Shweta Kawaatra, who is best known for her portrayal of Pallavi Agarwal in the TV show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, was last seen in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Ram Setu (2022). Before that, the actor did the fantasy show, Baal Veer, seven years ago. Ask Kawaatra about the long gap and the actor links it to postpartum depression that lasted for over five years.

“I was not just low, I had brain fog. I had panic attacks. I would be angry for no reason. I used to feel helpless and suicidal. It was a hopeless situation,” says the actor, who welcomed her daughter, Zahara Tabeetha, with her husband, actor Manav Gohil, in May 2012.

She continues, “I did Baal Veer because I had lost all confidence. In depression, you want to isolate yourself. You feel very conscious of yourself and underconfident. The makers were kind enough to support my timings. I did the show only to get my confidence back.”

Now that she’s better, ask which medium between TV and films interests her more, and the actor says she’s fine with either as long as it doesn’t get overwhelming: “It took me five years to breathe easy. My daughter is 10 now. So, I want to take care of her. I want to balance my work and family.”

Recalling the strenuous routine TV demands, the actor adds, “I would love to do TV, but I won’t be able to balance work and home then. Thode demanding hours hote hain TV mein. I want work to be one part of my life. I want to enjoy life and work. OTT and films allow you to do that. I would love to do a TV show if someone says, ‘Yeh sirf 6 months ki series hai’. And, I am sure that day would also come.”

After working continuously for a decade, Shweta Tiwari has started to take it easy on the professional front. The actress, who will be seen in Vipul D Shah's Baal Veer, says she has worked hard for long and feels "content" now. These days, her favourite pastime is spending time with her 13-year-old daughter, Palak.

Says she, “I was always busy working for financial security. My daughter has always seen me occupied by work. I feel I have done her injustice by not being around during her growing-up years. But now, I have made enough money. When I was working, my daughter tried to spend time with me by visiting me on the set or accompanying me to outstation shoots. And now, I attempt to spend time with her. Palak gets so annoyed (laughs) that she asks me why I interfere so much and why am I not working, so that I leave her alone at least for some time."

So, what does the teenager aspire to become? “It keeps changing. From pilot, hair stylist and fashion designer, it has come down to acting. I am fine by whatever profession she decides to pursue. She knows industry people because of me and will join a dance class or work on her body when she is prepared to pursue acting. She can choose TV or films, I will support her."

And who is Palak closer to - her or husband Abhinav Kohli? “It's him as he pampers her a lot and lets her be. I am a protective mother, who freaks out when a boy visits her at our home or if she wears short dresses,“ Shweta sums up.