Actress Shriya Tiwari, currently winning hearts as Saloni Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 and spin-off Kyunki Rishton Ke Bhi Roop Badalte Hain, is looking back at an earlier role with a mix of gratitude and longing.The actress, who played Barkat in Seher Hone Ko Hai alongside Parth Samthaan and Bhavika Sharma, admits she is currently unaware of her status in the show.“I wish I had more screentime,” Shriya says. “Every actor hopes to live their character fully, and I felt there was so much more of Barkat I wanted to explore. Those little moments between the scenes are where a character breathes.”Despite the short run, the role left a mark. “Every role is an experience, a learning. Sometimes your role is small but the impact is big,” she adds. “Fans still message me asking about Barkat, and that means my role was noticed and I’m being missed. It tells me the work connected, even in a short span.”Shriya isn’t dwelling on what could’ve been. “I don’t sit with regret but with hope. I’m anyways happy to play Saloni in Kyunki… it gives me the space to go deeper, stay longer, and share more. But still, I carry Barkat with me. She was brief but she was mine. And I’m proud of her.”She’s candid about the emotional investment actors make, even in smaller parts. “I wish it lasted long for Barkat. She had layers I never got to peel back on screen. There were stories in her eyes that deserved more time. Barkat felt real to me. Her strength, her softness, her quiet fire — I wanted the audience to enjoy watching her longer.”TV’s fast pace, she notes, often cuts stories short. “TV moves fast, and sometimes characters come and go before you’re ready. I’m not sad, just thankful. Thankful that she existed, that I got to be her, even briefly. If she touched even one person, then her time mattered.”Still, Barkat lingers in her mind. “I hope one day I get to play someone like her again. Someone with unfinished business. Because Barkat still feels unfinished to me, in the best way.”For Shriya, Seher Hone Ko Hai was more than just another credit. “It was a whole different journey for me. Every show teaches you something new. I walked in curious and walked out inspired. Even without being on screen daily, I was learning. Watching, listening, growing.”“That’s the beauty of this field,” she adds. “You don’t always need big scenes to have big takeaways. No complaints, only gratitude.”
