Latest news with #Samridhii
News18
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
‘Story Is King': Samridhii Shukla On Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai's Success
Samridhii Shukla says staying true to a show's core values is key to keeping audiences hooked. Actress Samridhii Shukla, who plays Abhira in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, feels that the show's long-running success lies in remaining faithful to its core story and values. The show is now in its 16th year and she feels its relevance depends on balancing growth with consistency. 'I think it's absolutely crucial. The core values and main plot are what hook the audience from the very beginning. That emotional and narrative foundation is what they come back for, episode after episode," she shared in an interview with the Times of India. 'So if you want the story to work long-term, you have to keep that essence intact and let it continue to weave through the story as it grows. Evolution is important, yes—but not at the cost of the show's soul," she added. Listening to the Audience Samridhii is also someone who values what fans say online. 'Personally, I love reading comments and getting real-time feedback, whether it's criticism or appreciation. I think both are valuable. I'm someone who's very open to learning from what the audience feels…" she told the Times of India, adding that while the creative direction isn't in her hands, she takes fan opinions seriously. She also touched upon the changing image of women on Indian TV and how that reflects in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. 'The first Akshara was a homemaker. But gradually, we started showing ambitious women, who wanted both family and a career…" Consistency vs Twists Samridhii believes that while new twists are exciting, they shouldn't come at the cost of the characters' core personalities. 'Plot twists are exciting, no doubt, but they only work if they grow organically from the characters we already know and care about," she said. She added that good storytelling is what keeps a show going for years. 'Story is king… And when you combine that with a good ensemble cast and a committed team, from production to direction, you create a kind of magic that lasts." According to Times Now, Samridhii recently won the Rising Star award at the Indian Telly Awards 2025. Before this show, she was seen in Saavi Ki Savaari, Sai Baba and more. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress Samridhii Shukla: Women on-screen are changing and that keeps us relevant
Samridhii Shukla, who currently plays the lead role of Abhira in Rajan Shahi's long-running show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, believes that staying true to a show's original essence is what ultimately earns viewer loyalty. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With the show in its 16th year, Samridhii says it is very important to stay relevant in order to survive. 'I think it's absolutely crucial. The core values and main plot are what hook the audience from the very beginning. That emotional and narrative foundation is what they come back for, episode after episode. So if you want the story to work long-term, you have to keep that essence intact and let it continue to weave through the story as it grows. Evolution is important, yes—but not at the cost of the show's soul,' she says. In a time when television viewers actively share their opinions on social media, she welcomes the dialogue.'Personally, I love reading comments and getting real-time feedback, whether it's criticism or appreciation. I think both are valuable. I'm someone who's very open to learning from what the audience feels. So, if I find something that really resonates or makes sense, I absolutely take it on board. That said, when it comes to the overall storyline or creative direction, I'm not sure how much the writing team depends on audience feedback. That's a different part of the process I'm not directly involved in. But speaking for myself: I listen, I observe, and I reflect,' she says. Samridhii adds that the shifting portrayals of women characters on screen are why her show continues to strike a chord. 'That's always the tricky part. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But what keeps it fresh—at least in our case—is constant adaptation. Our show has been running for 16 years, and it's managed to evolve with the times. For example, the first Akshara was a homemaker. But gradually, we started showing women who were ambitious, who wanted both family and a career. That's a huge shift in how women are portrayed—and it keeps things relatable, because art must imitate life. If we keep reflecting real-world shifts, the show stays relevant, while still honouring its core.' Evolution, she feels, should never come at the cost of consistency. 'Both are important, but I would say consistency in characterisation definitely holds more weight over time. Audiences get emotionally invested in characters—they grow with them. If a character suddenly changes for the sake of a twist, it breaks that trust. Plot twists are exciting, no doubt, but they only work if they grow organically from the characters we already know and care about,' she adds. Navigating what the audience wants and what the story demands is a balancing act, says the actress, adding, 'That's really where the craft lies. You want to satisfy the emotional cravings of your audience, but at the same time, you want to surprise them, challenge them, even provoke them a little. I think it all comes down to storytelling. If your story is strong, and your characters are grounded in truth, you can take the audience anywhere—even to places they didn't expect to go. ' She adds, 'It's definitely a challenge. I honestly don't know how our creative team does it year after year! But again, I'll say this: story is king. A good story, well told, will always find an audience. And when you combine that with a good ensemble cast and a committed team—from production to direction—you create a kind of magic that lasts. We've been fortunate to have that. And as long as we stay rooted in the show's heart while allowing it to evolve, I believe we'll continue to stay relevant. ' YRKKH's Iftar Party Fun: Samridhii Shukla Opens Up on Abhira's Future, BTS Moments with Rohit & More
Pink Villa
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
EXCLUSIVE: Will Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's new season impact Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai? Samridhii Shukla responds
Samridhii Shukla has been impressing audiences with her portrayal of Abhira in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Recently, Pinkvilla exclusively spoke to her to hear her thoughts on various topics. Samridhii Shukla discussed the speculation surrounding the new season of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and its impact on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai's ratings, her views on reality shows, how she was almost rejected for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, and more. Excerpts from the interview: Will Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's release impact Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai? Not at all. I don't think so at all. The show that has been running for almost 16 years has its own cult audience that has been watching diligently. There are so many people that I meet every now and then, who say that 'We have been watching Yeh Rishta since the time Hina was there.' They have grown up. Their kids have grown up watching the serial. I think this show has a cult audience that remains loyal to it, no matter what. Of course, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, I am sure, is going to get its own viewership, probably from the previous ones or the new ones. That we will find out. The time at which both of our shows will come has a lot of gap. We come at 9:30 and they are coming at 10:30. We are not even like consecutively coming after each other. So, I think that's not a botheration. Samridhii was almost rejected for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai I was almost not selected for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. The call on getting me on board was very last-minute. Because another girl was almost final. I think they were about to do the contract, but she was almost finalised. Instinctively, they thought that they wanted to go for a second round with me. I came in and I did the second round and that's it. They found what they were looking for. Luckily, I got the chance. Samridhii on Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai ranking 1st on TRP chart One aspect of it is when we get TRP numbers, of course, it makes us happy. That's a security, that's validation. We know the show will go on if the TRP is good. Another aspect of it is - We don't work for TRPs as such. I don't work so that my show will come number 1 on TRP. I work so that I do a good scene, we have a good story, we have a nice chemistry or camaraderie with the other people, and the overall product is good. I do it for that. This is something which is not in our hands. Of course, when it comes, it makes us happy. I focus more on my performance." Samridhii on challenges of playing lead role It's safe to say that I work without any breaks. With that, I mean I don't get any offs, script-wise. I shoot 30 days a month, and if I am lucky, then 12 hours a day; otherwise, we extend shifts also. It is definitely taxing because, as a human, as a performer, you need time to recharge. I used to feel I needed time to recharge, and I needed more time to relax, and I would love that. The medium is such that it doesn't allow that much time. Since the story revolves around and from the perspective of the main lead, specifically the heroine so it's difficult for them to give me a leave. I understand where they are coming from. So it gets taxing in that way since it revolves around the heroine. I usually don't get off. The hero (Rohit Purohit) also works a lot, but he does get off sometimes. Was Garvita Sadhwani's exit pre-decided? I honestly wouldn't know if it was predecided or not. That is something that I know would have kept confidential from us, even if it was pre-decided. Only Garvita (Garvita Sadhwani) can tell. But many people are a part of our show, but they are nowhere to be seen currently. I am still hoping that they will be back somehow. Apart from Charu (Saloni Sandhu's character), it's shown that she has passed away. Apart from that, I think the writers would keep it open for all the characters to re-enter, like they did for Mohit. So I think there is a great possibility of everyone returning. If Garvita is confirming that she is exiting, then probably it must have been intimated to her, which I don't have no idea about. Will Samridhii Shukla do Bigg Boss or Khatron Ke Khiladi? Honestly, right now, I don't think so. I would be up for doing Khatron Ke Khiladi, but I really think that I am scared of too many things, and I will probably chicken out. I don't know, we will see about that. But for Bigg Boss, I am somebody, I don't want to be somebody who people know everything about. I don't know if that is going to change in the coming time. Right now, this is what I feel. Maybe 5-10 years down the line, I do feel that I want to be a part of it. This is what I feel currently. Did Samridhii Shukla experience casting couch? First of all, I never wanted to become an actor because of all the stories that you hear. So, I was very apprehensive. I think my father saw how talented I am because I used to voicing, and I think he thought that I could prove my mettle here also. I think that's the reason he pushed me and said, 'I'm there. If there's anything like that, I'm there.' So that kind of gave me an assurance that, okay, I have somebody to rely on. Honestly, I have never faced anything like that. But I remember a meeting with a coordinator of a South movie. I had gone there with my mom because I was very young. I must have just turned an adult or something, quite a few years back. And he referred to something as 'This is how it works in the South industry. Comprises and all, you have to do it.' I was like that's not going to work, that's not what I am here for. It was for a Telugu movie. Of course, I was not up for it, so I dropped that. I think most of these things we hear are from the Telugu industry because that's the most commercial part of the South industry. I don't know if it happens to everybody, but I know they hinted that like that. It's a thing that happens to people, depends on their choice if they want to or not. Stay tuned to Pinkvilla!
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata actor Samridhii Shukla on 2005 Mumbai Floods: The spirit of Mumbai was unshakable
As Mumbai marks two decades since the devastating floods of July 2005, actor Samridhii Shukla shares that memories of that day are vivid and surreal for her. 'I was in first standard and my school was in Santacruz, a low-lying area. Whenever it rained heavily, it would get flooded. During lunch, we were peeking out from the balcony, waiting for an announcement that they were sending us home. But it never came,' Samridhii shares, adding, 'Suddenly it was late evening and we were still in school. That's when it started to feel strange. The canteen staff began distributing snacks and junk food and that's when we realised — something wasn't right.' Samridhii Shukla on the 2005 floods: The spirit of Mumbai was unshakable The actor, who is currently being seen in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (YRKKH) adds, it was then that she understood things weren't right. "We learnt that many parents hadn't been able to reach the school. We were moved to the third floor as the lower levels were already under water. All the lights had gone out because the main electrical panel was submerged. They were worried about electrocution.' She further adds, "Back then, there were no mobile phones or internet and the only way to communicate was through landline. For our parents, it must have been terrifying. We didn't know how long we'd be stuck or when we'd see our parents again. We were stuck in the school for 2-3 days and slept on school benches as that was our best option." The actor praises her teachers and school Vice Principal as she recalls how they made groups and made it possible for the kids to be dropped back home. 'Teachers were asked what areas they lived in and we were walked back home with them in groups of 25. I remember walking home with my Vice Principal, from Santacruz to Andheri West.' shares Sanridhii, adding, how even when Mumbai had come to a standstill, it was Mumbai's fighting spirit that left a mark. 'Every kilometre or so, there were people standing outside their homes offering food, water, packets of chips. Parents who managed to reach the school brought extra supplies, knowing there'd be other children still stranded. It was heartwarming. Thankfully, I didn't lose anyone close to me. Many people did — homes, pets, lives,' says Samridhii, adding: "For me, the bigger issue was the system. It should have never happened. It was clearly a sewage and drainage failure, not just a natural disaster. This could have been prevented. If, God forbid, something like that ever happens again, I know one thing — this city will show up. Because Mumbai never lets its people down.'
