Nausheen Ali Sardar, who plays Kkusum has a deep understanding of the character, and that helps her empathise with Kkusum and bring her to life. Nausheen too comes from a close-knit family of five siblings. Though she has not had many of the experiences that Kkusum has, she 
has friends who have gone through similar experiences. And that is one thing that helps her understand what Kkusum is going through too, and helps her portray the character.
Born to a Punjabi Muslim father and an Iranian mother, Nausheen comes from a family that by her own confession has absolutely nothing to do with the arts. But Nausheen who was always inclined towards it remembers her school days as being filled with extra-curricular activities such as elocution competitions and fancy dress. Once out of school, she started off with modeling which she did for two years, chalking up several prestigious ad films against her name. And she was noticed...
Do you identify with Kkusum?
To an extent, I do. Because I too come from a middle class family, though not a lower middle class family as Kkusum does.
KKkusum is sweet, and she's got a lot of patience, but at the same time, she isn't going to take any injustice lying down, and won't back off from fighting for her rights and identity. She upholds her strong ethical and moral values and possess immense self-respect. I too believe in these qualities as a person which, I think, makes it that much easier to identify with the character.
You've been acting now for one and a years. Is it still as exciting as it was in the beginning?
Yes it is. I love acting? the pain, the passion. It has taught me a lot of things. It has helped me mature in life.
What is it like working with Anuj Saxena who plays your husband in the film?
Anuj is a doctor in real life and he is very sweet chap. I don't know much about him but I do know that I'm very comfortable working with him. He is very supportive and fits the character very well. He is a real charmer.
Has any scene reminded you of something that's happened in your life, particularly?
There is a scene in which my younger sister (played by Smita Singh) talks to me about her dreams (she is a dreamer) and I knock her on the head and tell her, hey, this is life, come back to reality! This reminds me of my childhood. When I was a kid, I was a big dreamer and I remember how my sister used to react in similar situations. Now when I do the scene I know exactly how to look because I vividly remember how my sister would look at me.
According to you what's the target audience of KKkusum?
Each and every woman, I'd say! Kkusum embodies an ordinary working girl that we see in every city and town today. So a whole lot of women, I believe, will empathise with Kkusum and will look up to her.
What message will girls your age, on the threshold of life, get from this serial?
I'd say? that a woman should know her limits. She should neither be too much of a dreamer nor too practical in her approach to life.
What kind of crises does Kkusum face?
She encounters the sort of problems a typical Indian middle class family often experiences. She marries a man who turns out to be extremely possessive. He decides everything for her? what she should wear, how she should sit, who she should speak with etc. A time comes when he wants her to abandon her family and that's when Kkusum breaks the mould and fights for herself, her rights, her identity.
Would you in real life react the same way Kkusum does in the serial if the circumstances were the same?
Of course! In fact, the director always tells me to put myself in Kkusum's place and imagine how I would feel.
But what if the writer had written something completely different?
It cannot happen as Kkusum's character is based on the archetypal Indian women who would show the extraordinariness.. when something difficult happens.
And what about the future? Are films a part of your plans?
No, I don't intend to do films as I have heard a lot of unpleasant things about the film industry. But if a good friend comes and says, 'Nausheen do this project,' then I might just go ahead and do it.
Is there any role you would particularly like to do?
I would love to play a mute girl's role where I will have to communicate through eyes and facial expressions.
Anupamaa
