Saumya Uniyal on Charu in Matargashti: 'I manifested this role from my diary'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Saumya Uniyal, who portrays the free-spirited Charu in the Netflix series 'Matargashti', has described the role as one she quite literally wrote into existence — a manifestation traced back to a personal diary entry in which she had wished for exactly this kind of opportunity.
The Character: Charu Decoded
Saumya offered a nuanced reading of Charu, warning against surface-level judgements of her character. 'Charu can be very easily misunderstood if you look at her from the surface. Some parents might even call her the 'buri sangat' they warn you about. But she's one of those friends who is filled with love, care and genuine warmth,' she said.
She added that Charu's defining qualities go beyond the rebel-without-a-cause archetype. 'Charu is also someone who's very protective as a friend and wears her heart on her sleeve. One thing about her that I wish I had in me was the confidence and fierceness with which she carries herself,' Saumya noted.
The Manifestation Story
Saumya revealed an unusually personal backstory to landing the role. 'I actually had a diary where I had written that I wanted to book a series. I wrote in detail, and surprisingly, that was the only point I wrote about in detail. 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.
The anecdote positions 'Matargashti' not merely as a professional milestone but as the fulfilment of a deeply personal aspiration — a detail that has resonated with fans on social media since the show's premiere.
On Her Co-Stars: Rajesh Sharma and Adrija Sinha
Saumya was candid about the inspiration she draws from veteran actor Rajesh Sharma. 'Rajesh sir has been someone I have looked up to for so many years. His work speaks for itself, and his talent for moulding himself into a character so easily is commendable,' she said.
Her bond with co-star Adrija Sinha, who plays Dhara in the series, appears to mirror the on-screen friendship between their characters. 'Adrija's talent was something I was a little intimidated by when I first saw her work. I remember the first time we met was during our costume trials, and we instantly clicked,' Saumya recalled. 'Ever since then, she has been like a little sister to me, and with all my heart, I wish the best of the best for her. I guess the bond we shared off-screen translated into Dhara and Charu's on-screen chemistry pretty flawlessly,' she added.
Why No Special Preparation Was Needed
'Matargashti' explores generational conflicts, personal independence, and the tentative excitement of first attractions. For Saumya, the themes were close enough to lived experience that conventional character preparation felt unnecessary.
'Everything that you see in the series is a reflection of the society that we live in. There was no particular preparation that I did for this character because everything the series portrays, from generational differences to the freshness of experiencing attraction towards the opposite gender for the first time and fighting for the idea of personal independence, was a part of my childhood,' she explained.
The series, which premiered on Netflix on 21 October 2026, is drawing attention for its grounded portrayal of adolescent life in contemporary India — and Saumya's Charu appears to be among its most talked-about performances.