Akashdeep Saigal, Smriti Irani’s co-star in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, opens up about his spiritual side: 'Feminine & masculine within us all...’

Akashdeep Saigal has spent much of his career playing characters that are difficult to forget. From the intense Ansh Gujral in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to Ranbir Nanda in Kuchh Is Tara, his work has taken him across television, films and reality shows.

But when asked what part of his personality has never been explored by a filmmaker, Saigal gave an answer that goes well beyond the characters audiences have traditionally associated with him.

“My spiritual side,” he said, according to an ETimes report.


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It is a brief answer, but Saigal’s explanation makes it clear that he is not referring to spirituality simply as another character trait that could be brought to the screen. For him, it is connected to a personal journey that has shaped how he understands himself and the world around him.

Akashdeep Saigal opens up about his spiritual journey

Speaking to ETimes, Saigal explained that his interest in spirituality has involved years of personal exploration.

“I have spent years studying consciousness, exploring the wisdom of the divine mother, and discovering new roles for the feminine and the masculine within us all. It has been a deeply personal journey of understanding the different energies that exist within each of us and how they shape the way we experience life,” he said, as per the ETimes report.

His comments suggest that spirituality, for Saigal, is not about adopting a particular image or presenting himself as a spiritual figure. Instead, he describes it as an ongoing process of understanding consciousness and the different energies he believes exist within people.

From Ansh Gujral to a different side of Akashdeep Saigal

Saigal first became widely recognised for his role as Ansh Gujral in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The character left a strong impression on viewers and became one of the roles most closely associated with the actor.

He later played Ranbir Nanda in Kuchh Is Tara, while his career also included film projects such as Ayan and Kavan. His appearances in reality television further expanded his public image.

That range has meant Saigal has rarely been confined to one screen identity. Yet, according to his comments to ETimes, there is still a part of him that he feels has remained largely untouched by storytelling on screen.

Akashdeep Saigal reveals how spirituality changed his outlook

Saigal’s comments also offer an interesting perspective on his return to television.

After spending time away from the mainstream television spotlight, he returned in 2026 with Naagin 7. He has also stepped back into the world of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, reconnecting with the franchise that played a major role in establishing him as a familiar face among Indian television audiences.

His return therefore comes at a point when his understanding of himself appears to have evolved beyond his earlier screen image.

Rather than simply revisiting the roles that made him popular, Saigal has spoken about a side of his life that he believes has yet to be explored through a character.

Akashdeep Saigal’s family and personal life

Saigal comes from a family with a legal background. His father and elder brother are lawyers, while his sister, Madhu Bhatia, lives in Dubai.

During his modelling years, Saigal was linked to Madhu Sapre, with the relationship reportedly lasting around six months. He was also in a relationship with Shazahn Padamsee for three years.

Saigal is also known by the nickname “Sky”, an alias he adopted because it is what his close friends call him.

He later dated Pooja Bedi for around three years after the two met on Bigg Boss 5.

Akashdeep Saigal returns to the screen with a new perspective

For an actor whose career has been shaped by memorable television characters, Saigal’s latest comments reveal an aspect of his life that has largely remained outside the frame.

His return with Naagin 7 and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 brings him back into familiar television territory, but his own description of his spiritual journey suggests that there is considerably more to his identity than the characters audiences have seen.

And if Saigal’s “spiritual side” is indeed the one part of himself that no director has explored yet, it could offer a very different kind of role if it ever makes its way from his personal journey to the screen.


Inputs from ETimes