Stepping into a legacy show comes with immense pride, but it also demands a profound emotional depth from an actor. For actress Swati Sharma—who has previously captivated audiences with her stellar performances in popular television dramas—her current stint as Vaishnavi in Star Plus’ show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi has proven to be her most emotionally challenging role yet.
Recently, the show took a dramatic and heart-wrenching turn with the unexpected twin deaths of Parth and Rio. The aftermath of this tragedy has left Swati’s character, Vaishnavi, trapped in a spiral of psychological trauma and lifelong guilt.
In the current storyline, Tulsi has taken the blame for killing Parth, ending up in jail. It is a sacrifice that Vaishnavi finds nearly impossible to process. “It has psychologically affected Vaishnavi,” Swati shares, opening up about her character’s fragile mental state. “We cannot change the past, but Vaishnavi keeps thinking that Tulsi Khakhi’s life would have been so much happier if Vaishnavi had never come to stay with her. It’s a lifetime of guilt.”
I have learnt that a scene becomes perfect with the performance of all actors present, even if an actor does not have a single dialogue.
While she finds a haven in the unwavering support of a few family members, the rest of the household looks at her through a lens of blame, holding her accountable for the twin tragedies. “Vaishnavi has a comfort zone with Nandini Maa and Tulsi Khakhi. Other than that, she knows that every other family member feels she is responsible for the twin deaths in the family. Even her relationship with Karan Papa has been strained a lot.”
Playing a character undergoing such intense grief requires an actress to dig deep. “I had got advice from an actor friend during an audition. We usually get a reference character for auditions, and my friend told me never to adapt to references when enacting a role. All of us as humans are gifted with a lot of emotions; we just need to tap into them when the situation calls for it. So, I try to get that attribute out of me based on the script. I never try to emulate any popular character.”
“I remember listening to a conversation of Naseeruddin Shah ji, where he talked about channelising a situation so much that you react, feeling that particular emotion. You should never cheat your audience and cry, imagining something else entirely,” she adds.
Joining the monumental Kyunki universe—especially being part of the pivotal recreation scenes of Tulsi killing Ansh—was a dream come true for Swati, though it didn’t come without its share of nerves. “This is a golden opportunity, sure, as I always wanted to be a part of this Kyunki legacy. I knew it was an important character,” she admits. “But yes, I have had anxious moments performing. That comes with the respect I have for Smriti Ma’am, Gauri Ma’am, and Hiten Sir. They are great actors who make everyone comfortable on set, but the sheer respect we have for them can make you jittery and anxious. I will never deny that.”
She emphasises that a scene’s perfection relies heavily on the collective energy of everyone in the frame, a lesson she holds close to her heart. ” I have learnt that a scene becomes perfect with the performance of all actors present, even if an actor does not have a single dialogue. I have learnt a lot from my earlier co-actors, Pratichi Ma’am and Khyati Ma’am.”
About her bond with actors on the Kyunki sets, she says, “I have a great bond with all the actors. I have never seen a dull side to Hiten Sir! I share a deep bond of respect with Smriti Ma’am, and with Sohel, I enjoyed my scenes a lot. I never believed that I would form such a beautiful bond with everyone on the set. I truly thank my directors for all the love and affection they pour into us.”
