenes together, Gaurav was extremely cooperative and supportive. He constantly pushed himself to deliver his best performance, and that motivated all of us to work even harder. Since the show involved intense action sequences, the shoot was quite challenging, but it was equally exciting and enjoyable,” Smriti Khanna shared.
Speaking about the unique format of vertical dramas, Smriti Khanna explained that the genre demands exceptional focus and adaptability due to extremely tight shooting schedules. “We shoot all the episodes within just three days, so the pace is incredibly fast. It requires complete concentration and quick preparation,” she said.
Smriti Khanna also emphasized that constant practice is essential for growth in the entertainment industry. According to her, actors evolve only when they continuously perform across different mediums, whether it is theatre, OTT, television, films, or digital content.
Produced by Atharva Films Productions, Maafiya Baap has been receiving appreciation for its emotional storytelling, intense action, and engaging performances. Smriti credits the show’s positive and collaborative atmosphere for helping the team bring the emotionally charged narrative alive on screen.

