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With the finale of Doctor Bahu still fresh in the minds of viewers, actor Shuja Asad feels it’s time for him to express his gratitude to fans who tuned in to watch him and his co-stars every week.

In a long, emotional note shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Asad thanked “everyone who watched, supported, debated, agreed, disagreed, and felt something throughout this journey”.

The actor said one of the best things about his line of work was that it can start conversations even after the show has ended and the credits have rolled.

He said that if Doctor Bahu had sparked discussions in viewers’ living rooms about “difficult subjects like grief, control, unhealthy relationships, forgiveness, or accountability,” then he and his team were able to create something truly meaningful.

Talking about his character Salman, Asad said he wasn’t written to be perfect. “He stumbled, made mistakes, carried pain, and at times became someone he never wanted to be.”

Still, the actor said, his character “owned those mistakes, apologised and tried to find his way back”. That’s what, he said, made playing the role so human.

Lastly, coming to the team that worked with him on the show, Asad thanked his “incredible cast, director, writers, producers, crew, and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes” for trusting him with a role in their story.

The actor shared a picture with his on-screen partner Kubra Khan, who posted her own note of thanks on Tuesday. She said she had the most amazing experience making the show and thanked everyone involved with the show for making it happen.

Khan said she had no idea how nine months of her working on the drama flew by with all the fun they had on set, describing the team as less of a family and more like friends in high school or college who had each other’s backs no matter what.