Barkha Bisht Talks Career Milestones, Personal Growth, And Life After Separation

Actor Barkha Bisht has carved a remarkable space in the entertainment industry over the past two decades. From her debut on Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi to playing memorable roles in hit TV shows like Pyaar Ke Do Naam... Ek Raadha Ek Shyaam and recently, Tenali Rama, Barkha has captivated audiences with her versatile performances. She also made a mark in films with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. Whether it's the small screen, big screen, or the digital space, Barkha’s ability to transform into every character she plays has earned her a special place in viewers' hearts.

Barkha Bisht interview

Barkha, from films to television, from playing a romantic lead to portraying Goddess Kali—you’ve done it all. You entered the industry with Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi in 2004, and from there, your journey has truly evolved. Tell us a little bit about the defining moments you recall from the beginning to where you are now.

I think the defining moment for me, as I started my journey as an actor, was moving to Bombay against my family's wishes. I come from an army background—my father is an army officer—so pursuing a profession like acting was unheard of.

Nowadays, of course, we see many girls from army families entering the industry. But I came from a household where my father was insistent on me having a 'real' profession. For them, acting was not considered one. This was over 20 years ago. However, my mother was a huge support.

She, somewhere, believed that I had this dramatic bone in me and that I should pursue it. So, I think the defining moment for me was when I just packed my bags and came to Bombay, not knowing what was going to happen. Now, it’s been more than 20 years—and here I am, still at it.

Like you said, I’ve pretty much done it all. When one looks back at that start, you can’t help but marvel at the journey we’ve made as women. Especially coming from a background—and I think we all come from that generation—where people would say, “Okay, you can dance, you can learn to sing, but that’s just going to be a hobby.”

For parents, following the conventional path of education is always the priority, right? How much convincing did it actually take for your family to accept your decision? And were they okay with you moving to Bombay?

Well, it took a lot of convincing. And no, they were not okay with it. But I think I had pretty much made up my mind that this was what I wanted to do. It was almost like a calling. And like I said, I just packed my bags and left. Dad was not very happy about it. I remember, for months after that, he didn’t speak to me. But, of course, he would always check on me through mom. It was like a typical Hindi movie scene.

Every time I called home, mom would speak to me, but dad wouldn’t. So, my convincing clearly hadn’t worked. It was only later—when I started getting work and people began seeing me on screen—that things changed.
That’s when people started telling him, “Oh my God, that’s your daughter!” And I think it was almost a year later that he finally accepted that maybe this was what I was meant to do.

Until then, he thought it was just a phase—that I was trying it out and would eventually come back and do something ‘worthwhile’ with my life. But clearly, that didn’t happen. And here I am.

Yeah, two decades—oh my God, that’s a really long time, Barkha! You’ve done television, films, and web series. Which one would you say is your favorite medium? I mean, among these formats, which remains your personal favorite?

Television is the closest to my heart because that’s where I started. It gave me pretty much everything I have—visibility, popularity, money, and technical knowledge. I’ve learned so much from television that when I transitioned to other platforms, it all came so naturally. I was often appreciated for being technically sound. So, television will always remain closest to my heart.

But if you ask me otherwise, I really enjoy working on the web platform because it’s creatively very satisfying. Each project is unique and different from the other, which constantly challenges me as an actor. It’s also deeply fulfilling at the end of the day. I’m genuinely happy with the work I get to do on the web because it allows me to explore and play all kinds of roles.

Your journey has been incredibly diverse. Playing Goddess Kali in Tenali Rama must have been quite the experience. How do you prepare for a role that is so iconic and powerful—especially in India, where Goddess Kali is worshipped so deeply? What was your process like?

I don’t really think you can prepare for a role like that. No matter how much effort you put into preparation, you’re representing a goddess who is revered across the country. So, I don’t believe any amount of preparation can truly prepare you for it. Honestly, it felt more like the role chose me—or perhaps it was some kind of divine intervention that decided, “Maybe she should play Kali.”

I had actually played Goddess Kali in Tenali Rama during season one as well, though that was a very brief appearance. This time, of course, it was a longer arc on the show. But if you ask me, I would say—no formal preparation. It’s just that we’ve grown up with such strong religious beliefs because of the culture we come from. We’ve heard these stories and seen these goddesses all our lives. So, in a way, the preparation has been happening since childhood. We know so much about them inherently. But I don’t think it’s humanly possible to feel fully prepared for a character like that. You just put your faith into it and perform with all your heart.

Tenali Rama is known for his wit and wisdom, and we also see Goddess Kali playing a significant role in that context. How do you feel her presence contributes to the overall narrative?

Yes, Tenali Rama is an incredibly witty and intelligent man. He possesses the power of wisdom and words—but, at the end of the day, he is still human. He needs Goddess Kali to keep appearing in his life because, like all of us, there are times when he feels disappointed, confused, or even tempted to be selfish. Sometimes, he leans towards choices that may not be right.

That’s where Goddess Kali’s narrative comes in. She appears at those critical moments to guide him back onto the path of righteousness. She’s essentially this guiding force in his life. Every time he feels lost, disappointed, or uncertain, that’s when Goddess Kali appears—because she’s the one he puts his faith in. And every time his faith begins to waver, she returns to restore it.

You also played Kesar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. What was it like working with him? He’s known for his grandeur, storytelling, the stunning visual aesthetics—but also for his temper.

Working with Sanjay is like attending an acting school. When you’re on his set, you’re constantly learning—it’s not just during your own scenes. Even when I wasn’t shooting, I would be around on set, observing. Whether it was Ranveer or Richa shooting their scenes, I was there, absorbing everything. Unfortunately, I didn’t have scenes with Deepika, but I had a lot of scenes with Ranveer. And every time they were filming, I would be on set, trying to learn from Sanjay. He’s truly an acting institute in himself.

But yes, I think with anyone who is so creatively gifted, there will be certain challenges. You might call it temper, or you might see it as part of their personality traits—but it comes with that level of brilliance. He is a man who demands perfection in every single shot, and naturally, that expectation brings along a certain intensity.

Having said that, I was fortunate enough to never personally face his temper. But I did witness him getting angry on set a few times, and honestly, it can be quite intimidating. It scares you. If you set aside the fact that he’s upset and focus on why he’s saying what he’s saying, you’ll realise there’s so much to learn from him. For someone like him, efficiency is key and he expects it from everyone. That intensity is just part of who he is. It’s not like he’s in a temper all the time.

Most of the time, he’s simply in a deeply creative zone. And that can feel intimidating to those around him because it’s as if he’s operating in a different world altogether. You have to step into his world to understand him and feel comfortable. If you stay in your own space, you’ll constantly feel like he’s somewhere else and you’re not on the same wavelength. But once you enter his world, you realize the magic he creates. That’s when you truly see how Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings his vision to life.

You’ve been in the industry for two decades now, which is no small feat. You’ve held your place firmly, but you’ve also faced personal upheavals along the way. How was it navigating a separation—dealing with the emotional turmoil and trauma that comes with it—while still needing to show up for work? I feel your experience could offer strength to the women listening. What did it take for you to return to your set and your work during such a difficult time?

Well, to all the women watching this, I want to begin by saying—it wasn’t easy. It never is. It’s not going to be. No matter how many podcasts we hear, how many quotes we read, or how many people tell us, “It’ll all be okay,” the truth is—it’s hard.

Yes, eventually, things do get better. But the process is tough. If you ask me today—it’s been four years since my separation—how I got through it, I genuinely don’t know.

I really don’t. It’s such a deeply personal journey. Having been through it myself, I can’t sit here and advise someone else because everyone’s experience is different. That being said, the one thing that kept me going was finding a purpose. For me, that purpose was my daughter. She became my anchor.

But beyond that, something else happened which I didn’t expect. I found myself reconnecting with the person I was before I became a wife, a mother, a daughter-in-law. I looked at that version of Barkha—the woman I was before all those roles—and I remembered she was fearless, strong, independent, confident, and ready to take on the world. Somewhere along the way, through life and relationships, that part of me had faded. It took me almost two years to remind myself that one event in my life couldn’t redefine who I was.

I had to reclaim that woman—the Barkha I used to be before all these labels were attached to me. That was a turning point.

Of course, people around you will remind you of your strength, but ultimately, it’s a journey you walk alone. It’s not something you can just “get over” in six months. I had people ask me, “How long will you be sad?” Even my daughter, at one point, said, “How long are you going to be unhappy?”

But healing doesn’t work on a timeline. People can support you, but they can’t walk the path for you. That’s something you have to do, through all the pain, all the hurt. And I’ll be honest—being an actor made it harder. When your life is public, people feel entitled to comment, to reduce your marriage to a single statement. That hurt deeply. But through it all, I’ve realised that it really does get better. I know if someone’s going through this right now, they might think, “Oh, that’s just another person saying it’ll be okay.”

I thought the same when people told me that. But now, having lived it, I can say with certainty—it does become okay. It gets better. You just have to hold on to yourself.

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That was really heartfelt, Barkha. Do you have any tips for aspiring actors? Considering how competitive the industry is, what would you say to someone hoping to make it?

Oh, my God—don’t become an actor! (laughs) But, jokes apart, I know every day, thousands come to Mumbai with dreams of making it big. They’re talented, good-looking, and driven people with so much to offer. But after being in this industry for over 20 years, I can say with complete honesty—it’s not a bed of roses. You will face disappointments and rejections. And the competition today is even tougher than when I started.

Social media has changed the game. Everything you do is out there—you’ll either be praised or trolled. So, it’s not a place for the faint-hearted. You need to be mentally and emotionally strong to survive here. That being said, if you’re truly passionate about acting, by all means—pursue your dreams. I did. But while chasing those dreams, keep your expectations realistic.

Don’t believe that one show, one film, or one viral moment will mean you’ve ‘arrived.’ The truth is—you never fully arrive. It’s a constant journey of learning, growing, and improving. I know this might sound discouraging, but I say it to prepare you. Because the reality is not everybody becomes stars like Shah Rukh Khan or Deepika Padukone.

For every success story, there are countless others who return home disappointed or pivot to other careers.
But if you do make it, this industry can be beautiful. It’s like a family. When I faced my personal struggles, people from the industry who I didn’t even know well reached out and supported me. That’s the strength of this place.
So, come with passion, but also with resilience. Work hard, stay grounded, and know that success here isn’t just about fame—it’s about endurance and constantly evolving.

What’s next for you, Barkha? Any exciting projects in the pipeline?

I’ve just wrapped up shooting a web series for Hotstar, which should be out around April or May. But the next release is Hunter Season 2 on Amazon Mini—it’s coming out very soon. That’s the one I did with Sunil Shetty, so I’m looking forward to that.

Amazing! Before we let you go, a quick rapid fire—ready? A director you’d love to work with?
Anurag Kashyap.

An actor you admire the most?
Ranbir Kapoor.

One thing people don’t know about you?
Oh, I’m not as nice as I look! (laughs) No, just kidding. Honestly, I’m such an open book that I don’t think there’s much people don’t know about me.

Your go-to comfort food?
Rajma Chawal. Always.

One mantra you live by?
I truly believe—that whatever happens, happens for the best. I completely echo that. 

Mohua Chinappa is an author, poet and runs two podcasts, The Mohua Show and The Literature Lounge. She is also a member of a London-based award-winning non-profit think tank called Bridge India.