He was the face fans woke up to each evening, the young boy with a heartwarming smile and natural charm who brought life to the screen in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. And then, just like that, he was gone. No final scene, no closure, just whispers and questions. Why did Manthan Setia leave? Was it sudden? Was there something more? For weeks, silence filled the void. Until now.

In an emotional interview that fans didn’t see coming, Manthan finally broke his silence — and it wasn’t just about the show. It was about something deeper, something more human, something that caught even his co-stars off guard. “Mujhe bura laga,” he said, his voice trembling, when asked about his exit and the people he left behind. And most notably, one person kept coming up in his thoughts: Samriddhi.

They had become an inseparable part of the audience’s daily life. On-screen chemistry that didn’t feel forced, innocent banter, shared glances, and moments of silence that spoke louder than words. Off-screen, rumors swirled, but the two always maintained their professionalism, while fans speculated about a bond stronger than friendship. Now, as Manthan opens up, the emotions are impossible to ignore.

He didn’t just walk away from a show. He walked away from a rhythm, a family, and perhaps, an unspoken feeling.

“I was going through a lot inside,” Manthan confessed. “I didn’t talk to many people about it. I just kept working, smiling, and doing my scenes. But at some point, I started to feel like I didn’t belong anymore.”

He didn’t name names. He didn’t accuse anyone. But the hurt in his eyes told its own story. There was pressure, creative confusion, and above all, a growing distance between what he felt and what was expected of him. While viewers enjoyed the glamour and drama of the show, Manthan was quietly drifting away — mentally and emotionally.

Still, it wasn’t easy. Especially when it came to Samriddhi.

“There were days I just wanted to stay back, even if just to share one more scene with her,” he admitted, glancing down for a long moment. “She understood me in ways no one else did on set. She knew when I was upset even if I said nothing. And when the day came to say goodbye, she didn’t speak much either. She just hugged me.”

That hug, he says, broke him more than anything else. “I felt like something was slipping away that I wouldn’t get back again.”

While fans loved their chemistry, what happened behind the camera was even more delicate. Late-night script readings, inside jokes between shots, quiet moments on set when everyone else had left — these became the small anchors in Manthan’s fast-changing world. Samriddhi wasn’t just a co-star; she was comfort.

So why leave?

“There comes a time when you have to choose peace over presence,” he said. “I wasn’t at peace anymore. I felt I was smiling for others, but inside, I was shrinking.”

As the show continued without him, Manthan watched from afar. He didn’t post about it. He didn’t comment on episodes. But he saw everything. And when he saw Samriddhi on-screen, something in him ached.

“It’s not jealousy,” he explained. “It’s more like… missing someone who’s still there, but no longer beside you.”

Those who worked on set with both of them described their bond as “effortless.” One crew member said, “Manthan and Samriddhi didn’t need to rehearse much. They just felt the scene and went with it. You could tell there was trust between them.”

Since his exit, Samriddhi has remained quiet. She hasn’t spoken to the media about his departure, and fans are reading into every post she makes, looking for signs of sadness, nostalgia, or longing. But perhaps, just like Manthan, she is keeping the real story inside.

What adds to the emotional weight of this chapter is the fact that Manthan is still so young. In an industry known for its glittering facades and silent pressures, he chose honesty over hype. “I just didn’t want to lie anymore,” he said. “Not to the audience. Not to myself. Not to her.”

When asked if he regrets leaving, his answer was immediate — and layered. “I don’t regret choosing myself. But I do miss what we had. I miss the energy. I miss the honesty of those small moments with Samriddhi. And I hope, somewhere, she knows that.”

Social media has since exploded with reactions. Some fans expressed heartbreak. Others applauded his vulnerability. But almost everyone agreed on one thing — this wasn’t just about a TV show. This was about connection, loss, and the bittersweet choice of walking away from something that once meant everything.

As Manthan begins the next chapter of his life, he carries with him memories that will never be rewritten in scripts or retakes. They are real. Raw. Unfiltered.

And while the world may move on, one quiet message remains behind those teary eyes: Sometimes, it’s not the goodbye that hurts. It’s the part where you realize who you were when you were with them — and how hard it is to find that version of yourself again.

For Manthan, Samriddhi was that mirror. And for now, that mirror is miles away.