New Delhi: Actor Prasanna Bisht is receiving praise for her emotionally charged performance in the 2026 social drama Chiraiya, now streaming on JioHotstar. The six-episode series, directed by Shashant Shah, explores difficult themes such as marital rape, consent and generational conditioning within a traditional household.
In the show, Prasanna plays Pooja, a newlywed bride who moves into a conservative family in Lucknow. Her life quickly spirals when she faces sexual abuse by her husband, Arun, played by Siddharth Shaw. The story follows Pooja’s struggle to reclaim dignity and autonomy in a family that prioritises honour over justice.
Prasanna Bisht recalls disturbing child bride story
Speaking in an interview with News9Live’s Vanshika Singh, Prasanna revealed that a deeply personal encounter helped her connect with the character long before she auditioned for the show.
“Before I got into the series, I met a woman: my neighbour’s grandmother. I was asking her questions because I really love speaking to people and knowing their stories. It really helped me build the character,” she said.
During their conversation, the woman shared a story that deeply affected the actor. “When I asked her about her marriage, I said, ‘Nani, when did you get married?’ She told me, ‘I was eight years old.’”
Prasanna recalled how the woman later described the trauma she experienced as a child bride. Her husband was much older, and the marriage quickly became unbearable. “She told me that the first night was so traumatic that she used to run away from home every evening at night,” Prasanna said.
The woman would hide in a shed where cows and goats were kept. Even though leopards roamed the mountainous region at night, she chose the shed because it felt safer than returning home. “And she told me that it was rape,” Prasanna added.
Months later, when the actress received the audition for Chiraiya, the memory resurfaced. Reading the script left her stunned. “When I read the script, I’m not even kidding, I went completely blank. In that very moment, I knew that this was my responsibility.”
The actor believes the series also raises questions about upbringing and generational conditioning. “Parenting is the biggest responsibility in the world,” she said. “Sometimes the real problem is not that someone is intentionally doing something wrong. The problem is that they don’t even realise it is wrong.”
Chiraiya is currently streaming on JioHotstar.