After Sudhanshu Pandey and Madalsa Sharma, Gaurav Khanna aka Anuj Kapadia is the latest main lead to announce his exit from producer Rajan Shahi’s popular show Anupamaa. With many actors quitting, the show is seeing a major drop in its TRPs. Anupamaa, headlined by Rupali Ganguly, has been making headlines for the wrong reasons lately. Recently, the show took a 15-year long leap, which led to several characters getting dropped from the storyline, but Anuj Kapadia’s exit took everyone by surprise. Now, in a conversation with SCREEN, actor Gaurav Khanna talks the leap, his possible return, and rumours of his tiff with Rupali.
Opening up about him leaving Anupamaa, Gaurav says, “Nothing happened. The story took a leap and (Rajan Shahi) sir asked me to wait for a month because he didn’t see Anuj in the story for a while. I waited for a month, then it got stretched and another month went by. Then sir called me himself and said that he couldn’t see Anuj in the storyline ahead,” adding, “He wanted to take the story in another direction with the new people, I guess. He said ‘I don’t think Anuj will come back and even if he will, I don’t know when’. He didn’t want me to sit at home and waste more time. That’s why I announced that Anuj’s chapter is closed as of now.”
The actor goes on to hint about his possible comeback as Anuj and shares, “He was also optimistic and so was I, so I told him if he requires me and I also have time, then I will come back. That’s why I said that its a comma and not a full stop. But as of now, Anuj is not there. That’s nice to know that people wanted me there. Anuj and Anupamaa’s story was so much liked by people, it was the main thing in the past so many years. Sir always tries to do something different from what people think, I think he must be doing that only.”
Having said that, Gaurav mentions that he wasn’t really aware about the fate of his character. “Story toh humko sir ne lekin bataayi hi nahi thi, I also never knew exactly. I kept on waiting. I thought there will be a look change or something. I was trying to change my look completely, just to come back in a different avatar. He also wanted Anuj to come back with a bang, but then he said its not going to happen. It has taken me some time to accept that Anuj isn’t going to be there because it wasn’t planned that way,” he further adds.
Shutting down rumours of issues between him and his co-star Rupali, Gaurav clarifies, “I don’t pay heed to any such rumours. I am only focused on working on my craft and making it better everyday.”
Ask him if it would be difficult to move on to other characters, keeping the audience typecast in mind, as Anuj Kapadia has a massive fan following. He answers, “That happens in the industry but never happened to me. I have always done one different show after the other. Being an actor, I love those challenges. But, you never know. Let’s see, what’s coming my way.”
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
