“This is a story many women live but never speak about” – Aishwarya Khare on playing the titular character in COLORS’ ‘Dr. Aarambhi’

COLORS brings a powerful new woman centric drama, Dr. Aarambhi, a story that reflects the quiet realities of sacrifice, love, and lost identity within families. At the heart of the show is Aarambhi Balbir Chaudhary, played by Aishwarya Khare, a gold medalist doctor who gives up her career after marriage and devotes her life to her family. Living in a powerful medical household, she genuinely believes her silence is what keeps the family together, unaware that she is being emotionally controlled and gaslit. A life-threatening medical crisis and a devastating betrayal shatter this illusion and force her to confront painful truths about her marriage and her place within it. What follows is not a story of revenge, but of restart, resilience, and a woman reclaiming her voice and identity. Aishwarya Khare opens up about her character, her preparation, and what made her say yes to this powerful journey.

1. Tell us about ‘Dr. Aarambhi’. What attracted you to Dr Aarambhi and made you say yes to the show?
A. Dr Aarambhi is, at its core, a story about rediscovery and reclamation. It shines a light on how many women are conditioned to believe that sacrifice is the solution to every problem to nourish everyone else while quietly letting their own identity fade. Aarambhi is a gold-medallist doctor whose career ends even before it begins, because she’s groomed into the ‘ideal’ daughter-in-law, mother, and wife. Years of subtle conditioning make her believe that erasing herself is normal. But when a life-threatening setback exposes the cracks in her marriage and the truth about her husband, she’s forced to confront the cost of a life built on self-neglect. And instead of breaking, she chooses to rebuild. That’s the heart of the show: can a woman transform betrayal into her greatest comeback? What attracted me instantly was how real and honest Aarambhi felt. She is not dramatic or larger than life, she is someone we see around us every day. Her story is about quiet sacrifice, love, and slowly losing yourself without even realising it. I connected deeply with the emotional truth of the script and the fact that her journey is about rediscovering herself, not seeking revenge. Saying yes felt like a natural decision because this is a story that needed to be told with sensitivity and honesty.

2. Tell us about your character and how different it is from roles you have played earlier.
A. Once a celebrated gold medallist and AIPMT topper, Dr. Aarambhi Balbir Chaudhary is a homemaker, we’ve all seen in Indian households. She represents a generation of women who discover that patriarchy has simply learned to hide beneath success and sophistication. She embraces the duty of keeping the family together, trusting that love and partnership will make the sacrifices worth it. She has been gaslighted to compromise her career and self- worth for others and her identity is reduced to her utility, where her presence is noticed only when something is missing or imperfect. After facing a betrayal and a health crisis, she recognises that her marriage is one-sided. Unlike characters who are strong and vocal from the beginning, Aarambhi’s strength is internal and her transformation is gradual. I have played strong characters before, but this kind of quiet resilience and emotional restraint is very different. Her journey from duty and guilt to choosing herself makes her incredibly real and relatable.

3. How did you prepare for this role?
A. My preparation was mostly emotional and internal. I spent a lot of time understanding Aarambhi’s conditioning, her deep love for her family, and the way she normalises things that should never be normal. I worked on restraint, because she does not express everything she feels out loud. Small details like her silence, body language, and reactions were very important. I also worked closely with the creative team to ensure her emotional journey felt honest and gradual. The idea was to let her growth unfold naturally rather than rush it.

4. What was it like working with the cast and creative team on this show?
A. It has been a very collaborative and supportive experience. The creative team is extremely clear and sensitive about the emotional tone of the show, which helps tremendously as an actor. My co actors bring a lot of depth and honesty to their performances, which makes every scene feel grounded and real. There is a strong sense of trust on set, allowing you to explore emotions freely. That comfort and understanding reflect on the screen and strengthen storytelling.

5. Women are often praised for how much they give up. What would you like to tell them through this show?
A. I want to tell women that sacrifice is not a virtue. Society often praises women for how much they give up, but rarely asks what it costs them. Through Dr Aarambhi, we want to show that love should not mean losing yourself. Aarambhi believes that holding the family together is her biggest responsibility, a belief many women will recognise. The story gently challenges this and reminds us that you cannot give to others when you are completely drained. Choosing yourself is not selfish; it is necessary. This story is a reminder that it is never too late to start again, follow your dreams, and live a life where your happiness truly matters.

6. Did you ever find yourself questioning the sacrifices you’ve made in your personal life?
A. That question did come to me while working on the show. Personally, I have been very fortunate to have a family that has always encouraged me to grow and follow my dreams. Their support has played a huge role in whatever I have achieved as an actor, and because of that, I never felt held back in my choices. I truly hope every woman receives the same kind of understanding and support, where her growth is celebrated rather than questioned.

7. Please tell us the restart moment of your life.
A. I think every failure in life comes with its own restart moment. For me, it was the phase where I consciously chose to trust myself more, take risks, and step out of my comfort zone instead of playing safe. There were moments when things did not go as planned, and I had to pause, reassess, and begin again with more clarity. That restart taught me patience and self-belief. It reminded me that growth does not always come from success, but often from starting over with more strength and honesty.

8. The show exposes how powerful families protect a man and erase a woman. Do you think this truth will make viewers uncomfortable?
A. I think every viewer will react to this story based on their own experiences, their upbringing, their environment, and even their gender. For some, it may feel familiar, for others it may feel uncomfortable, and that difference in reaction is important. The show is really a reflection of an uncomfortable reality that exists in society, one that many women have lived through silently. It highlights how patriarchal norms are often maintained even in families that appear decent, educated, or progressive on the surface, where the emotional and domestic burden still falls entirely on the woman. For some male viewers, this truth may encourage them to look inward and think about their role in relationships and families. If the show can start even a few honest conversations and help redefine what it truly means to be a supportive partner, then it has achieved something meaningful.

9. What part of Aarambhi stayed with you even after the camera cut?
A. What stayed with me was Aarambhi’s instinct to keep going, even when she was emotionally exhausted. She carries so much within her, yet rarely gives herself permission to pause or ask for help. She refused to let challenges derail her sense of self. That stayed with me personally, even after the camera cut, and it is something I continue to be inspired by in my own life.

Watch Dr. Aarambhi every Monday to Friday at 8:00 PM only on COLORS.