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Apollena – Sapno Ki Unchi Udann is an Indian Hindi-language television science drama series that premiered on Colors TV on 3 December 2024. Produced by Gul Khan under 4 Lions Films, it stars Aditi Sharma, Sandeep Baswana and Samarthya Gupta. The series tells the inspiring story of a young girl aspiring to become India's first female astronaut while facing societal challenges linked to her father's past.

Plot

Set in 2005 in Delhi, an Independence Day celebration is underway. Giridhar Shukla's family, including his wife Madhu and their son Neil, attend the flag hoisting ceremony. Amidst the crowd, a stranger accidentally pushes Madhu, who is pregnant. Giridhar prevents her from falling. Later, Giridhar expresses his disappointment to Madhu, noting that Neil doesn't share an interest in aircraft like other children. She tells him that he is interested in music. Giridhar reflects on his dreams for Neil and his hopes to see them fulfilled. Pallavi Sachdeva, a senior scientist and Giridhar's boss gets an official letter.

Girdhar tells his wife that Pallavi was a air force coordinator earlier. Now, she is a senior scientist in his team. He wishes to introduce her to Pallavi. Pallavi informs Girdhar that about a research project, to develop the India's first astronaut training facility has got an fund. India's most prestigious space research organisation, SRI is funding it. Pallavi says to him if they become successful they will be able to send our astronauts in the space.

Madhu gets a labour pain. Pallavi informs them that VIP arrived here so the road is blocked. She takes them to the lab. She did her delivery there. Madhu gives a birth to a baby girl in the lab.

Girdhar takes his family to his native Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. His mom complaints that she got an chance to meet her granddaughter after three months as they are always staying in Delhi. A naming ceremony function is arranged for the baby. Madhu asks Renu to choose a name for her daughter. She suggests few names but Girdhar didn't liked it. He named Apollena to his daughter.

Giridhar's mom creates a scene seeing the ticket to Delhi. He informs her that it's important to go back to Delhi. She argues with him. Giridhar notices that Neil is not interested in studies as he doesn't even know 9 plantes names. Apollena answers to it. He feels proud of her. He decided to fulfill his dream through his daughter which he dreamt for Neil. Giridhar and his family leaves for Delhi.

Later, Giridhar brought his family to the lab, where Pallavi notices Appolena's love for space and advises Giridhar to train Apollena to send to the space.

On her 6th birthday Apollena wears astronaut's custom and Giridhar encourages her. Pallavi and Giridhar are arrested some CBI officers under the charge of treason against the country. Apollena runs behind the police jeep but falls down. Giridhar is blacklisted by common people. Young Apollena vows to prove her father's innocence. Giridhar then trains Apollena in order to become an astronaut.

Apollena is now grown up living in Chitrakut with her family members. Apollena got admission in a boys college at her village. Sanjay creates a fake MMS video in order to insult Appolena but fails. A mail comes to Apollena, who thinks that the mail came from IASA. A honouring ceremony was organised for Apollena. The mail later turns out to be fake. Soon, enters Shlok Pandey. Shlok and Apollena has a cute conversation.

Cast

Main

• Aditi Sharma as Apollena "Appu" Shukla: Giridhar and Madhu's daughter (2024–present)
  • Ira Rai as Child Apollena Shukla (2024)
• Sandeep Baswana as Giridhar Shukla: Damyanti's son; Apollena and Neil's father (2024–present)
• Samarthya Gupta as Shlok Pandey: Mahadev and Saraswati's son; Apollena's love-interest; Ved's eldest brother (2025–present)

Recurring

• Eva Shirali as Madhu Shukla: Giridhar's wife; Apollena and Neil's mother (2024–present)
• Hritik Yadav as Neil Shukla: Giridhar and Madhu's son; Apollena's brother (2024–present)
  • Hardik Mehta as Child Neil Shukla (2024)
• Kiran Bhargava as Damyanti Shukla: Giridhar and Renu's mother; Apollena and Neil's grandmother (2024–present)
• Garima Kaushal as Sangita Pathak: Renu and Ramakant's daughter (2024–present)
  • Kayra Mulani as Child Sangita Pathak (2024)
• Surabhi Tiwari as Renu Shukla Pathak: Damyanti's daughter (2024–present)
• Sameer Vijayan as Ramakant Pathak: Renu's husband (2024–present)
• Karan Khandelwal as Sanjay Singh: Mohit's friend (2024–present)
• Atul Bhardwaj as Mohit: Sanjay's friend (2024–present)
• Akash Kapoor as Abhay (2024–present)
• Vibhanshu Dixit as Akshay: Sangita's fiancée (2024–present)
• Het Makwana as Bittu (2024–present)
• Sanket Choukse as Ved Pandey: Mahadev and Saraswati's son; Shlok's younger brother (2025–present)
• Geeta Tyagi as Saraswati Pandey: Mahadev's wife; Shlok and Ved's mother (2025–present)
• Shahbaz Khan as Mahadev Pandey: Saraswati's husband; Shlok and Ved's father (2025–present)
• Surbhi Chandna as Pallavi Sachdeva: A senior scientist; Giridhar's boss (2024)

Production

Casting

Shivangi Joshi, Niharika Chouksey and Adhik Mehta were approached for the lead role, but Aditi Sharma was finalized for the role. Sandeep Baswana was cast as Giridhar Shukla, Apollena's father. Akash Kapoor was selected to play Abhay. In late December 2024, Samarthya Gupta was roped in as the male lead, Shlok Pandey.

References

1. "Shaan's Soulful Voice Powers The Title Track Of Aditi Sharma's 'Apollena', Inspiring Girls To Dream Big". The Times of India. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
2. "'Apollena - Sapno Ki Unchi Udann': Aditi Sharma Stars In Inspiring Journey To Become India's First Female Astronaut". The Times of India. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
3. "Niharika Chouksey & Adhik Mehta NOT CONFIRMED For Four Lions' Next On Colors TV (Exclusive)". Free Press Journal. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
4. Choudhary, Aanchal (7 October 2024). "Aditi Sharma On Being Replaced From Apollena & Being Roped In Again: 'Jo Aapka Hai Wo Aapke Paas..' (Exclusive)". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
5. "Aditi Sharma living her childhood dream through the show Apollena – Sapno Ki Unchi Udann". The Tribune India. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
6. Trivedi, Tanvi (30 November 2024). "The Idea Is To Play Roles With Substance, It Does Not Matter If I Am Playing Father Roles: Sandeep Baswana, Who Will Be Seen In Apollena". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
7. "Akash Kapoor Joins TV Show Apollena, Says 'I Play The Role Of Abhay Who Is Very Supportive And Understanding'". The Times of India. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
8. "Samarthya Gupta Roped In As Shlok Pandey In 'Apollena: Sapno Ki Unchi Udaan'". The Times of India. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.

• 2024 Indian television series debuts
• Indian drama television series
• Colors TV original programming
• Hindi-language television shows
• Television series set in outer space
• Television series about astronauts
• Indian science fiction television series