Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai New Entry: Sarwam Kulkarni Talks About Playing Rishabh & Being Paired With...

Actor Sarwam Kulkarni, who entered Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai in May 2026 as Rishabh, says the character-driven track made him say yes to television after focusing largely on OTT projects.

Rishabh was introduced as a new face in the Poddar household, brought in by Disha Bhua (Isha Dheerwani), and has since become a love interest to protagonists' Abhira (Samridhii Shukla) and Armaan (Rohit Purohit) daughters Maira (Arshiya Sharma) and Mukti (Sarah Killedar).

For Sarwam, the shift came unexpectedly. "I wasn't really planning on doing TV, but when this character-driven show came up, I said yes. On set, I found out my friend was shooting too. The project was huge, and the director and team were incredible," he recalls.

The actor, known for playing Amreesh in Pandya Store and Vaibhav in the web series Yeh Meri Family, says the scale of Yeh Rishta surprised him. "After we shot, the fans started making arrangements, people watched it, and it felt like I was part of something big. The best part was the bond I formed with the senior actors-it felt like family. Even after shoot, we'd sit together and make plans. I've never connected with people this quickly before."

Rishabh's arc has moved from the 'good boy' introduction to a more layered, negative shade, a transition Sarwam finds challenging and rewarding. "The role was challenging, the treatment was different, the script was strong. Now I'm leaving it to the audience. Because I was introduced as a good boy, but now I'm playing a negative character, and honestly, the love I'm getting is overwhelming," he shares.

Sarwam, who has built a following through OTT and TV roles in shows like Pushpa Impossible, Krishna Mohini and Kundali Bhagya, says he's enjoying the unpredictability. "I only look for important roles; it doesn't matter whether I'm negative or positive, it will surely be an amazing experience," he said.