COLORS’ ‘Bareilly Ke Bacchan’ has already piqued viewers’ curiosity with its quirky characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a family unlike any other on television. Set in the bustling lanes of Bareilly, the show follows the Bacchan parivaar, a household that has been without a woman for years and has somehow learned to survive through denial, chaos, and pure stubbornness with jugaad. At the centre of it all is Krishna (played by Pravisht Mishra), a man whose optimism knows no bounds. But his carefully constructed world begins to unravel when Sangam (played by Ramneek Kataria) enters the house and refuses to buy into his version of reality. As two completely opposite outlooks come face to face, the story unfolds into an entertaining blend of family drama, humour, and heartfelt emotions that will leave viewers rooting for the Bacchans despite all their flaws. Pravisht Mishra shares what drew him to Krishna and the world of the Bacchan family.
- Tell us about ‘Bareilly Ke Bacchan’. What made you say yes to the show and this role?
A. Bareilly Ke Bacchan is a heartwarming story about a dysfunctional household of men in Bareilly who have learned to survive without a woman in the house, relying on denial, chaos, and jugaad, until Sangam enters their lives and changes everything. At the centre of that world is Krishna, a man who represents people who are chronically positive, the kind who refuse to even register that something is wrong. After his mother passed away, the Bacchan house lost its spirit. All the men are merely existing with jugaad in a woman-less house, stuck in their roles, frozen in time. Krishna’s way of dealing with that grief and vacuum is denial. He lives in a make-believe world where everything is perfect because accepting the truth would mean confronting loss. Many people around him are convinced that no woman would ever choose to enter this house. He vows that he will bring a woman home and prove everyone wrong. That woman is Sangam. What’s fascinating is that she can see right through Krishna’s lies and delusions and constantly calls him out. His arc is about whether he will pull Sangam into his illusion or if she will burst his bubble. Apart from that, another huge reason why I agreed to the show was that my family is devoted to Krishna, and the fact that my character’s name is Krishna in the show felt like a calling. Like the character was made just for me. So, saying yes to the show was a no-brainer for me. - Tell us about your character and how different it is from roles you have played earlier.
A. Krishna is someone who genuinely believes that if you refuse to focus on problems, they somehow stop existing. He sees the world through rose-tinted glasses and spends a lot of time convincing himself and everyone around him that life is perfect, even when it’s clearly falling apart. What makes him interesting is that his optimism isn’t fake or manipulative. He truly believes in the reality he has created for himself. Then Sangam enters his life and refuses to buy into his version of the world. She challenges him constantly, and that creates a very entertaining dynamic between them. What makes Krishna different from characters I have played before is that his positivity comes from a very emotional place. Usually, optimistic characters are written as carefree or light-hearted, but Krishna’s optimism is actually his coping mechanism. Everyone in the Bacchan family is grieving the loss of the matriarch of the house in their own way; my character does it through his optimism or delusion. Exploring that emotional depth while maintaining the humour of the character has been a completely new experience for me. - How did you prepare for the role?
A. Since I belong to Allahabad (now Prayagraj), I was already familiar with the culture and language of Uttar Pradesh, but the dialect of Bareilly is quite different from the way we speak in Allahabad. Bareilly has its own flavour of khari boli, its own rhythm, and certain words and expressions that are unique to the region. To get that authenticity right, I attended a workshop where we worked extensively on the dialect, pronunciation, and local mannerisms. We paid special attention to the words and phrases that are commonly associated with Bareilly. At the same time, growing up in Uttar Pradesh helped me connect with Krishna almost instinctively. His warmth, his emotional attachment to family, and his outlook on life felt very familiar to me. Representing Uttar Pradesh on primetime television is a responsibility I wear with pride. - The story is set in Bareilly, and you’ve spent a good amount of time shooting there. How was that experience for you?
A. Shooting in Bareilly was honestly one of the most memorable experiences for all of us. The city has a warmth and energy that’s difficult to describe unless you’ve experienced it yourself. What surprised me the most was the kind of love we received from people there right from the beginning. Even before the promos had premiered, fans would gather around our shooting locations, take pictures, cheer for us, and show so much excitement. There were days when we had huge crowds surrounding us and we even needed security to manage everything. It felt unreal because people were supporting the show before they had even seen it. That kind of encouragement gave us a lot of confidence and motivated all of us to give our absolute best. Beyond that, spending time in Bareilly helped us understand the culture, language, and everyday life of the city much better, which I think adds authenticity to the show. I feel honoured to represent the heart and soul of Uttar Pradesh through Krishna. - What was it like working with the co-actors on this show?
A. It’s been a fantastic experience because every actor brings something unique to the table. Yashpal sir has such an incredible body of work behind him, and simply watching him perform is a learning experience. Kinshuk, Ansh, Sachin, and Ramneek have all brought so much honesty and individuality to their characters that the family dynamics feel very natural. Since the story revolves around a dysfunctional household, building comfort and chemistry with each other was very important. Thankfully, we bonded very quickly off screen as well, and that camaraderie reflects in our scenes. There is a lot of fun, improvisation, and laughter on set, which makes coming to work every day enjoyable. - Which member of the Bacchan family do you think audiences will relate to the most?
A. That’s the beauty of the show. Every viewer will find themselves in a different Bacchan. A lot of viewers might see themselves in Ganga because he’s the person who carries the weight of the family on his shoulders. Every family has someone who takes responsibility without asking for credit, someone who ends up becoming the emotional backbone of the house. Then there are people who will relate to Krishna because he’s always trying to keep the family together, even if his way of doing it is by pretending everything is okay. What makes the Bacchans relatable is that they’re all imperfect. They argue, they make mistakes, they avoid difficult conversations, and sometimes they drive each other crazy. But at the end of the day, there is an unspoken love that keeps them together. I think audiences will recognise that instantly because that’s how most families are. Nobody is perfect, nobody has all the answers, but somehow you continue showing up for each other. - What can viewers look forward to in the upcoming storyline?
A. Bareilly Ke Bacchan is small-town chaos with big-hearted emotions that will make every generation smile. It is a very entertaining mix of humour, emotions, family drama, and unexpected twists. At the heart of the story is the relationship between my character, Krishna and Sangam. Krishna is determined to prove that his family and home are perfect, while Sangam sees the reality of the situation from day one. Watching these two worlds collide creates some very funny moments, but it also leads to meaningful emotional journeys for everyone in the family. As the story progresses, audiences will discover why each member of the Bacchan family is the way they are and how they deal with grief, loneliness, expectations, and hope. It’s a story that will make you laugh, but it will also touch your heart.
Watch ‘Bareilly Ke Bacchan’, airing every Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM only on COLORS and JioHotstar!