Showing posts with label Gaurav Khanna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaurav Khanna. Show all posts
I wanted to play the game fair and very clean-Gaurav Khanna
8:27 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 9, 2025)
“It feels surreal”, says Gaurav Khanna after winning Bigg Boss Season 19 on Sunday. “Wanted to prove to the world that you can win a show like Bigg Boss by keeping your integrity, by just being yourself and not abusing or crossing any line,” says the 43-year-old actor, who was accused of putting a façade in the house.
“I wanted to play the game fair and very clean... This show is a mind game; if you’re not triggered, you won’t react, and that worked in my favour”, says Gaurav. Recalling the winning moment, he adds, “When Salman sir took my name, I was teary-eyed... For a few seconds I was dumbfounded, and then for him to say, ‘He wants to work with me,’ that was another achievement.”
The actor, who has been in show-business for more than two decades, says this feels like a second innings. “Anupamaa brought me back...Anuj gave me stability, MasterChef made me famous as ‘GK’, and now Bigg Boss has taken me to a different level altogether.” He shares, “I truly believe nothing comes before its time.”
Gaurav agrees that he was hurt with (show’s first runner-up) Farrhana Bhatt’s TV remark, not because it targeted him, but because it disrespected the platform that shaped his career “There will be people who don’t know you, and that’s fine. What hurt was what she was saying it all about the platform.”
He concludes, “This has not been an easy win. Speaking about my wife Akanksha Chamola (actor) and having a child was a personal choice, not a strategy for the game. As a husband, I respect my wife’s wishes in life. If every man thought this way, the world would be a slightly better place. Having said that, if I were cashing in on it, why would I wait until now? We have been married for more than nine years. I wanted to be real with the audience.”
BT Exclusive: Gaurav Khanna confirms his exit from Anupamaa: "For now, Anuj’s chapter is closed"
10:31 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 3, 2024)
The 15-year time leap in Anupamaa in October witnessed the exit of many pivotal characters. However, the one storyline that remained shrouded in mystery was that of Anuj Kapadia, played by Gaurav Khanna. After two months off the set, the actor has finally addressed his future on the show.
“People have been constantly asking me about my return to Anupamaa,” Gaurav says, adding, “Rajan sir (producer Rajan Shahi) had discussed the possibility of a grand re-entry for the character, and we waited two months for it to materialize. However, the storyline had to progress, and waiting no longer made sense. He, too, felt it was time for me to explore something bigger. So, for now, Anuj’s chapter is closed, but I see it as a comma, not a full stop. If the story demands and my schedule allows, I’d be happy to return.”
He further shares, “Anuj was originally planned as a three-month cameo, but it became a defining part of my career, lasting over three years. That kind of love is rare, and I can’t thank my fans enough for it.”
Reflecting on his exit from the daily soap, Gaurav adds, “Moving on isn’t easy. But life is about turning the page and embracing new chapters. Holding on too long can hinder growth. It’s important to adapt & keep moving forward.”
Looking ahead, Gaurav is excited about exploring new avenues, particularly in the OTT space. He shares, “Television has given me immense reach, but OTT offers well-crafted characters and meaningful storytelling. Whether it’s television, films or OTT, I’m here to work hard and let my craft speak for itself. Fame is fleeting; what lasts is your dedication and skill.”
‘Being friends with your co-actors can help, but it’s not essential’
Addressing rumours of a rift with lead actress Rupali Ganguly, Gaurav says, “I don’t engage in retaliatory interviews or respond to rumours. What matters is the work we’ve created together. I’ve always focused on my craft, and what happens beyond the ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is secondary.”
Sharing his perspective on camaraderie among co-stars, he says, “Being friends with your co-actors can help, but it’s not essential for delivering impactful performances. Acting, like cricket, may involve teamwork, but at the end of the day, your individual effort and preparation matter most.”
Rupali Ganguly, Gaurav Khanna are not quitting Anupamaa
10:30 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 28, 2024)
Anupamaa fans were in for a shock when rumours that actors Rupali Ganguly and Gaurav Khanna might quit the TV show surfaced online. While Khanna plays Anuj, Ganguly plays the titular character. Speculation around their exit started when an upcoming leap in the storyline involving actor Aurra Bhatnagar Badoni, who plays Anupama and Anuj’s daughter Aadhya, was confirmed.
However, a source close to the production tells us that “Rupali and Gaurav have no reason to leave the show”.
When we reached out to the show’s producer, Rajan Shahi, he denied the buzz, saying, “The reports are false. Both Rupali and Gaurav are very much a part of the show and their characters are integral to the story.”
Ask about the possible reason behind such reports, and Shahi responds, “I don’t know where these rumours come from.”
Gaurav Khanna opens up on rumours of him quitting Anupamaa
8:27 AM
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; July 31, 2022)
Anupamaa viewers have been predicting that Anuj Kapadia, played by Gaurav Khanna, will quit the show soon. One of the reasons for this is that Gaurav’s screen time has reduced on the show. This topic has been trending online for many days. Finally, in an exclusive interview with BT, Gaurav addressed these rumours. He said, “I will just say that I am fully committed to the show.”
Talking about the screen time being reduced, he said that doesn’t bother him. “I have been in the industry for a long time, and I feel this show is different, and I am lucky to be part of it,” he said, adding, “Once or twice in a lifetime does an actor get an opportunity to play an iconic role on TV and I am thankful for that.”
It’s been nine months since Gaurav joined the show. Initially, he was a bit apprehensive. He shared, “Generally, it is difficult to enter a show which is ongoing.”
Gaurav adds, “But the audience gave my character the same love, which I wasn’t expecting, and I am thankful for it.”
In the show, Gaurav’s character is the perfect husband any woman would want. But what is he like in his personal life? Gaurav shared, “There are bound to be difficulties in every marriage because no two people are similar to each other. But that’s what makes it fun. One has to work around these things and come to a point unanimously. People who manage to do it lead a happy married life. That’s what my wife Akanksha (Chamola) and I do. We are different from each other, but we work towards things together. It’s like balancing a seesaw.”
Unlike my screen wedding, my real life wedding was a superfast one-Rupali Ganguly
8:19 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2022)
The focus in Anupamaa right now is on Rupali Ganguly’s wedding to Gaurav Khanna. It’s a high point on the show. Rupali has become a bride on TV for the third time. Earlier, she dressed as a bride when she celebrated 25 years of marriage with her first husband Vanraj (Sudhanshu Pandey) in the show and a few years ago, when she acted in Sanjivani.
She says, “Both the times, I became a bride for a brief while and it was not so elaborate as the current wedding is. Personally, I believe in small and simple weddings and my own wedding was a quick and simple one many years ago.”
Rupali married Ashwin K Verma, a corporate professional, in February 2013 at her parents’ home in Worli. She says, “Ashwin and I had decided to get married just two days in advance and I had announced it to my parents. My brother (Bollywood choreographer Vijay Ganguly) was taking a flight out of Mumbai and I had to ask him to stay back. We fixed a date and I was hoping that Ashwin would show up on time. We were planning to do a registered wedding, but then my father (director Anil Ganguly) decided to do the kanyadaan and we called a pandit. That day, Ashwin entered a ‘no entry’ lane and was fined by the police. It was hilarious how he finally landed at my home and the pandit started chanting the mantras from the ground floor till he came to my flat. I had around 99 people at my wedding and it was over in a few minutes. We had a party on the same day at an eatery in Versova for our friends. Ours was a fast, hilarious and super quick wedding. I feel that instead of spending money on big, fat weddings, you should share your happiness by helping the less privileged.”
I don’t see a problem in romancing my wife on social media because I love her a lot-Gaurav Khanna
8:10 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; April 15, 2022)
After being in showbiz for 15 years and having done 18 TV shows, Gaurav Khanna confesses that it is his role as Anuj in Anupamaa that has brought him most love and appreciation. In an exclusive chat with BT, the calm and composed Gaurav, similar to his character onscreen, shares how good things come and go, but one needs to keep working and stay grounded. Excerpts:
You’ve been in this industry for more than a decade. There is a perception that although you acted in several shows, it took you longer to connect with viewers...
When I was chosen for Anupamaa, I was apprehensive because I was joining a show midway and I’ve always preferred to work in a show from the beginning. But since it was a talented ensemble cast, I agreed. I had no idea how Anuj would be received by audiences and did not know whether my character would come this far. It is my experience of working in this medium that helped me bag this role. Nobody becomes famous with their first show, even Leonardo DiCaprio had to work in many films before bagging an Oscar. I did several shows and just because they didn’t work, doesn’t mean that I wasn’t good or that the script wasn’t nice. I am not a trained actor, but have learnt things on my journey. Even now, I know the extent of my character for next six or seven episodes, the rest depends on viewership, the producer, makers and script.
Do you feel Anuj is too good to be true?
The show is about hope. A woman who has been sidelined and subdued for 25 years suddenly finds hope in a man who is ready to give her the best! Today, I meet so many people who say that my son, brother or husband is somewhat like Anuj. I am not in a position to comment whether he is too good to be true, but whatever you see of the character is organic and it has emerged because of people’s reactions over social media. One should believe that good people exist otherwise there would be no fairy tales. In the past, TV has seen male leads mostly being angry or action-oriented or following a set pattern, but here, I feel my character is quite relatable. Yes, he seems to be very patient, but after a long time, audiences have seen a mature, emotionally stable, well-read and well-spoken guy, who respects women.
Are you similar to your character Anuj in real life?
Yes, quite a bit. I come from a corporate background, I’m well-read, I’ve grown up around a lot of women in my family and I respect women. And just like in the show, how Anuj listens to his companion, I, too, listen to my wife Akanksha (Chamola) at home.
Your wife Akanksha and you are quite open when it comes to expressing your feelings for each other on social media...
I don’t see a problem in romancing my wife on social media because I love her a lot. If I am showing love for my wife, I believe it is an expression and I am completely fine with PDA. Secondly, I can never say no to my wife. If she wants me to do something, I will help her and even if I am not comfortable, I will still do it. My wife understands my profession because she is also an actor and is not bothered with the buzz around my character.
You’ve been working in the TV industry for a long time. Do you want to explore other mediums?
I’ve worked in 18 shows till date and I love the small screen. Today, whatever I am, is because of TV. I am a production-friendly guy and working for long hours doesn’t bother me because at the end of the day, I am only thinking about my scenes and how to perform them well. I have not tried other stuff because I never had the time. I just focus on my work and move from one project to the other. I believe success is like a cycle and good things come and go, but one needs to stay grounded and work hard. I don’t plan my life, it could be a web show after some time or a film, I haven’t given it a serious thought.
Whenever I watch my scenes with Gaurav Khanna, I get butterflies in my stomach-Rupali Ganguly
8:19 AM
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; March 7, 2022)
Getting a chance to romance on screen in her 40s, actress Rupali Ganguly, who has a romantic track going on currently with actor Gaurav Khanna in the show Anupamaa, says she is loving the experience. “It feels wonderful. The track has been so organic and my character’s transformation is so heart-warming. Whenever I watch my scenes with Gaurav, I get butterflies in my stomach. Iss umar mein bhi Rajan Shahi (producer) ne meri heroine banne ki saari muradein poori kar di hain. I had never thought I would get to romance on screen at this age, especially the one which I am doing right now that makes your heart race and without any physical contact between the characters.”
Mature love stories will always have their fanbase, says Rupali. “It’s always wonderful to see young people romancing, but for us women, who are above 40, characters like Anupamaa and Anuj come along, who make us believe that there can be a Prince Charming in our lives, too,” she says.
Ask her about her husband Ashwin K Verma’s reaction to her romantic track and she says, “My husband loves the track. We both watch the show together. He is my biggest critic as well as my biggest supporter.”
There is no question of me quitting Anupamaa; insecurity doesn’t figure in my scheme of things-Sudhanshu Pandey
8:31 AM
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; January 7, 2022)
Sudhanshu Pandey has become popular as Vanraj Shah in Anupamaa, but recently there were rumours of him quitting the show. Ask Sudhanshu and he says, “There is no question of me quitting Anupamaa. I had gone for a holiday with my family to Dubai after a year-and-a-half. Soon after that, I went to Rajasthan to shoot for an OTT project. I guess because of this people presumed that I was planning to quit and yes, the rumour spread like wildfire. My character Vanraj Shah was the hero of the show and will remain the hero.”
Ever since Gaurav Khanna has entered the show and taken over in the show’s storyline, there has been news suggesting ego clashes among the leads and Sudhanshu not being happy with the development.
However, he clarifies, “Firstly, people need to understand, that you can’t keep running the show with just one storyline. Earlier, too, Apurva Agnihotri was roped in for some time. It is a daily soap which, if it needs to run for years, can’t be showing the same faces on a daily basis. As far as insecurity is concerned, I have been in the industry for long enough and have done enough work — insecurity doesn’t figure in my scheme of things! Not many know that Rajan (Shahi, producer), who is an old friend of mine, came to me with the show before he had finalised it with the channel. He even told that only if I said yes, would he make the show. So all this means a lot.”
Ratna Pathak Shah was not downloading WhatAapp as she was scared that we would send her Good Morning messages-Rupali Ganguly
8:14 AM
The actress talks about the two telly shows that are very close to her heart
Akash Wadhwa (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2021)
Rupali Ganguly may be best known as TV’s Anupamaa today, but many people still remember her for her character Monisha in the show Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai. The cast recently had a reunion. Rupali tells us, “I had been planning the Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai reunion for the past six months on our WhatsApp group. First, we couldn’t meet because of the second wave of COVID-19. Then we were waiting for all of us to get vaccinated. After that, we got busy with our projects, and the get together was pushed further. I called producer J D Majethia at 12.30 one night after my shoot and asked him to organise the reunion at any cost. Finally, we all met at our director, Aatish Kapadia’s house.”
So can we expect a third season of the show anytime soon? “Well, everyone’s too busy for the third season of Sarabhai. It’s been 17 years since the show and we are blessed to be sitting together and clicking pictures with each other. Aise shows bahut kam logon ki zindagi mein aate hain. We keep cracking jokes even now the way we used to on the sets,” she says.
Rupali adds, “Everyone’s in their character! I will tell you a funny story. Ratna ji (Pathak Shah) was not downloading WhatAapp because she was scared that we would send her Good Morning messages. We had to convince her that we would not do so and only then she learnt to use the app. We are always in our characters while chatting, too. I am always hoping for a third season and I keep on manifesting it.”
Meanwhile, on her current show Anupamaa, her character is seen sharing a great camaraderie with Anuj Kapadia, played by Gaurav Khanna. So will their friendship turn into romance on the show at some point? “I have no idea about that,” she says, adding, “It all depends on the makers. Having said that, who doesn’t want Anuj and Anupamaa to be together? Even me as a viewer would want that but hota wahi hai jo humare producer Rajan Shahi chahte hain (laughs!).”
Talking about the time when Gaurav just joined the show, Rupali recalls, “I remember doing a look test with him and I was like ‘Arre, yeh toh bahut young sa koi le aaye hain.’ But he turned out to be a fantastic performer. You won’t believe I told the makers initially that I will look like Gaurav’s amma on the show, but see how things have turned out. The whole casting of Anupamaa is so unconventional.”
Kritika Kamra to play the titular character in fantasy TV show Chandrakanta
7:46 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (January 28, 2017)
Fantasy TV series Chandrakanta that aired on Doordarshan between 1994-96 is set for a comeback in March on Life OK.
Actress Kritika Kamra, who was last seen on the small screen in the 2015 show Reporters, returns to play the titular character, portrayed by model-actress Shikha Swaroop in the original.
Gaurav Khanna will play the male lead in the Nikhil Sinha-directed show. Buzz is, Harsh Vashisht, who has previously featured on shows like Ek Veer Ki Ardaas...Veera and Sadda Haq, has come on board to play Chandrakanta’s father. Wonder if the makers have found their Kroor Singh yet…
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