Ritu Arya Reveals She Had ‘a Lot of Fun’ Bickering With Umbrella Academy Co-Star David Castaneda on Screen

As an ardent fan of The Umbrella Academy, I must say that watching Ritu Arya and David Castaneda bring Lila and Diego to life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride! Their on-screen chemistry is electrifying, and their playful banter off-screen only adds to the magic.


Offscreen, Ritu Arya and David Castaneda from The Umbrella Academy maintain a light-hearted rapport, even though their characters faced intense situations in the latest season. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Arya (character Lila) discussed her interactions with Diego (played by Castaneda), her favorite scenes involving him, and her thoughts on the unexpected romance that left viewers stunned.

Arya shared with PEOPLE that collaborating with David is effortless: “We’ve been at it for some time now, so it was genuinely enjoyable to let loose and explore this fresh dynamic.” Arya particularly enjoyed enacting the tense scenes between Lila and Diego. Castaneda made a similar comment when speaking to the outlet before Season 4 premiere. He stated, “I follow her wherever she goes, and she follows me wherever I go; it’s like putting on an old shoe, indicating a comfort in familiarity.”

Without a doubt, what left me – and many other fans – utterly stunned was the romantic development between Lila and Diego’s brother, Five. Struggling with marital discord, Lila and Diego’s lives took an unexpected turn when she followed Five into another timeline. With scant chances of returning, their 7-year relationship unfolded in this new reality. However, upon their return home, they chose separate paths once more. The narrative has sparked much debate on social media platforms, with fans expressing concerns about its consistency with the events from previous seasons.

Arya was genuinely taken aback when she came across this unexpected turn of events in the plot. She had thought it was a jest when a writer had hinted at it a year ago, but upon reading the script, she realized it was no joke. The actress was then queried about her interpretation of Arya’s character development as the fourth season drew to a close. For Arya, Lily’s driving force has always been her children.

“What truly mattered to her was returning home to be with her children. However, upon seeing Diego, she seems to complicate things a bit, as she remarks. I believe she wasn’t anticipating renewed feelings towards him.” (In this case, ‘complicates things’ is used instead of ‘throws a spanner in the works’, and ‘renewed feelings’ is used instead of ‘having feelings for him again’.)

In the twilight of the stars, as they say farewell to their cherished on-screen characters and fellow artists, I find myself referring to my colleagues as family – a bond that I deeply appreciate and value.

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2024-08-09 15:37