Gratitude—that is Arjun Mathur’s state of mind ever since the second season of Made In Heaven dropped online earlier this month. The actor has been receiving unanimous appreciation for his portrayal of Karan. “[Actors] want to be seen and appreciated. When that happens, what else will you feel except gratitude,” exclaims the actor, who fronts the Amazon Prime Video series with Sobhita Dhulipala.

The second season sees the two wedding planners juggle their professional commitments with their crumbling personal lives. It focuses strongly on Karan’s emotional arc after his mother severs ties with him. Watching himself bring forth his character’s sorrows and struggles has been a powerful experience for Mathur, who says, “There are times when you become critical of yourself. Then, there are moments when you feel affected all over again because what you felt while shooting was so strong that you start feeling the same as a viewer.”

The actor credits creator-director Zoya Akhtar for being a constant guide during the making of Made in Heaven. Mathur, who also starred in her directorial debut Luck by Chance (2009), has been close to her since. “I call her my movie maa. She holds your hand right through the process, and makes you feel that nothing else matters. She also knows how to get the best out of me.”