There’s something about the Mishra family of Gullak — their daily squabbles, honest mistakes and wise lessons will leave a smile on your face. Geetanjali Kulkarni, as the sharp-tongued Shanti Mishra who holds the family together, is a delight to watch. Even as the drama’s second season focused on each character’s journey, it put Kulkarni’s Shanti at the centre, highlighting how mothers should not be invisibilised. “In the second season, we wanted her to take a stand. A friend recently shared that most relationships survive because of [high] tolerance level. The breaking point for most middle-class families comes during sensitive encounters. Here, Shanti is not just a home-maker; she is handling the men in the house who are conditioned in a certain way,” explains the artiste, who has earned a place in the Best Supporting Actor (Female): Series category of the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards.

She credits writer Durgesh Singh for developing her character with empathy. Though Shanti comes from a world far removed from her own, Kulkarni says the nuanced writing helped her deeply identify with the part. “Every mother is different. I have played a working woman as well as a home-maker. Here, my character is different from who I am. But there are women like her around, and I find a connection when I see them.”