For actors, the biggest compliment often comes from audiences who believe in their characters. But for Kanika Maheshwari, her most honest critic is waiting right at home. The actress recently shared a hilarious yet heartwarming story about her son Reyansh, who has become so invested in her character Husna from Colors TV’s Seher Hone Ko Hai that he often finds it difficult to distinguish between the actress and the role she plays on screen.
Kanika says, “The funniest thing happens whenever I return home after a shoot. I ring the doorbell, and Reyansh comes running to open the door. But before anything else, he looks at me very carefully and asks, ‘Are you Kanika Mom or Husna?’ I burst out laughing every time because he asks it so seriously. For him, both are two entirely different people, and he wants to know exactly who has come home.”
Adding more to this, she shares, “Recently, after watching some intense scenes from the show, especially the track involving Abba Huzur, he had a very strong reaction. He looked at me and said, ‘I hate Husna. I really hate Husna.’ The innocence with which he said it was priceless. I was trying hard not to laugh because he was genuinely upset with the character and not with me. It showed me how emotionally invested children can become in stories.”
Furthermore, she states, “As an actor, it feels incredibly rewarding because it means the character is leaving an impact. But as a mother, it also becomes my responsibility to explain the difference between acting and reality. Sometimes I have to remind him that Husna’s actions belong to the story and that his mother is just portraying a role. Those conversations have become quite interesting in our house.”
She reveals, “What amazes me most is how closely children observe everything. Reyansh notices expressions, emotions and even character decisions. His reactions are completely unfiltered and honest. In many ways, he gives me the purest feedback possible because it comes straight from the heart.”
She concludes, “These moments are among my most cherished memories. After a long and exhausting day on set, coming home to such innocent questions instantly brightens my mood. The fact that he loves Kanika Mom but strongly dislikes Husna tells me I am doing justice to the character. And honestly, that’s a compliment I will never forget.”
