Actress Gouri Tonnk, who essays the role of Madhavi Shah in Zee TV’s Tu Hi Re Dil Mein, recently opened up about what drew her to the complex character. Reflecting on the role, Gouri shared that Madhavi stands apart from anything she has taken on in the past.
“Madhavi is the kind of character who will stand against her own child, Swati (played by Simran Rawal), for her child’s own well-being,” Gouri says. “It’s a deeply challenging role.”
Known for her powerful performances as Jasleen in Teri Meri Doriyaann and Sakshi Chaudhary in Deewaniyat, Gouri emphasises that all three roles are poles apart.
The one thing Madhavi and I have in common is that we are both self-made women who fiercely love our children.
Unpacking her creative process, Gouri explains how she gets into the mindset of her characters. “Whenever I select or play a character, I really immerse myself in the depth of who they are. I think from their perspective—why they act the way they do and what drives their choices.”
Contrasting Madhavi with her previous screen personas, she notes, “Jasleen loved her children so fiercely that she would do whatever they asked. Sakshi was similarly devoted to her kids, even going to bat against her daughter-in-law for them. But Madhavi operates differently. She is willing to fight against her own children if it means protecting their future. Even if the entire world takes her child’s side, Madhavi will stand alone to do what’s right for them—even if it puts her at odds with her child.”
When asked about similarities between her real-life self and Madhavi, Gouri points to a shared core foundation. “The one thing Madhavi and I have in common is that we are both self-made women who fiercely love our children.”
However, their approach to parenting is where the paths diverge completely. “The way Madhavi expresses that love compared to how I do as Gouri is very different,” she clarifies. “I would never dominate my child or dictate what’s right or wrong. I prefer sitting down and talking things through. Madhavi, on the other hand, has likely endured hardships that shaped her defensive edge—making a tough, ruthless approach her immediate instinct.”
