MUMBAI: Actress Yesha Harsora, who is presently winning hearts as Tapasya in Rahul Kumar Tewary and Rolling Tales Productions Jagadhatri, looks back at her deep-rooted connection with Indian television — a medium she says shaped her childhood and continues to hold emotional value even today.
“Yes, I was genuinely very fond of Madhubala. One show I absolutely loved was Vivian’s Ishqbaaaz. Even more than that, I was a huge fan of Uttaran and Balika Vadhu. For me, those shows were iconic. If I continue, I’ll end up naming so many more! The direction, storytelling, performances — everything was on point. I’ve been watching TV shows since I was a kid, so I still feel very connected to them,” she shared.
Yesha recalls how television was an inseparable part of her family’s daily routine. “We used to watch shows together as a family and it felt so good. It was like a ritual — all of us sitting together for dinner and waiting for the show to start. Even if we had already begun eating, someone would always say, ‘No, no, let’s sit and watch together.’ And in that half-hour episode, dinner would just get done. That warmth and bonding is something TV created.”
Talking about how the medium has evolved, she says daily soaps aren’t consumed the same way anymore. “Reality shows like Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi still work because they offer drama and entertainment. But daily soaps — only a few households remain closely connected to them now. Gen Z and millennials turn to OTT platforms and films because they feel more real or relatable. But we forget that many of the situations shown in daily soaps still genuinely exist.”
For Yesha, television remains important because of what it mirrors and teaches. “If family dramas are still being made, that means such families still exist. People watch them because they learn something. Even today, in both rural and urban areas, there are many orthodox families where women aren’t allowed to make choices freely or pursue their passion. These mindsets are still very real — and that’s what keeps TV relevant.”
Her own earliest TV memories include shows most Indian homes grew up with. “My earliest memories would be Uttaran, Balika Vadhu, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, Anupamaa. I’ve watched so many daily soaps since childhood. If moms watched them, kids automatically watched too. It was genuinely a family thing.”
Speaking about Jagadhatri, Yesha feels the show will resonate strongly with viewers. “It’s not a typical daily soap with over-the-top dramatic moments. Even the fights or family drama are shown realistically. Every scene has layers. Any Indian household — especially a typical brown family — will relate to it. There’s a bua at home, the step-sister dynamic, and Tapasya-Jagadhatri’s equation. Shivay and Jagadhatri are undercover agents but also good friends. So many twists, so many layers. Even the Deshmukh family has multiple tracks running simultaneously.”
She adds that her on-set experience has been beautiful. “The team is amazing. My co-actors like Farmaan, Jiten Lalwani sir, Ajay Chaudhary, Ashok Lokhande and many others are wonderful to work with. I absolutely love the Naik family too — I’ve shot the most with them till now. Shooting with the rest of the cast in the Deshmukh family is still left. Everyone is so genuine.”
Speaking about her character Tapasya, Yesha shares, “Tapasya is artistic, strong-headed and dramatic. If you’ve watched Uttaran, she has a similar vibe. She’s in many ways the opposite of Jagadhatri. When I learned about her layers, I instantly became keen to play her. It’s a beautiful role with so much to explore as an actor.”
On the uniqueness of the show, she adds, “Jagadhatri is very different from the daily soaps currently on air. The lead plays two roles — the elder daughter without a mother who has a step-sister (me), and simultaneously an undercover agent. She’s strong, powerful and firm. Every character in the show has its own unique arc, which makes it gripping.”
Praising the production house, Yesha says, “Rahul sir and the entire team at Rolling Tales Productions have done a wonderful job. My elder sister is also working with them in Udne Ki Aasha, so I already had a great impression of the team. When they approached me for Jagadhatri, I immediately said yes. I was genuinely very excited to be a part of this show and to play Tapasya.”
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