May 10, 2026 12:02pm IST
‘Vasudha’ Actor Abhishek Sharrma On His Show Overtaking Smriti Irani-Led ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2’ In TRPs: It’s ‘Deeply Gratifying’ and ‘Incredibly Humbling’ (EXCLUSIVE)
As reported, “Vasudha” emerged as the top show in India for the week, edging out TRP topper “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2” for the first time. The show has Abhishek Sharrma in the lead (as Devansh Singh Chauhan aka Dev) alongside Priya Thakur in the title role.
Sharrma sees the milestone as a testament to audience loyalty -- the show completes two years -- and as the result of the team’s immense belief in their content. “Vasudha” has maintained steady viewership throughout, despite the Indian Premier League (IPL) season affecting TRP ratings.
Quips Sharrma, “I love cricket, but at the end of the day, the scorecard respects performance. The audience ultimately decides what stays with them and what doesn’t.”
Excerpts:
Your show has overtaken “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2” on the TRP charts. How does it feel?
It feels surreal and deeply gratifying. “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2” is not just a show, it's an emotion and a benchmark in the history of Indian television. I have watched that show with my family since I was young. To now see my show “Vasudha” reach the number one position at a time when audiences have endless content choices is incredibly humbling. For me, it is not about beating the legacy of the show, it's more about proving that emotionally honest storytelling still connects with audiences across the country.
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Describe the cultural impact of Smriti Irani as Tulsi on you?
If someone had told me sometime back that I would go ahead of Smriti Irani, I would have laughed it off. It is too big a statement to make. As a child, I watched “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” and I still remember episodes of the show. We have grown up watching her work. I look at this as a moment where our entire team managed to create something that the audience genuinely connected with. For an actor, that's the biggest achievement.
'Vasudha' has a strong following in small-town India. What has clicked?
I think the biggest strength of the show is its emotional authenticity. The audiences in small towns are quite emotionally intelligent. They immediately know when someone is honest and when something looks forced. I think the show has connected because it respects its audience instead of trying too hard to impress them.
The show soon completes two years on television. What keeps you excited about Dev’s role?
On the surface, Dev appears strong and composed, but internally, he carries vulnerability, responsibility and emotional conflict. I also like that he evolves with every situation. As an actor, I get to explore different shades of human emotions and psychology with this role.
Shed light on your bond with Priya Thakur, who plays Vasudha.
I genuinely appreciate the fact that she's focused and hard-working and ‘present’ in a scene. This makes our scenes look organic. Today's audience connects more with honesty than noise. “Vasudha” has grown because people have slowly made it part of their everyday lives and that kind of acceptance is very special.
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