Star Plus’ long-running show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has taken a bold eight-year leap, opening a powerful new chapter in Abhira’s life. Post leap, the narrative sees Abhira and Armaan living separate lives, Abhira with her daughter Vani, while Armaan stays with Maira. Amid emotional distances and changed realities, Abhira emerges stronger than ever, embracing a new identity that is as striking as it is inspiring.
Abhira is now seen working as a mechanic, running a modest garage while single-handedly providing for herself and her daughter. Her mechanic look, grease-stained hands, practical attire, and determined eyes, becomes a visual metaphor for her resilience and independence. It marks a refreshing shift from convention, portraying a woman who refuses to be defined by loss or separation.
Talking about Abhira’s profession, Samriddhi Shukla, who essays the role, shares, “Working as a mechanic in a garage isn’t easy, it pays little and demands a lot, yet she shows that even in hard circumstances, you can find small joys and remain happy.”
Opening up about preparing for the evolved Abhira, she adds, “It isn’t easy to prepare emotionally or mentally to play a character like Abhira, who has gone through two, seven to eight-year leaps. Bringing maturity while staying the same age is a challenge. I made a conscious effort to change my performance just a little, enough for the audience to see her progression and the maturity she now holds.”
Abhira’s emotional core, however, lies in motherhood. Speaking about her vulnerabilities, Samriddhi says, “Abhira doesn’t succumb to pressure or circumstances, she always fights back. Today, she works as a mechanic, strong, focused, practical, and in full hustle mode. Nothing breaks her emotionally, except her child, Vani, now called Mukti, and the thought of Maira.”
She concludes while saying, “You can lose everything, your family, money, partner, even your child, but if you have it in you to fight, you can still make it work. Abhira teaches resilience in tough times.”
The show features Samriddhi Shukla as Abhira, Sarah Killedar as Vani, Rohit Purohit as Armaan, and Arshiya Sharma as Maira. Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai airs every day at 9:30 PM only on Star Plus.