“Hastinapur Ke Veer reminds us that children don’t just learn values through words, they learn them by watching our actions” says Vivana Singh of Sony SAB’s Hastinapur Ke Veer

Sony SAB’s Hastinapur Ke Veer explores the untold childhood of the Pandavas and Kauravas, revealing the relationships and values that shaped Hastinapur. Vivana Singh plays Gandhari, bringing grace, resilience and emotional depth to the iconic queen known for her unwavering devotion and strength. In this conversation, Vivana shares her experience of portraying Gandhari, performing with the iconic blindfold, working with the young cast and the timeless values she hopes audiences take away from the character.

1. What fresh perspective on Gandhari do you think the show brings to audiences?

The show presents Gandhari from a very different perspective. She is not living in a nuclear family, and her children are influenced not just by her, but also by other family members. She is a mother of 101 children, and she tries to give equal attention to each one. On top of that, she is blindfolded and has to see the world through others’ eyes. She slowly realizes that not every influence around her children is positive. It is an important message to parents, to always be aware of who their children are spending time with, whether it’s friends, relatives or even family members. Hastinapur Ke Veer shows that even too much love and pampering can shape a child in the wrong way.

2. Was there a particular scene or sequence that made you feel especially connected to Gandhari?

I feel connected to Gandhari every single day. Wearing the blindfold and performing has been the biggest challenge of my career so far. In emotional moments especially, actors often connect through eye contact, but Gandhari doesn’t have that. Every day I am challenged to understand her emotions, her relationships and her thought process while living in her skin. In many ways, I relate to Gandhari because just like her, I am surrounded by people but disconnected from them because of the blindfold. She chose to wear it and had to rely on others, and I feel relying completely on someone else is never easy.

3. Gandhari’s relationships with Dhritarashtra, Shakuni and her sons are all very different. Which dynamic has been the most challenging to portray?

The most challenging relationship for me has been Gandhari’s bond with Duryodhan. As a mother, she can sense that her son is slowly moving towards the wrong path, but she is also confused, helpless and heartbroken. She wants to guide him towards dharma, but when she discovers the things he is doing, she is shocked because she wonders where he learned these values. With Dhritarashtra, the relationship is different because she understands his insecurities and tries to guide him with patience, wisdom and calmness. With Shakuni, she listens to him but never encourages his thinking. However, the scenes where Gandhari tries to explain things to Duryodhan and bring him back to the right path have been the most emotionally challenging for me.

4. Which quality of Gandhari has inspired you personally?

What inspires me the most about Gandhari is her strong belief in dharma and righteousness. She believes that what is right should always come first. Even if her own son is wrong, she believes he should be punished. That quality of standing by what is right, even when it is personally difficult, is something I truly admire.

5. Earlier, you spoke about the challenge of performing blindfolded. Now that you’ve lived with the character for weeks, has it become second nature, or does it still demand conscious effort?

It has never become second nature. Every day and every scene is still a challenge because I have to become someone completely different. I have to live another person’s life, understand her emotions and adapt to her body language. As actors, we instinctively connect with our co-actors and the audience through our eyes, but Gandhari doesn’t have that privilege. So, I have to find other ways to express what she’s feeling through my voice, my body language and the smallest of gestures. I am grateful to have the opportunity to play such a demanding character. Every day brings a new challenge and I try to embrace it with gratitude.

6. Gandhari’s story continues to be relevant even today. What do you hope today’s audiences take away from her journey?

These days, we often see parents busy on their phones while children are busy on theirs. Somewhere in between, conversations become fewer and that connection starts to fade. I feel that’s also a kind of blindfold because we stop truly seeing and understanding each other. As parents, we have a huge responsibility. Children don’t just need good schools or comforts, they need our time, attention and love. Spend time with your children, listen to them, understand what they’re feeling. Hastinapur Ke Veer reminds us that children don’t just learn values through words, they learn them by watching our actions. I truly believe that the love and guidance we give them today will shape the people they become tomorrow.

Tune in to watch Hastinapur Ke Veer, every Monday to Saturday at 9:00 PM, only on Sony SAB.