Saumya Uniyal is on cloud nine. Her turn as Charu in Netflix’s Matargashti has drawn praise, and in an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat she opened up about the role, the diary entry she believes sealed it, and the co-star who became family.
Charu is more than the ‘buri sangat’ parents warn about
Saumya says Charu is easy to misread. “Charu can be very easily misunderstood if you look at her from the surface,” she told Filmibeat. “Some parents might even call her the ‘buri sangat’ they warn you about.”
Beneath the label, though, is a friend filled with love, care and genuine warmth. Charu is protective and wears her heart on her sleeve. If Saumya could borrow one thing from her, it would be her confidence: “One thing about her that I wish I had in me was the confidence and fierceness with which she carries herself.”
- Judged as bad company by parents at first glance
- Brings love, care and genuine warmth to her friendships
- Fiercely protective of the people close to her
- Carries a confidence Saumya says she wishes she had
A diary entry, written in unusual detail
Landing the part felt like manifestation, Saumya says. She had a diary where she wrote that she wanted to book a series – and it was the only thing she described in that much depth. “It mentions what kind of role it would be, what the length of the episodes would be, etc. So, in a way, I guess I manifested this,” she said.
Themes that mirror real life
Matargashti – a title that suggests carefree wandering – explores relationships, generational differences and the fight for personal independence. For Saumya, special preparation wasn’t needed. “Everything that you see in the series is a reflection of the society that we live in,” she said, adding that the show’s concerns, from first attraction to asserting independence, were part of her own childhood.
A bond that became an on-screen connection
Saumya also spoke warmly about Adrija Sinha, who plays Dhara. She was “a little intimidated” by Adrija’s talent at first, she admitted. The two clicked during costume trials and grew closer once the shoot began. “Ever since then, she has been like a little sister to me,” Saumya said, crediting that off-screen bond for Dhara and Charu’s chemistry.
She also named Rajesh Sharma among the actors she has looked up to for years, praising how easily he moulds himself into a character.
Why the praise is landing
For Hindi OTT audiences, Matargashti‘s young ensemble is becoming a talking point, and Charu is part of the reason. Saumya’s reading of the role – a friend judged by her surface but fiercely loyal underneath – gets at the show’s central tension between how families see a generation and who that generation actually is.
The actress, known for Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, Tum Mere Ho, Waiting Hai and Sisterhood, frames it simply: the series is society reflected back at its young viewers. If you’re catching up, Charu’s arc is the one to watch.
Source: Filmibeat