Actress Sharon Varma, who plays the role of Kiara Poddar in Star Plus and Rajan Shahi’s popular and long-running show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai calls her journey in the show a rollercoaster, which has been challenging yet fulfilling.
We at IWMBuzz.com have talked in length about the complexities in relationships between the three characters – Charu, Abhir and Kiara. We earlier had actress Saloni Sandhu, talking about her journey in the role of Charu Bansal.
Now, we have Sharon taking us through her journey in the show and role.
Says Sharon, “Kiara’s journey has been deeply emotional and transformative. From being the pampered youngest sibling who lived in a bubble of comfort and care, she has grown into a woman who has faced love, heartbreak, and betrayal—all in a short period. Falling in love and stepping into marriage seemed like a dream at first, but reality hit hard when she realised love alone does not guarantee happiness. What is beautiful about her growth is how she is slowly learning to stand up for herself, deal with pain, and find her own strength. She is no longer just the youngest—she is evolving into someone who understands life’s deeper complexities.”
There is no clear villain here—just people struggling with complicated emotions. That is what makes it so relatable.
Talking about her journey as Kiara Poddar, she avers, “Playing Kiara has been a rollercoaster—challenging, intense, but extremely fulfilling. She is layered, emotionally rich, and constantly evolving, which keeps me engaged as an actor. There are days when I walk away from a scene still carrying her emotions because her pain and confusion are so real. Kiara is vulnerable, yet strong in her way. Living through her dilemmas has made me grow not just as a performer but as a person.”
“The most rewarding phase for me has been this recent track involving the love triangle. It is emotionally demanding and requires subtlety, depth, and emotional control, especially in scenes where Kiara is trying to hold it together despite feeling shattered inside. As a performer, this phase has pushed my boundaries and allowed me to explore layers of pain, betrayal, and dignity. These moments have been both creatively satisfying and personally enriching,” she adds.
On her take on the complexities involved in the love triangle of Charu, Abhir and Kiara, Sharon explains in-depth, “This love triangle is so layered and real—it is not just about romance, it’s about trust, betrayal, and emotional survival. Each character is dealing with their own truth. Charu loves deeply, Abhir is torn, and Kiara is left to pick up the pieces. There is no clear villain here—just people struggling with complicated emotions. That is what makes it so relatable. It shows that love is not always beautiful or fair—it can be confusing, painful, and incredibly messy.”
On who appears more justified to her between Kiara and Charu, Sharon says, “Honestly, my heart goes out to both. Charu has been through her emotional battles. But Kiara, as a wife, also had every right to feel betrayed. She entered this marriage only to find herself in a space where that love was not returned. I understand that both women are justified in their ways. There is no easy answer. Sometimes, love creates victims on all sides. However, Kiara always knew that Abhir and Charu loved each other, and despite that, she expected Abhir would develop feelings for her. This teaches us that one-sided love and one-sided efforts don’t work. Now, Kiara has come to realise this, asked for a divorce from Abhir, and stood up for herself. So I would say, if you know the other person is not into you and doesn’t respect your time and effort, then you must walk away.”
Best of luck!!
