The bustling energy on the sets of Colors TV’s Mangal Lakshmi has recently faded with the show’s wrap-up. The show produced by Suzana Ghai’s Panorama Entertainment has been a success story, having had a good run for two and a half years. Actress Urvashi Upadhyay, who plays the role of Kusum Saxena, is feeling overwhelmed with emotions after wrapping up her shoot.
“I cannot express my feelings in words,” she said, a wave of nostalgia overtaking her.
Speaking about the love for the show, she says, “Mangal Lakshmi has been a good show, with all its characters being loved. Even now, when the show is ending, I get a lot of messages from viewers, showering us with love.”
Kusum showed that a mother-in-law need not be an enemy to the daughter-in-law. The relationship of Mangal and Kusum will be remembered for a long time in Indian TV.
For Urvashi, it has been a journey of gratitude with Mangal Lakshmi. “These thoughts take me back to the start of the show. So when I shot for my last sequence as Kusum, I felt emotional. I am grateful for this journey of Mangal Lakshmi. All stories have to end, and this one did, too. We will cherish all the moments from the show.”
The character of Kusum Saxena, the mother-in-law with all the positivity, was a rarity in Indian television, where the ‘saas’ has mostly been shown as negative. Kusum shattered the cliché. She wasn’t the obstacle in Mangal’s life; she was her fiercest ally, her sanctuary, and her maternal anchor. Talking about it, she said, “Stories do influence real life. For a long time, mothers-in-law have been shown as bad on television. People always have a perception of the mother-in-law being dominating. But Kusum has given a new approach to how mothers-in-law can be viewed on TV. I am happy to have carried this character in the show. She showed that a mother-in-law need not be an enemy to the daughter-in-law. The relationship of Mangal and Kusum will be remembered for a long time in Indian TV.”
The legacy of the show wasn’t just built on a progressive script; it was forged in the genuine bonds shared behind the scenes. Urvashi’s mind drifted to her co-stars, Naman and Deepika. “My journey with Naman and Deepika has been amazing. My first shot was with Naman. The Georgia trip with Naman and Deepika was truly amazing. My last shot with Naman and Deepika will remain with me always.”
“I will miss Naman calling me ‘Amma’. I got a message today, too, from Deepika after our pack-up. I used to love shooting the emotional scenes with Deepika and Naman. So they will remain special co-actors.”
Urvashi’s career has been defined by a refusal to stay in one lane, seamlessly leaping from fierce antagonists to deeply loved, compassionate figures. Her negative persona in Humari Devrani, the sheepish Don in Nath and Kusum Saxena in Mangal Lakshmi has clearly defined the versatility of Urvashi. “I have enjoyed the challenge of playing different characters. From negative to positive, I have played it all. I am happy with this journey of Mangal Lakshmi.”
Looking ahead, she says, “I want to be part of the supernatural genre and even the genre of fantasy. As long as the role is challenging, which I have not attempted earlier, I am happy as a performer.”
