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Urvashi Upadhyay is a talented and versatile television actress, who has built a strong body of work in shows like Thapki Pyaar Ki 2 and Ishq Subhan Allah. Currently winning hearts as Kusum Saxena in Mangal Lakshmi, she shares insights into her acting journey, the influence of theatre and classical dance on her craft, and the warmth she brings to her beloved on-screen characters.
You began your artistic journey in theatre before moving to television. How has your theatre background shaped your performances on screen, especially in emotionally layered roles like Kusum?
My theatre journey is the foundation of my acting. In theatre, I learned a lot, how to understand a character realistically, to explore emotions deeply, and the importance of time, punctuality, discipline, and focus amid distractions. Acting doesn’t happen just between “action” and “cut,” nor does it happen only from the lines of a script. It also happens when you study the character’s body language, voice, projection, dialogue delivery, pacing, pauses, and where to infuse emotion. Theatre teaches all of this. You could say theatre teaches life and how to touch life.
Kusum’s character is very different from my other roles and one of the most unique mothers-in-law on television. It is a big challenge to break the stereotypical image of mothers-in-law on TV. Kusum shows that mothers-in-law can be good and supportive; you forget whether she is a mother-in-law or a mother and that’s why Mangal truly calls me “Amma.”
This character is very close to my heart. Theatre has helped me a lot because I played many positive characters like Kusum; I mostly played heroines in theatre – women who hold the family together. It’s often said that a woman is a woman’s enemy, but in reality, that’s not true. Women understand other women, and Kusum portrays exactly that. My theatre experience helped me bring this to life.
You’re also an accomplished classical dancer who has performed globally. Do you feel dance has influenced your acting process or emotional expression as an actor?
There’s no doubt that classical dance enhances your expressions because you learn body language, rhythm, and refined emotional expression. Dance teaches you when to subtly express and when to express more loudly. For example, in an act where I played Ravan and another girl played Ram, her expressions were calm and subtle, while mine had to be loud and intense. When Ravan disguises as a sage, I had to be subtle. That required a complete 360-degree shift in expression. Dance teaches you how to make that quick transition from one emotion to another.
On set, people have told me how quickly I can shift from being angry with Adit to being softer with Mangal, and classical dance has helped me with that. I also want to reference the Bharat Muni Natya Shastra, which says that acting, dance, and music are inseparable. It’s like enjoying a thali – different flavors together are more enjoyable than alone. Classical dance and Bharatnatyam have helped me present many of my characters effectively.
Kusum has emerged as one of the most supportive and emotionally grounded mothers-in-law on television. What was your approach to making her so relatable and loved by audiences?
I didn’t have to work too hard to make her loved because, growing up at home, I watched how my mother never treated my brother’s wives as just daughters-in-law, she always supported them. She never held them back, whether it was letting them eat their favorite food or wear what they liked. Kusum reflects this, and I am lucky that my mother-in-law has been equally supportive. My in-laws are based in MP, and to accept a daughter-in-law who is an actress and a Gujarati Brahmin, where language, state, and caste were different was amazing. From day one, she understood our hectic schedules as actors. When I visit MP, she tells others not to disturb me, letting me wake up and drink tea at my own pace.
Now that my mother is no longer around, I never felt the loss because I can always call my mother-in-law, and she comes to me whenever she can. Personal experiences like these have helped me portray Kusum authentically. The writers have beautifully written the character, and I enjoy performing her scenes. Some scenes are so well-written that the actor doesn’t have to do much; the story and lines carry the emotion, and you just go with the flow.
Balancing a demanding shooting schedule with family life is no small feat. How do you manage this balance, and has your personal life informed the warmth you bring to Kusum?
Work and family balance is an art. Actors often have longer working hours than others, and sometimes we travel out of state or country. Every family has its system. As long as my mother was alive, I didn’t have to worry about this. Until 2019, I didn’t have to think about household management – she knew how to raise my children, what they liked, how to pack tiffins, and how to manage house help. Everything ran smoothly.
When she passed away, it was like a blackout, what now? I recalled how my parents managed things when I was little. Life has become easier with technology; Swiggy, Zomato, apps, washing machines, dryers but back then, managing a household was hard. Working women balance work, but housewives balance duties too.
I created a system in my home so my children can manage themselves when we or house help aren’t available. Thanks to COVID, I had the chance to fully understand motherhood. I feel I became a true mother to my children in 2019, recalling what my mother used to do and doing it myself. I’m proud that my young son can make tea, Maggi, sandwiches, keep his clothes ready, and use the washing machine. I want my children to be independent and understand that their mother is working.
I love cooking, my father loved it too, and my mother was an amazing cook. My kids leave at 6:30 a.m., and I try to make their lunchboxes myself. Every day, I make sure they taste at least one dish made by me to feel my love. When I shoot away, I leave instructions with the house help and remain available on the phone. I’ve taught my kids to handle their lunchboxes, bottles, and shoes when they return from school. Making them independent ensures everything runs smoothly.
Mangal Lakshmi is currently going through a five-year leap. What can viewers expect from Kusum in this new phase, and how will the leap impact her journey as a character?
A person doesn’t change in five years, they evolve. The bond that has lasted 15 years will grow stronger. Kusum has kept Mangal as her daughter for 15 years, and now viewers will see their bond evolve further. Many daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law have found a voice through this show. I receive DMs saying that because of me, their saas has changed, and that a mother-in-law should be like Kusum.
Viewers will see Kusum’s character beautifully deepen. Time affects appearance and lifestyle, even Mangal’s look. The story after the leap is very interesting, with twists and turns. We’ve been shooting since the 31st, and it will telecast from the 2nd.
Your on-screen bond with Dipika Singh and Naman Shaw feels very organic. How is your off-screen equation with them, and does that chemistry translate into stronger performances?
Before actors bond, their characters bond. Kusum is Adit’s mother, and she can scold him even as a father himself, which makes me, Urvashi, naturally like Naman. Mangal calls me Amma, and that bond develops naturally. Our creative director, Garima, explained the characters and story beautifully, helping us internalize our roles.
Naman is always fun-loving, smiling, and prepared. When there’s less dialogue, there’s more fun. Dipika and I bonded immediately because she is a classical dancer, she does Odissi, and I do Bharatnatyam. Without speaking, we connected. In Georgia, it was us three who went and we’ve shared many experiences, from travel to food, shopping, and enjoying festive atmospheres like Christmas. In two years, our bonding has been amazing, and that translates into stronger performances on screen.
A message for your fans and fans of Mangal Lakshmi worldwide.
To all my lovely viewers, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving Mangal Lakshmi and Kusum’s character. Your love reaches me through DMs and comments on my motivational reels. Many people tell me my reels give them hope when they’re feeling low. I’m fortunate to be able to give hope and entertain. Without your love, we wouldn’t have been able to entertain you for two years.
I also want to share a small appeal. I see many people engrossed in phones, on two-wheelers, crossing roads, and climbing stairs. Phones have become like blood for many. But these machines are for us, we are not for them. Family bonds weaken when we prioritize gadgets. At home, just like how we have key hooks, create a spot to keep phones and spend time with family. Ask each other about your day, what you learned, what made you happy or sad, and how you can improve. Instead of asking AI for personal advice, talk to your mother or loved ones.
I ask my kids about school, share my day, and even when I fumble a dialogue, I share it with them. Family values and bonding are learned in these moments. We’re moving forward in life, but we shouldn’t lose family values. Live life fully, from the heart, some things are meant to be experienced, not posted.
