Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki

''Shakti — Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki'' ( Strength — feeling of existence) was an Indian Hindi-language social drama television series produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms airing from 30 May 2016 to 1 October 2021 on Colors TV. It starred Rubina Dilaik, Vivian Dsena, Jigyasa Singh, Simba Nagpal and Cezanne Khan. This show is the fourth longest-running television show of Colors TV.

Plot

Set in rural Punjab, Maninder and his mother Nalini try to bury the 1-year-old Soumya alive. They're caught by Nimmi who saves her and warns Maninder that if he and Nalini try to kill Soumya again, she won't spare them.

8 years later

Soumya is a quiet and simple girl, raised lovingly by Nimmi but hated by Maninder and Nalini. Her happy-go-lucky and bubbly sister, Surbhi gets all the love and attention in the family. A veiled woman named Mallika, whom Nimmi called "Saaya", tries to take Soumya away with her, but Nimmi protects and keeps her daughter with her.

14 years later

Grown-up, Soumya mostly lives inside. Currently in college, Surbhi teaches a lesson to the spoilt troublemaker Harman. Vengeful, he vows to punish her but mistakenly kidnaps Soumya. Harman's father, Harak Singh orders Harman to marry Soumya in order to avoid social embarrassment. They marry and soon fall in love. Nimmi reveals Soumya's truth that she is a transgender woman, and the reason why Mallika wants to take Soumya away with her is because she is also a transgender.

This leaves Harman enraged, but he later starts loving Soumya again. On knowing that Soumya is a transgender, Preeto, Harman's mother, traumatizes Nimmi, who dies of cardiac arrest. Later, in order to separate Soumya from her son, Preeto asks Soumya to get Harman and Surbhi married. For Soumya's sake, the two marry but Surbhi later divorces Harman in order to not come between him and Soumya. Preeto tells the truth to Harman that she first married Harak's elder brother, but after few years of marriage he left her, then she married Harak Singh and they give birth to Harman and Raavi. Harak's nephew, Varun, who hates Harak, marries Surbhi to remain close to them pretending to be a well-wisher. Eventually, Preeto realizes her misdeeds and accepts Soumya.

After numerous twists, Varun is finally disowned by Harak, who finds out his intentions. Pregnant, Surbhi returns from Delhi. In an confrontation, Varun ends up accidentally injuring her. Before dying, Surbhi delivers a son, Soham and hands over Soumya his responsibility. Varun is jailed for Surbhi's murder.

Preeto again starts hating Soumya, as she had to do widow's ritual, after her husband, Nihaal's death. Thus, Soumya leaves them with Soham and lives in Mallika's community. She takes care of Vedant Bansal, who falls for her. As she rejects him, Vedant gets Harman jailed to blackmail Soumya. Soumya fakes her marriage to save Harman, who misunderstood her. In envy, Harman marries Mahi.

Soon after, Harman has liver problems due to excessive drinking. Mahi is pregnant. Harman finds out the truth about Soumya and Vedant's fake marriage and how Vedant threatened Soumya. He comes to save her but gets assumed dead as Vedant pushes him off a cliff and thus is jailed. Soumya and Preeto reunite and adopt Vedant's nephew, Rohan. Later, Mahi delivers a transgender child and disowns her. Soumya and Preeto stop Mahi and take responsibility of the child. Harak names the child Heer, unaware of her truth.

5 years later

Heer is a bubbly girl, brought up by Saumya and Preeto. On knowing her truth, Harak intends to kill Heer but is arrested. Bailed, Varun returns and tries to get Soham back. But Maninder exposes he killed Surbhi so Soham disowns him. After many twists, Maninder finally accepts Soumya as his daughter. The police allows Harak to meet Preeto. Harak asks to send Soumya away if she wants him to accept Heer. Preeto agrees; Saumya leaves with a tearful goodbye but vows to return after years.

16 years later

Heer is grown into a strong girl and is fiercely protected by Soham and Rohan. Heer falls in love with Virat and they elope to marry. However, Preeto reveals Heer's truth to Virat who initially hates her. Later, Virat realizes that he loves Heer and hides her truth. Virat and Heer marry. Eventually, everyone learns Heer's long-hidden truth. Heer blames her family for hiding her truth but soon understands their love for her. Angel manipulates Heer into joining their clan. Later, Virat comes to get her but gets beaten up by the transgenders. Heer falls off a cliff and presumed died while trying to save Virat.

After 6 months, Heer is shown to be alive and working as a caretaker and namesake family member of Dr. Akshay's family. Virat has gone mad. Heer returns to her family finding about Virat, who recovers and reunites with her. They are attacked by Angel. Soumya returns home after 16 years to protect her family. Surprisingly back and alive, Harman also reconciles with the family after years, proving he's Harman, though his face changed (as he got surgery). Angel is jailed. Soumya and Harman unite with Heer after years, who also remarries Virat. Heer hires a maid Gitu, who is molested by Virat's brother, Daljit. Heer fights for Gitu's justice is killed by Parmeet, Daljeet and Sant Baksh.

Soumya, Harman and Virat eventually learn about Heer's death. They make Parmeet, Daljeet and Santbaksh confess their crime who get arrested. Raavi's son, Chintu returns to destroy Harak's family. Preeto and Soumya save a transgender baby from being buried alive. They adopt the child, being supported by entire family. Chintu and Angel team up to snatch the family happiness, but finally realize their mistakes. Preeto names the baby as Shagun. Soumya wills to protect and raise her by letting her know her truth. The show ends on a happy note, with the family united.

Cast

Main

* Rubina Dilaik as Soumya "Gulabo" Singh aka Tarana, Soumya Harman Singh – A Transgender; Nimmi and Maninder's elder daughter; Surbhi's sister; Harman's wife; Soham, Rohan, Heer and Shagun's adoptive mother (2016–2020; 2021)
** Mahira Khurana as Child Soumya Singh (2016)
* Vivian Dsena/ Cezanne Khan as Harman Singh – Preeto and Harak's son; Raavi's brother; Mahi's ex-husband; Soumya's husband; Heer's father; Soham and Shagun's adoptive father (2016–2019) / (2021)
* Jigyasa Singh as Heer Singh – A Transgender; Harman and Mahi's daughter; Soumya's adoptive daughter; Rohan and Soham's adoptive sister; Virat's wife (2020–2021)
** Sumaiya Khan as Child Heer Singh (2019–2020)
* Simba Nagpal as Virat Singh – Parmeet and Sant's younger son; Daljeet and Simran's brother; Heer's widower (2020–2021)

Recurring

* Kamya Panjabi as Preeto Kaur Singh – Payal's daughter; Sukha's sister; Nihal's ex-wife; Harak's wife; Harman and Raavi's mother; Chintu and Heer's grandmother; Rohan and Shagun's adoptive grandmother (2016–2021)
* Sudesh Berry as Harak Singh – Nihaal and Veeran's brother; Preeto's husband; Harman and Raavi's father; Chintu and Heer's grandfather; Rohan and Shagun's adoptive grandfather (2016–2021)
* Garima Jain / Pooja Singh as Raavi Singh – Preeto and Harak's daughter; Harman's sister; Balwinder's widow; Chintu's mother (2016–2018) / (2018-2021)
* Bhuvan Chopra as Veeran Singh – Nihaal and Harak's brother; Shanno's husband; Sindhu's father (2016–2021)
* Aarya Rawal as Shanno Singh – Veeran's wife; Sindhu's mother (2016–2021)
* Ekta Singh as Saaya aka Mallika Khanna – A Transgender; Milkha's sister; Soumya's mother-figure (2016–2021)
* Kajol Saroj as Kareena – A Transgender; Soumya and Heer's enemy (2016–2021) (Dead)
* Tushar Kawale as Chintu Singh – Raavi and Balwinder's son (2021)
** Unknown as Child Chintu Singh (2017–2018)
* Nidhi Bhavsar / Vaani Sharma as Sindhu Singh – Veeran and Shanno's daughter; Ankush's wife (2019–2021)
** Mahek Thaakur as Child Sindhu Singh (2016–2017)
* Meherzan Mazda as Rohan Singh – Rekha and Vidhaan's son; Soumya's adoptive son; Soham and Heer's adoptive brother; Simran's husband (2020–2021)
** Meet Mukhi as Child Rohan Singh (2019–2020)
* Avinash Mukherjee as Soham Singh – Surbhi and Varun's son; Soumya and Harman's adoptive son; Rohan and Heer's adoptive brother (2020)
** Vivaan Sharma as Child Soham Singh (2019–2020)
* Sareeka Dhillon as Mahi Singh – Harman's ex-wife; Heer's mother (2019–2021)
* Parag Tyagi as DSP Sant Singh – Baksh's son; Tejinder's brother; Parmeet's husband; Daljeet, Simran and Virat's father (2020–2021)
* Gauri Tonk / Jasveer Kaur as Parmeet Singh – Sant's wife; Daljeet, Simran and Virat's mother (2020–2021)
* Rachana Mistry / Visha Vira as Simran Singh – Parmeet and Sant's daughter; Daljeet and Virat's sister; Rohan's wife (2020–2021)
* Aakash Talwar as Daljeet Singh – Parmeet and Sant's elder son; Simran and Virat's brother; Gurwinder's husband (2020–2021)
* Ekroop Bedi as Gurwinder Singh – Daljeet's wife (2020–2021)
* Nimisha Vakharia as Tejinder Singh – Baksh's daughter; Sant's sister (2020)
* Kanwarjit Paintal as Baksh Singh – Sant and Tejinder's father; Daljeet, Simran and Virat's grandfather (2020)
* Sonam Arora as Angel – A Transgender; Soumya and Heer's enemy (2020–2021)
* Reena Kapoor as Nimmi Kaur Singh – Anjana's daughter; Maninder's wife; Soumya and Surbhi's mother; Soham's grandmother (2016) (Dead)
* Ayub Khan as Maninder Singh – Nalini's son; Nimmi's widower; Soumya and Surbhi's father; Soham's grandfather (2016–2020)
* Roshni Sahota / Iti Kaurav as Surbhi Singh – Nimmi and Maninder's younger daughter; Soumya's sister; Harman and Varun's ex-wife; Soham's mother (2016–2019) (Dead)
** Tasheen Shah as Child Surbhi Singh (2016)
* Unknown as Anjana Singh – Nimmi's mother; Soumya and Surbhi's maternal grandmother; Soham's maternal great-grandmother (2016–2019) (Dead)
* Mamta Luthra as Nalini Singh – Maninder's mother; Soumya and Surbhi's paternal grandmother; Soham's maternal great-grandmother (2016–2020)
* Lakshya Handa as Varun Singh – Nihaal, Harak and Veeran's nephew; Surbhi's ex-husband; Sweety's husband; Soham's father (2016–2020)
* Tanvi Kishore as Sweety Singh – Varun's wife (2019)
* Prakash Ramchandani as Nihaal Singh – Harak and Veeran's brother; Preeto's ex-husband (2019) (Dead)
* Rishikesh Ingley / Kush Sharma as Balwinder "Ballu" Sodhi – Kishan's son; Raavi's husband; Chintu's father (2017–2021) (Dead)
* Unknown as Kishan Lal Sodhi – Ballu's father; Chintu's grandfather (2017–2021)
* Krutika Desai Khan as Payal Singh – Preeto and Sukha's mother; Harman, Raavi and Garry's grandmother (2018)
* Jaswant Menaria as Sukhwinder "Sukha" Singh – Payal's son; Preeto's brother; Sunaina's husband; Garry's father (2019)
* Shivani Gosain as Sunaina Singh – Sukha's wife; Garry's mother (2019)
* Rohit Chandel as Gurmeet "Garry" Singh – Sunaina and Sukha's son (2019)
* Sahil Uppal as Vedant Bansal – Sunil's son; Rekha's brother; Soumya and Harman's rival (2019)
* Shweta Sinha as Rekha Bansal Singh – Sunil's daughter; Vedant's sister; Vidhaan's wife; Rohan's mother (2019) (Dead)
* Unknown as Vidhaan Singh – Rekha's husband; Rohan's father (2019) (Dead)
* Rajesh Puri as Sunil Bansal – Harak and Harman's business rival; Rekha and Vedant's father; Rohan's grandfather (2019)
* Ayaz Ahmed as Arjun – Vedant's friend (2019)
* Hitanshu Jinsi as Ankush Singh – Sindhu's husband (2019)
* Preeti Puri as Dr. Gayatri Mathur – Soumya's doctor; Reet's mother (2019)
* Avisha Shahu as Reet Mathur – Gayatri's daughter; Heer, Rohan and Soham's friend (2019)
* Rohit Roy as Nishant Bhalla (2019)
* Emir Shah as Monty – Harman's friend (2016)
* Shiwani Chakraborty as Mahima – Harman's ex-fiancée (2016)
* Mahi Sharma as Kalsi – Soumya and Surbhi's best friend (2016–2017)
* Kishori Shahane as Sharmani – Transgender (2016–2017)
* Sara Khan as Mohini – Harak's former mistress (2017–2018)
* Anand Goradia as Maharani – Transgender (2017–2019)
* Chhavi Awasthi as Chameli – Transgender (2017–2021)
* Sonal Handa as Jeet Singh – Motilal's son; Jasleen's brother; Raavi's former husband (2018)
* Amrita Prakash as Jasleen Kaur Singh – Motilal's daughter; Jeet's sister; Harman's childhood friend (2018)
* Hemant Choudhary as Motilal Singh – Jasleen and Jeet's father; Harak's friend (2018)
* Dheeraj Gumbar as Sumit Kapoor (2018)
* Sahil Mehta as Sameer Singh – Gopika's son (2018)
* Tiya Gandwani as Dr. Lavneet Kaushal – Samay and Tanvi's daughter (2018)
* Alka Mogha as Gopika Singh – Sameer's mother (2018)
* Unknown as Dr. Samay Kaushal – Lavneet's father; Tanvi's husband (2018)
* Unknown as Dr. Tanvi Kaushal – Lavneet's mother; Samay's wife (2018)
* Shiva Gupta as Esha – Heer's friend (2020)
* Prerna Panwar as Nutan – Transgender (2020) (Dead)
* Sonya Ayodhya as Jharna Narula – Uttam's daughter; Virat's former fiancée (2020)
* Naveen Saini as DIG Uttam Narula – Jharna's father (2020)
* Sikandar Kharbanda as Shergil – The man who buys Heer (2020)
* Aniruddh Dave as Shyam – Transgender; Angel's partner (2021)
* Pankaj Bhatia as Jagjit Singh – Beeji's son; Akshay's brother; Archana's husband (2021)
* Bhawna Hada/ Kaveri Priyam as Dr. Isha – Virat's friend (2021)
* Anahita Jahabaksh as Beeji – Jagjit and Akshay's mother (2021)
* Neha Narang as Archana – Jagjit's wife (2021)
* Kapil Nirmal as Jeet – A shooter hired by Angel to kill Soumya (2021)
* Sanjeev Siddharth as Jeet's grandfather (2021)
* Puneett Chouksey as Akshay – Jagjit's brother; Kuhu's father; Heer's boss (2021)
* Salman Shaikh as Arjun – Kamini's son; Nayantara's brother; Simran's child's father. (2021)
* Unknown as Kamini – Arjun and Nayantara's mother (2021)
* Dharti Bhatt as Nayantara – Kamini's daughter; Arjun's brother (2021)
* Paras Zutshi as Guru – Heer and Virat's friend (2021)
* Abigail Jain as Riya (2019)
* Mouli Ganguly as Shruti Bhalla (2019)
* Nikita Sharma as Archana Kapoor (2019)
* Rushad Rana as Advocate Navjot Chaddha (2019)
* Ronit Roy as Advocate Rajat Singh (2019)
* Preetika Chauhan as Sneha (2019)
* Roopal Tyagi as Manasvi Mehat (2019)

Special appearances

* Salman Khan to promote ''Big Boss 10'' (2016)
* Parineeti Chopra and Ayushmann Khurrana to promote '' Meri Pyaari Bindu'' (2017)
* Jay Soni as Bakool Vasavda from ''Bhaag Bakool Bhaag'' (2017)
* Helly Shah as Devanshi Bakshi from ''Devanshi'' (2017)
* Piyush Sahdev as Pavan Bakshi from ''Devanshi'' (2017)
* Varun Kapoor as Dr. Veer Malhotra from '' Savitri Devi College & Hospital'' (2017)
* Swarda Thigle as Dr. Saachi Malhotra/Mishra from ''Savitri Devi College & Hospital'' (2017)
* Vikram Sakhalkar as Dr. Kabir Kapoor from ''Savitri Devi College & Hospital'' (2017)
* Meera Deosthale as Chakor Rajvanshi from '' Udaan'' (2017)/(2018)
* Sahil Uppal as Kunal Singhania from ''Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman'' (2017)
* Sangeita Chauhan as Meghna Singhania from ''Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman'' (2017)
* Sidharth Shukla as Parth Bhanushali from '' Dil Se Dil Tak'' (2017)
* Rashami Desai as Shorvori Parth Bhanushali from ''Dil Se Dil Tak'' (2017)
* Jasmin Bhasin as Teni Bhanushali from ''Dil Se Dil Tak'' (2017)
* Arjun Bijlani as Deep Raj Singh/Deep Raichand from '' Ishq Mein Marjawan'' (2018)
* Aalisha Panwar as Aarohi Raichand from ''Ishq Mein Marjawan'' (2018)
* Ritvik Arora as Ahaan Dhanrajgir from '' Tu Aashiqui'' (2018)
* Sanjay Dutt and