Shruti Bhist talks about playing a ghost whisperer in COLORS’ supernatural thriller ‘Noyontara’

COLORS’ new supernatural thriller ‘Noyontara’ in about a 23-year-old ghost-whisperer who’s long been mocked for her gift. Her life turns upside down when she marries Surjo, a rational man hung up on his past. Upon entering her eerie sasural, Pari Mahal, Noyontara is drawn into a maze of dark secrets refuse to stay buried. With a mischievous ghost named Hasiram as her ally, she must untangle the haveli’s sinister past and choose between two women—each claiming to be her mother-in-law, Lalita. One wants to save Surjo, the other is a threat to his life. But in a house where nothing is what it seems, can Noyontara trust her instincts and save her husband—or will her gift become her curse? Starring Shruti Bhist in the titular role, Arjun Chakrabarty as Surjo and Narayani Shastri as Lalita/ Lata, ‘Noyontara’ every day at 8:30 PM only on COLORS. In a candid chat, Shruti Bhist talks about her character’s sixth sense in Noyontara.

1. Tell us something about the show  A.Noyontara is a supernatural thriller centered around Noyontara, a 23-year-old ghost-whisperer who’s always been ridiculed because of her rare gift. Her life spins out of control when marries Dr. Surjo, a man grounded in science, still hung up on the shadows of his past. After stepping into her in-laws’ ancestral haveli, she’s pulled into a web of secrets. With a mischievous ghost named Hasiram as her unlikely ally she starts digging into the haveli’s history of cruelty, greed, and buried truths. But then comes the twist—two women, both claiming to be her mother-in-law, Lalita. One of them puts Noyontara on a mission to save her husband from a fate worse than death with the gift the world mocked her for. Caught in the middle of trying to figure out who’s on her side and who’s pulling her into a trap, Noyontara must protect her husband, navigating a loveless marriage.  
2. Tell us something about your character A.Noyontara is a 23-year-old girl with an extraordinary gift — she can see and communicate with spirits, ever since she was blessed by Baba Bhootnath as a child. To the world, this makes her “odd” or “cursed.” To her family, it made her future — especially marriage — a constant worry. But behind the whispers and wary glances, Noyontara stands tall with a quiet strength and compassion. She listens to lost souls, not with fear, but with empathy, guiding them toward peace. Now married to Surjo, a rational man of science trapped in his own grief, Noyontara’s world has become even more complicated. She may share a roof with him, but their hearts are miles apart. What started as a marriage of hope has slowly revealed itself to be one of distance. And yet, she refuses to give up on him. She senses that something — or someone — is holding him back, and she’s determined to uncover the truth and help him heal and protect him. But in a house full of secrets, trust doesn’t come easy. A twist comes with two women in the haveli, both claiming to be her mother-in-law, Lalita. One of them puts Noyontara on a mission to save her husband from a fate worse than death with the gift the world mocked her for. She is unsure which path leads to answers and which one to betrayal. And yet, through it all, she remains a warrior in her own quiet way. She’s kind and patient while dealing with a loveless marriage, protecting her husband from an otherwordly threat and figuring out who’s on her side.
3. What motivated you to take up the show?  A.A girl who can talk to spirits—that’s a rare space to explore as an actor. But what really stayed with me was the emotional weight she carries. Noyontara isn’t just someone with a supernatural gift, she’s someone who uses it with empathy. She listens to lost souls and helps them find peace, even when the world doesn’t understand her. That inner strength, that quiet resilience—that’s what made me want to be her. What also excited me was the world we were building. There’s a certain rootedness in the show—the Bengali setting, the way she dresses, speaks, carries herself—it all adds to the character, and none of it feels forced. Wearing those traditional sarees, adjusting to the rhythm of her speech and movement, it felt immersive, not decorative. These details helped me find Noyontara’s truth. And the timing felt right. This show came to me at a point where I was looking to do something that would really push me creatively. The role, the story, the platform all aligned in a way that just made sense.