Nausheen Ali Sardar on Kkusum: 'I was seventeen, playing someone between 22 and 40'
Synopsis
Nausheen Ali Sardar was just seventeen when she stepped into the shoes of a woman twice her age for Ekta Kapoor's 'Kkusum' — and she says the challenge never fully left her. Decades on, the show's TRP of 18–25 and its iconic title track stand as a reminder of what Indian television once was, and rarely is today.
Key Takeaways
Nausheen Ali Sardar made her television debut with Ekta Kapoor 's 'Kkusum' , one of Indian TV's most recalled shows.
She was just seventeen when she began portraying a character aged between 22 and 40 on screen. 'Kkusum' regularly achieved a TRP of 18–25 , a benchmark rarely matched in today's fragmented content landscape.
The show followed a middle-class girl named Kkusum and, after a 20-year leap , her daughter Kkumud.
Nausheen has since appeared in shows including 'Barsatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka' , 'Ganga' , and 'The Adventures of Hatim' .
Actress Nausheen Ali Sardar has opened up about the formidable challenge of portraying a character decades older than herself in the iconic television series 'Kkusum' — the Ekta Kapoor-produced show that launched her career and remains one of Indian television's most recalled titles.
A Role That Outlasted Its Era
Reflecting on her debut, Nausheen said the enduring recognition of the title role continues to move her. 'Kkusum' followed the journey of a hardworking, middle-class girl named Kkusum, and later — after a 20-year leap — shifted focus to her daughter Kkumud.
'I feel very blessed to have had a title role in Kkusum that people still remember even after so many years. People don't really get this kind of opportunity today. Very rarely are character roles remembered,' she said.
Why Recall Was Higher in That Era
Nausheen attributed the show's lasting impact to the quality of writing and the power of its title track. 'The scripts were different back then. We used to have TRP of 18–25. Kkusum had a title song that became the representation of the show. In those days, title songs played a huge role in the marketing of a show,' she noted.
She also contrasted that era with the fragmented attention of today's viewers. 'Now, with so much content, people just flip channels and are often on their phones while watching TV. That's another reason why recall is so low,' she added.
The Age Gap Challenge
Nausheen was just seventeen when she began shooting 'Kkusum', yet the role demanded she convincingly portray a woman aged between 22 and 40 — a range that widened further as the show's narrative leaped forward in time.
'When I look back, I realize I was very, very young to be playing a mature role. I was seventeen and playing someone between twenty two and forty. Personally, I'm a very childish and fun person, so playing such a mature character was always challenging. But as an actor, that's part of the job,' she said.
Gratitude for the Opportunity
Despite the pressures of the role, Nausheen said the audience's appreciation made the experience worthwhile. 'Looking back, I think I did well. Being so young and still playing a mature role, and getting appreciation from the audience, makes me feel blessed. I'm truly thankful to Ekta Kapoor for that opportunity,' she said.
Since 'Kkusum', Nausheen has appeared in several television productions including 'Kahani Hai... Bolo Bolo', 'Kaal Chakra', 'Ganga', 'The Adventures of Hatim', 'Barsatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka', and 'Vasudha'. Her career arc reflects a sustained presence across genres, even as the television landscape has transformed around her.
Point of View
And Nausheen's candour about the emotional labour of playing a role far beyond her years is a reminder of how much was asked of young actors in that era with little public acknowledgement.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Nausheen Ali Sardar's debut show?
Nausheen Ali Sardar made her television debut with 'Kkusum', produced by Ekta Kapoor. The show followed a middle-class girl named Kkusum and later, after a 20-year time leap, her daughter Kkumud.
How old was Nausheen Ali Sardar when she played the lead in Kkusum?
Nausheen was seventeen years old when she began playing the lead role in 'Kkusum', even though the character's age ranged from twenty-two to forty across the show's run and its narrative leap.
Why does Nausheen Ali Sardar say Kkusum is still remembered?
She credits the quality of writing, the era's storytelling style, and the show's iconic title song, which she says served as a major marketing tool. The show also achieved TRPs of 18–25, a figure rarely seen in today's multi-platform content environment.
What other shows has Nausheen Ali Sardar appeared in?
After 'Kkusum', Nausheen appeared in several television productions including 'Kahani Hai... Bolo Bolo', 'Kaal Chakra', 'Ganga', 'The Adventures of Hatim', 'Barsatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka', and 'Vasudha'.
What does Nausheen Ali Sardar say about today's television viewership?
She noted that fragmented attention — driven by multi-channel surfing and simultaneous phone use — has significantly reduced audience recall for characters and shows, contrasting it with the deeper engagement viewers had during 'Kkusum's' run.
