“It has truly been a beautiful experience working with her”: Lokit Phulwani on sharing screen space with Sriti

Lokit Phulwani, who is currently seen playing the role of Avinash in Oh Humnava—Tum Dena Saath Mera, has been receiving strong reactions from viewers because of his character’s emotionally layered and conflicted behaviour towards his sister in the show.

Produced by Prateek Sharma and Parth Shah under their banner Studio LSD, the show has connected with audiences through emotional family dynamics and complex relationships. While Avinash’s behaviour towards Aprajita may appear harsh on screen, Lokit believes the relationship between the siblings is deeply rooted in love, care, and emotional attachment.

Talking about the bond shared by Avinash and Aprajita, the actor explained, “Honestly, I don’t think Avinash shares a complicated relationship with Aprajita. Beneath everything, there is a lot of love, care, and emotional attachment for his sister and his family. Whatever conflict we see between them comes more from the circumstances, responsibilities, and emotional pressure he carries within himself.”

Lokit Phulwani praises Sriti Jha

Lokit Phulwani also spoke warmly about his experience of working with Sriti Jha on the show. He shared that sharing screen space with an actor as experienced and talented as Sriti has been a memorable experience for him.

“Talking about Sriti Jha, it has truly been a beautiful experience working with her. She is such a talented and experienced actor, and for someone like me, sharing screen space with her is genuinely an honor. But beyond the actor she is, what touches me the most is the kind of person she is in real life. She has a very warm heart and a comforting presence that instantly makes people feel at ease. There’s a sense of comfort, trust, and warmth, almost like performing with someone from your own family. And I think that emotional connection naturally reflects in our scenes as well,” he shared.

The actor further explained that performing emotionally intense scenes requires constant communication and understanding between co-stars.

“Yes, as actors, we constantly discuss our scenes and dialogues. But more importantly, we try to understand why a character feels a certain way, their emotional journey, their background, and what drives their actions. That process helps us perform the scenes with honesty and depth,” he said.

Avinash’s behaviour comes from concern, not hatred

Talking about his character in detail, Lokit Phulwani shared that Avinash is emotionally torn between family responsibilities, social expectations, and concern for his sister’s future.

“My character, Avinash Sharma, deeply loves his family and his sister. It’s not that he doesn’t support her. He comes from a middle-class family where he is the sole earning member, and he has sacrificed a lot to take care of them. So, when he appears to stand against his sister, it actually comes from a place of concern. He wants her to return to her husband’s home and find happiness there. Whatever frustration he expresses is directed at the situation, not at his sister,” he explained.

The actor also highlighted the social conditioning often seen in many middle-class households.

“Even today, in many middle-class families, there is social pressure when a married daughter returns to her parental home. People start questioning the reasons behind it, and families often worry about ‘what society will think.’ Avinash carries that same conditioning and burden. At his core, Avinash is a man who deeply loves his family but is emotionally torn between his responsibilities, societal expectations, and his concern for his sister’s future,” he added.

“Emotionally charged scenes can be difficult”

Lokit Phulwani admitted that portraying such emotionally intense scenes is not always easy for him because his real-life personality is completely different from Avinash.

“Yes, emotionally charged scenes can be difficult to portray because, in real life, I am very different from Avinash. I’m actually a very chilled-out person. So stepping into the mindset of someone like Avinash, a man carrying responsibilities as the sole earning member of the family, can be emotionally demanding at times,” he said.

The actor further explained how deeply he connects with Avinash’s emotional struggles while performing.

“For me, it’s not always easy to switch on and switch off from that emotional space. The moment Avinash starts blaming or reacting strongly, I can feel the frustration and pressure he carries within himself. But that frustration should never be mistaken for a lack of love. In fact, his love and concern for his sister are immense and deeply genuine,” he shared.

Audience reactions prove the character is connecting

Audience reactions towards Avinash have been strong, with many viewers emotionally reacting to the character’s harsh behaviour. However, Lokit sees these reactions as a sign that the character is being portrayed honestly.

“Sometimes, even while playing Avinash, I find myself thinking, ‘He’s so harsh!’ (laughs). But at the end of the day, that’s what the writers and director envision for the character, and my responsibility as an actor is to do complete justice to that vision,” he said.

He further added, “For me, the audience is the real judge. If people are reacting strongly to Avinash or even disliking him at certain moments, it means the character is coming across truthfully and honestly on screen. But of course, as the story moves forward, the dynamics and layers of the character will gradually begin to change, and the audience will get to see a different side of him as well.”

With emotional storytelling, layered characters, and powerful performances, Oh Humnava—Tum Dena Saath Mera continues to keep viewers emotionally invested in the evolving family dynamics and relationships.

Talking about Sriti Jha, it has truly been a beautiful experience working with her. She is such a talented and experienced actor, and for someone like me, sharing screen space with her is genuinely an honor

- Lokit Phulwani