I remember the single happiest day of my teenage years. I came back from school and found a pink letter on my table. It was a friendship band that was sent by Jasmeet Walia, aka Jassi. At 12, I genuinely thought of Jassi [the lead in the show Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin (2003–2006)] as my friend. And there began my love for Mona Singh. Many years later, during an interview, I told her this story and she laughed. “That innocence of Jassi is something I hope we always carry with ourselves,” she’d told me.

In the past few years, everywhere we look, we see Singh. She is the tough cop in Sudeep Sharma’s Kohrra. She is a don in Vir Das’s wacky Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos. She is the hero’s warm mother in Aryan Khan’s Ba***ds Of Bollywood (2025). She is the doctor who can save the world in Netflix’s Kaala Paani (2023). She is also Sunny Deol’s bantering wife in Border 2. And she is the menacing Babli Didi, a mafia queen in Suresh Triveni’s Subedaar. It raises the same question in everyone’s mind — how is she in so many things all at once, never looking out of place in any of these diverse set ups?

The best answer I found to this, came from a late night conversation with Saurabh Khanna, writer of Yeh Meri Family (2018), and the producer of Kaala Paani (2023). He said, quite-matter-of-factly, “She is a Bachchan! Aap koi bhi film dekh lo, Bachchan sahab ki, film kaisi bhi ho, Bachchan sahab kabhi kharab nahin hotey!”

Khanna’s Yeh Meri Family is considered to be Singh’s turning point. She played a mother to three kids in ’90s small town India. What about that show made Khanna think of Singh? “When we started casting, we knew we wanted familiar faces. This wasn’t a show about big lines, big drama. It was about everyday stories. She has this unique quality that she can shine in whatever you give her. Very rarely do we get actors who take punt on fresh ideas, who don’t ask ‘mere opposite kaun hai?’”

Singh broke out with her iconic role Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin in 2003. The role itself was a risk. Television boom had seen an influx of interesting new actors but for any avid TV viewer of that era, Jassi was a revelation. An unofficial adaptation of Ugly Betty, Jassi too was the story of how a spirited young hard working woman is constantly admonished because she does not meet the traditional standards of beauty.  At its peak, the show touched a TRP of 9.2 making it among the most-watched television programs in the country. In Jassi, young women saw their own story of being reduced to just their looks.

But success, especially of that magnitude, comes with its own design to pigeonhole someone. For Singh, the shadow of Jassi wouldn’t leave so easy. For years after the show ended, the industry struggled to see her beyond the braces.

“There was a time when people only saw me as Jassi,” she has said. Breaking that image took a lot of courage from her end, which also meant fresh punts. Between 2006 (after Jassi ended) and 2009, Singh was on both Jhalak Dikkhla Jaa and 3 Idiots (2009) — her first film with Aamir Khan, trying her hand at evolving in whatever way she could. She hosted reality shows, did her work in TV but she was made for greater things and it was the advent of OTT that put the spotlight back on her craft.

But it was Khanna’s Ye Meri Family and Ekta Kapoor’s Kehne Ko Humsafar Hai (2018–2020), that was the first of her big OTT outings. In the latter, Singh plays an independent artiste in a relationship with a married man. Written by Neena Gupta, the show portrays Singh with grace.

In 2018, Singh had told mid-day, “It is a tricky part. Ekta Kapoor (the show’s producer) was very sure from the beginning that she will not project her as a vamp. She is a modern woman who happens to fall in love with a married man.” It ties in with what Khanna had told us about Singh’s choices, “Expect the unexpected from her. That’s what she is seeking.”

It’s this very tryst that took her to play Aamir Khan’s mother in Laal Singh Chaddha (2022). As Singh had once corrected me, she is Laal’s mother, defending her decision of agreeing to play a mom to a man well her senior. During his drive from Goa to Mumbai, Adavait Chandan, director of Laal Singh Chaddha, called us to chat about what makes Singh such a phenomenal actor.

“There is a scene where she is crying when Aamir’s character is graduating. Even when I was directing that scene, I had tears in my eyes. It is my favourite scene of hers. She did become Laal’s mother. I find that loyalty she has her for work and craft, her most defining quality. She is a really great person and that energy feeds every character she plays. When our film didn’t work, she held me and we cried together. She taught me so much about how resilient an actor can be.”

But co-stars remember something entirely different about Singh. It’s her big laugh, that stays with those she meets on set, and her ability to remain calm under pressure.

Co-star Aditya Rawal, who worked with her on Subedaar, tells us, “This one day we had a big shoot sequence for Subedaar. We were shooting in Chembur and had ordered for chole bhature from somewhere. And then we had this really intense scene. No matter what Mona is shooting, she has this ability to stay calm. She can switch on and off between scenes. She is seamless in front of the camera. And as someone who was working with her, that I felt is the reason why she has endured across mediums, formats,” Rawal tells us.

Aditya Sarpotdar who directed her in the hit film Munjya (2024), told us, “She has always been a very secure actor. She would always encourage the new younger talent and was very approachable for all the young actors around her.”

But no one can read you better than the one who gave you your break. Rajan Shahi, who directed Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, says the secret to her evolution is quite simple. It’s the one virtue she has had all along in her life, “When I think of Mona, the thing that stands out is she is a selfless soul. She is a true artiste. I remember something from her pre-Jassi success days.  She was a nervous student, sitting with script, learning lines, scared before exams. Till date, she is still that nervous student wanting to do well. After the show broke out, Mona was the biggest TV star back then. I remember one day SRK was crossing our set, he and his children waved at her and she waved back. We then got a call from Yash Chopra saying Shah Rukh and his kids want to meet Mona. So many people change after success. They slow down creatively, fame corrupts them. But Mona has stayed grounded. She is humble and kind. When I watched Kohrra season two, I was so surprised that the same young girl is this fine actor today. You know why Mona jaisi koi nahin, because Mona remains unfazed by fame!”

For years, Indian television bowed to the novelty gods, fresh faces, Instagram reels, and Gen-Z casting ruled. Veterans, quietly benched. But of late, seasoned stars are flipping the script, reclaiming prime time, sparking a ratings renaissance and riding the viewer nostalgia wave. Cue Mahadev & Sons, where Sneha Wagh, Shakti Anand, and Manasi Salvi reunite which garnered a whooping 1.4 TVR in the opening week, a solid debut for a fictional show on prime time. Powerhouses like Smriti Irani, forever etched as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Rupali Ganguly of Anupamaa fame, hold court as leads in top TRP shows. And yes...whispers grow louder: Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Madhubala eye reboots, with original casts in talks instead of newbies.

Creative Director Siddharttha Vankar, who is presently helming two top television shows, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Naagin 7, believes veteran actors offer something far deeper than just familiarity as compared to fresh faces.

“Veteran actors don’t merely add gravitas to a show; they carry decades of shared memory, emotional investment and unspoken trust between performer and viewers. In an era where television audiences are fragmented, impatient, and increasingly distant from appointment viewing, familiar faces act as a powerful emotional anchor. Nostalgia here is not a retreat into the past, but a bridge, one that reconnects audiences to a medium they once loved and slowly drifted away from.”

Siddharttha further adds, “For many older viewers, who have disengaged from active television consumption, the return of beloved actors feels like a personal call-back. These actors arrive with a built-in relationship with the audience; their presence reassures, comforts, and invites loyalty in a way no marketing campaign can manufacture overnight. At a time when newer faces and experimental formats often struggle to hold attention, veteran performers offer stability, credibility and emotional familiarity. They don’t just bring audiences back, they bring back the habit of watching, the comfort of routine, and the sense that television still understands its viewers. And in doing so, they quietly help revive the very ecosystem that once made them icons.”

Veteran actress Manasi Salvi, who gained popularity with the show Kohi Apna Sa in 2001, shares, “Right now we are in a very good time in television because there is an amalgamation happening between veteran actors and new faces. There was a phase when people felt you just needed a beautiful boy or a beautiful girl, and everything else will work, and that you don’t need people like Ram Kapoor or others to make the show work. But now makers are realizing that if you want a show to be stable, even in the first one or two months, you need stable faces. We veterans have a recall value. When viewers feel, ‘I’ve seen her somewhere,’ they want to stay and see what she’s doing now. That familiarity really works. Veteran actors also bring their own loyal audience. With new actors, it takes time to build that connection, but here you already get a ready-made audience, and that’s a plus.”

Rajan Shahi, producer, director and writer of shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Anupamaa says he has always preferred to have experienced actors in his shows. “Experienced actors bring a lot to the table,” he says, adding, “New shows with new faces mostly are not working on TV so popular names and faces are back in demand.” 

Ask him why the veterans were missing from the small screen for so long, and he says without hesitation, “Over time, it became difficult for makers to work with seasoned actors as most of them came with a lot of baggage of stardom. A large number of them were also were eyeing OTT and films. But now things have changed and they are slowly coming back to TV, without any baggages, of course! TV as a medium has become big, more so, as the shows are also streamed on OTT.”

Actor Shakti Anand, remembered for his role as Hemant Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and is now seen in the sequel of the show, believes the television industry is finally recognising the value of seasoned performers after years of chasing trends.

“I’ll say the industry moves and grows with the trend. There was a time when a young boy with 2 million followers was cast. But following someone on Instagram and converting that into a viewership it’s all not the same. Long-time television actors still evoke that nostalgia which people connect with. And because of this new trend of casting more experienced actors, we veterans are finally getting their due, and many actors shall also get the chance to make a comeback,” he says.

Producer, writer, and director Saurabh Tewari, known for Madhubala and Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, has released Mahadev & Sons, featuring three veteran actors. On the real advantage of casting veterans, he says, “What veterans really bring is experience. You don’t have to train them the way you train new actors. They understand performance, camera, and character depth. For a producer, that gives confidence in the content, ki chalo show chale na chale, mera show bann toh acha raha hai. Beyond that, everything else is mostly hype. The trend of casting veteran actors is a phase. Everybody in the industry is just trying to find a formula for the show to run, but there is no such strategic formula.”

Tiwari also cautions on casting older actors: “It’s not like veterans are suddenly reviving television, or earlier chocolate-boy heroes and girls were the only reason shows were running. That’s not how it works. The market today is extremely overcrowded. So, unless you’re actually trying to say something, unless there’s something unique and organic in the storytelling, nothing really shakes the audience. We need to get out of this thought that an actor of any generation can run a TV show. A show works because a few things have gone right in the making and the telling. Nostalgia is a part of it, yes, but it’s just ‘a’ part. If you ask me honestly, a veteran actor may add 10 per cent. The remaining 90 per cent is still content. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is working because the storytelling and the making are right; nostalgia is only one layer. Similarly, nobody was waiting for Rupali to come back with Anupamaa. It’s the story that brought in the TRPs.”

Actor Sneha Wagh, best known for her performance in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas...Veera (2012), currently seen in Mahadev & Sons, says, “The makers were thinking that a good number of social media followers would bring the audience and viewership. They weren’t realizing that those followers are not the television audience, they are basically those who are doomscrolling. The industry is now getting a realization that even when an actor is having a less number of followers, his talent to portray a character will always be more vital for the show. In terms of pay, it’s fine, but I won’t say it’s very good. Of course, veterans are paid well compared to newcomers. However, yes, there will always be a certain recall and face value that old-time actors bring,” she says.

Actor Mona Singh is still basking in the success of the web series The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. She chose the role with great care, but reveals that being selective has its own share of pros and cons. Prod further and she reveals, “I was approached for (TV show) Anupamaa years ago. But by then, I had decided that I didn’t want to continue doing TV. Hence, I denied the show.”

At that point in her career, the 44-year-old had made the conscious decision to focus on OTT projects by choosing character-driven roles, adding that she never takes up roles “just to be seen”. “For me, what matters is whether the role makes me happy and connects with me. I don’t want to regret my decisions later or carry any negative energy on set,” she explains.

The titular role eventually went to actor Rupali Ganguly, who has been portraying the character for over five years now. “I’m really happy for Rupali and (producer) Rajan Shahi. She is doing such a fabulous job, I think that role was meant for her, and she has owned it beautifully,” the actor opines.

But this approach to roles is not always easy. “It means waiting for the right project to come your way, but I’m okay with that. I don’t regret being selective,” the actor shares.

In the evolving dynamics of the industry, Mona acknowledges that social media often influences casting decisions. “We’ve all heard of instances where influencers with huge followings get cast to pull in more views,” says the actor, whose recent outing, Thode Door Thode Paas, revolves around the overuse of digital media and the much-needed digital detox. “I feel fortunate that people still value what we bring to the table as actors, not just the number of followers we have,” she ends.

A massive fire broke out early Monday morning on the set of the popular TV show Anupamaa, located in Goregaon’s Film City. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, sources say that it was quickly brought under control. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported.

The makers, Shahi Production, in a statement said, “An unfortunate incident occurred early this morning on the sets of Anupamaa. A fire broke out, but by God’s grace, there were no casualties. There was no shoot on Sunday, and Monday’s call time was scheduled for later in the day. At the time of the incident, no unit members were present — only security personnel and set staff, all of whom are safe. No animals were harmed, and proper precautions were taken to ensure their safety. The fire department and relevant authorities are currently investigating the cause, especially since the set was not in use and the main power lights were turned off.”

It further stated, “We have also been made aware of individuals spreading false and misleading information. We sincerely request everyone to refrain from believing or circulating any unverified news. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the senior associations, industry peers, and well-wishers who have reached out with their support and concern. We are also grateful to the channel for standing by us — and above all, to the Almighty for keeping everyone safe.”

Birendra Nath Tiwari, President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), told us, “The fire broke out around 5 am. It was a massive fire that caused significant damage.” He went on to highlight that a fire safety audit had recently been conducted on the Anupamaa set.

He said, “The production had undergone a thorough fire audit and was found to be fully compliant with all mandatory safety norms. Unfortunately, despite these precautions, the fire broke out — most likely due to a short circuit or electrical fault.”

Stressing on the need for stricter safety measures across the industry, B N Tiwari said, “All sets should go through proper fire and structural audits, especially since many older structures are still in use and pose serious risks. Clear and accessible exit routes, along with functional firefighting equipment, are critical. We urge producers to ensure comprehensive audits across departments and to maintain proper insurance coverage.”

J D Majethia, Chairman (TV & Web Series), Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), added, “Thankfully, there were no casualties. Our biggest fear is the loss of lives. Unlike private premises, Film City spans 420 sets, making fire control far more challenging. Located in an open, uncontrolled area, it is crucial that we have full government support to ensure safety. Apart from individual producers being more vigilant and taking extra care and precautions, we urgently need to reassess Film City’s infrastructure and enhance security by developing more guarded and secure studios. Continuous and well-coordinated vigilance is essential. A centralized CCTV system should monitor every corner of each set, enabling immediate response to any fire outbreak. We plan to submit a formal request to the Chief Minister to address these concerns on the industry level in Mumbai and Maharashtra.”

1. Tenali Rama (Film City): In March this year, a fire erupted on the set due to an electrical generator issue; no casualties were reported.

2. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin (Film City): A massive blaze caused by a short circuit broke out in March 2023. While the set was destroyed, there were no casualties.

3. Pandya Store (Film City): A fire broke out on the show’s set in February 2021, damaging costumes and materials. No lives were lost.

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On Monday morning, a massive fire broke out on the sets of the Rupali Ganguly-led TV show Anupamaa at Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai. The fire started at around 5am.

According to initial reports, the blaze caused significant damage, two hours before the shoot was to begin, but no casualties or injuries were reported.

Producer Rajan Shahi, in a statement, said that there was no shoot scheduled on Sunday and no unit members were present on set at the time of the incident. “The fire department and all concerned authorities are currently investigating the reason, especially since there was no shooting on the set and the main power lights were turned off,” he added.

Meanwhile, All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) condemned the negligence on set and called for an investigation into the fire’s cause in a statement posted on X. AICWA has also called for an FIR to be filed against the producers, the production house, and the television channel, as well as the Film City Managing Director and Labour Commissioner.

AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta also urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate a statewide fire safety audit of all film sets and studios. He further demanded that any producer or production house found violating fire safety norms be blacklisted.

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.”

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.”

A camera attendant named Vineet Kumar Mandal died after getting electrocuted on the sets of the TV show Anupamaa on November 14. In its aftermath, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has strongly reacted to the incident. AICWA president Suresh Gupta has written a letter to the Maharashtra CM demanding immediate action.

In the letter, the organization alleged that the cause of death was disregard for safety protocol, calling the incident an “institutionalized murder”.

A part of the letter read, “The worker’s death occurred due to electrocution caused by faulty equipment on the set. The production house resumed shooting blatantly ignoring the gravity of the situation. The hazardous conditions on sets, perpetuated by the use of old, damaged and poorly insulated electric wires patched with plastic tape, created a death trap for workers.”

AICWA’s demands include lodging an FIR under Section 302 against the producers of Anupamaa, the channel and the managing director of Film City, along with a compensation of Rs. 1 crore to the victim’s family. We reached out to Anupamaa’s director Rajan Shahi but there was no response.

Madalsa Sharma, who played Kavya in Anupamaa, has quit the show. The actress revealed how unlike her co-star Sudhanshu Pandey, her decision was not sudden and had been on her mind for a while now. In an exclusive chat with BT, she spoke about why she decided to move on.

The actress said, “When the show started in 2020, there were three main characters - Anupama (Rupali Ganguly), Vanraj (Sudhanshu Pandey) and Kavya. It was Kavya who brought an upheaval in Anupama’s life and that changed things for everyone. Kavya was shown to be an independent and strong woman, who had the guts to fall in love with a married man and pursue him. My character had tremendous growth, but in the past one year I felt that the story moved on from Vanraj, Kavya and Anupama.”

She further added, “There was not much spice or spark left in my character. Had Kavya continued playing the grey character that she played earlier, I would have continued to be a part of the show. For the past few months, the creative team tried to do something different with my character, but nothing worked out. So, (producer) Rajan Shahi sir and I mutually decided it was best for me to move on.”

On the personal front, Madalsa, who has been married to Mimoh Chakraborty for six years, said, “My mother, husband and father-in-law (Mithun Chakraborty) felt that I should move on if I want to pursue other things and grow. I wanted to leave the show when my character was being appreciated and liked. This character will always be close to my heart.”

Yesteryear actress Rehana Sultan, who underwent cardiac surgery recently, has been facing a severe financial crisis for several years. People from the film fraternity have come together to provide her financial assistance to help her tide through these tough times.

Talking about her condition, producer and president of the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association, Ashoke Pandit, told BT, “Rehana stays with her brother in Mumbai and the latter called to inform me that she is quite unwell and has a cardiac issue, which needed to be taken care of. They have no source of income to take care of the expenses. So, I got her admitted to a hospital in Juhu.”

Post her hospitalization, Ashoke reached out to other people from the industry, who came forward and extended financial support for Sultan’s treatment. He shared, “The treatment was quite expensive. I spoke to Rohit Shetty, Rajan Shahi, Ramesh Taurani, Vipul Shah, Javed Akhtar and a few others, and overnight, these people transferred money to ensure the surgery was done.”

Ashoke added, “Rehana is stable now after her cardiac surgery and is very emotional about all the help she has received. I must say that this is what our industry stands for. Actors like Rehana, who portrayed the modern young woman on screen in the 70s, has inspired many filmmakers. It’s a matter of shame if we don’t take care of such people, who are an integral part of the history of our industry.”

Rehana Sultan made her debut in the acclaimed film Dastak (1970) and won the National Film Award for Best Actress. She portrayed a bold sex worker in Chetna (1970), which was rare for an actress of her times. Some of her notable films include Haar Jeet (1972), Prem Parbat (1973) and the political satire Kissa Kursi Ka (1977).

In a surprising turn of events, Sudhanshu Pandey, popularly known as Vanraj Shah from Anupamaa, announced his departure from the TV show during a live Instagram session. He revealed he hadn’t shot for the daily soap since Raksha Bandhan.

Reflecting on his sudden exit from the show after four years, in an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Sudhanshu says, “I felt it was time to move on. There can be many reasons, but dwelling on them feels like taking a step back. All I want to say is that my journey as Vanraj Shah has been incredibly rewarding. I have received immense love and an equal measure of hate from the audience, and the latter makes me believe I did justice to the character.”

Ever since Sudhanshu announced his exit from the family drama, rumours have swirled that he was forced out. Addressing the buzz, he says, “Whenever something like this happens, stories inevitably start to build around it. I choose not to add fuel to the fire because I have always conducted myself with integrity and dignity. I believe everyone has their perspective, which can lead to conflicts, and I prefer to avoid that.”

He adds, “I have surrendered to Mahakaal and have always believed that He guides me in all my decisions, whether they happen suddenly or are pre-planned. This decision has been sudden. It came unexpectedly and I had to make a choice for reasons of my own. However, everything is positive; my mind is at peace, and I am happy. I see this as a blessing, perhaps the beginning of many more blessings to come.”

Many feel that his character has run its course. Did his decision to quit the show stem from that perspective? “Vanraj Shah is way too strong a character to fade out even if he doesn’t get the footage he deserves for a while. So, I never bothered about the arc or graph of my character. The only thing that could worry me was if I was shooting for fewer days, then obviously, one make lesser money (laughs!). I have given the character my all and always strived to make it interesting,” he replies.

As far as the possibility of returning to Anupamaa, given that actors often reconcile with makers and return to their shows, Sudhanshu is clear. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. When you decide to move on, looking back can cause you to stumble. I would rather keep moving forward. Once I say I’ve moved on, I mean it,” he asserts.

There’s been speculation about a fallout between him and Rajan Shahi, the producer of the show. Ask him about it, and Sudhanshu says, “Rajan is an old friend, and our relationship has always been like that of two brothers. We worked together back when he was starting as a director, long before he became a producer. From my side, nothing has changed in our equation. However, everyone makes their own decisions about how they choose to be with the other person. I have no hard feelings towards anyone.”

Sudhanshu admits he will miss the character, but is excited about what lies ahead. “It’s natural to miss Vanraj, but as an actor, I crave the opportunity to explore new roles and experiment. I dedicated four years to Vanraj, and while I will always cherish that time, I know I have so much more to offer as an actor. I hope to create more memorable characters like Vanraj,” he says.

Actor-singer Sudhanshu Pandey became a household name with his stint as the antagonist Vanraj Shah in the television series, Anupamaa, which also stars actors Rupali Ganguly and Gaurav Khanna.

Fans of the show received quite the shock after recent buzz suggested that both Ganguly and Khanna would be quitting. However, as it turns out, it is Pandey who has actually bid the show goodbye.

The actor announced the news to fans in an emotional Instagram live on Wednesday evening. He said, “Main pichle chaar saal se roz pahuch raha hoon aap ke ghar ek daily soap ke zariye. Ek kirdar play kar raha hoon jiske liye mujhe bahut saara pyaar aur narazgi mili, but woh narazgi bhi ek tarike se pyaar hi raha hai. Agar aap naraz na hote mere character dekh kar toh mujhe lagta main sahi tarike se nibha nahi pa raha hoon.”

He went on to add, “I want to tell all of you with a heavy heart that I am now not a part of Anupamaa. Raksha Bandhan episode se main show ka hissa nahi hoon, par itne din beet gaye thay aur meri audience mujhse naraz na ho ki yeh bina bataye kaise chala gaya, toh mujhe laga ye meri zimmedari hai ki mai ye baat bataun aap sab ko. Par humein jeevan mein aage badhna hi padta hai toh I want you all to keep loving me always in my future works.”

The actor has not revealed the reason behind his exit. However, producer Rajan Shahi had recently confirmed to us that both Ganguly and Khanna were still very much a part of the show.

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.”

Television shows with the usual tropes of kitchen politics and supernatural elements have been tried, tested, and surprisingly worked. Breaking out of the mould three years ago was a show that was initially discouraged, but it stood the test of time. The Rupali Ganguly-starrer Anupamaa recently completed 1,000 episodes. Producer Rajan Shahi credits mother, Deepa Shahi, for the novel idea and for putting her mind and energy behind the daily soap at the age of 78.

Despite a background in psychology, Deepa chose to focus on her family. “We didn’t give much importance to our professions initially; family was our priority. The experiences from different stages of my life led me to believe that I should be a part of Anupamaa to contribute my insight to the story. That is how Rajan got me involved,” shares Deepa, adding that everyone believed “no one would be interested in the story of a 50-year-old woman and her life’s challenges.”

Oddly enough, they were all proven wrong, as the show became an instant hit with not only women but also men. “The idea resonated with me. I insisted that people become aware that women can achieve whatever they desire in life.”

Deepa says that the show also holds a mirror up to the men watching it and educates them about gender equality. “[Men] have come to realize that women hold immense importance and should not be confined to domestic roles alone. Men should support them in fulfilling their ambitions [domestic or otherwise] and give them the space to thrive.”

While no producer hopes to change the world with a show, Deepa was pleasantly surprised to find people relating to and aspiring for Anupamaa’s life. “I have observed that women [everywhere] are finding happiness with this show. Many of my friends have realised that regardless of their age or circumstances, they can achieve their dreams. A few have rekindled their passions,” shares the producer, who insisted that the show also talk about domestic violence and mental health.

“With Paakhi’s [played by Muskan Bamne] character [facing an obsessive lover], we aimed to talk about paying attention to every aspect of a child’s emotional growth. In India, people tend to prioritise physical well-being over mental health. It is essential to understand that mental health [ultimately] impacts the physical state.”

Glad to cross the 1,000-episode mark, Deepa says, “I’m glad to have been a part of this journey. Anupamaa still has challenges to overcome, but she will gradually draw strength from them and build resilience.”

My association with Nitesh [Pandey] began 26 years ago. Though we were not continuously in touch, we had a great bond. [He was] somebody I could always pick up from where we left. I had met Nitesh through some common friends at a time when I was struggling as a director, and he was trying to get into acting. We were very young — almost 25 or 26 at that time. He had come home for dinner, and we instantly hit it off. I found him to be nice, down-to-earth, full of positivity, and easy to connect with.

In 2011, when I was producing the show, Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, which had Mohnish Behl and Kritika Kamra, I remember calling and telling him about a role that was tailor-made for him. The character was full of life, humble, and always smiling. We had a great time working together on the show.

Over the years, we got busy with our commitments. Recently, I called him again for the role of Dheeraj Kapoor in Anupamaa. I told him that he had to do it. Although he was busy, he agreed to do the cameo. On the first day of his shoot, I went specially to meet him; Rupali [Ganguly] and Gaurav [Khanna] were also there. We met, joked around, and spoke about our lives. He was in a good space [with respect to his career]. Our personalities are quite similar. Later, he messaged me, saying, “Whenever I have dates, I want you to include me in Anupamaa.” And that is exactly what we did.

He is one of the most professional senior actors who didn’t come with the baggage of being a star. I would often tell the youngsters on the set to [emulate] him. Despite spending years in the industry, he was so positive and was always nice to the unit. I told my directors, “When he comes on set, see how he’ll improvise and take the scene to a different level.”

His [performance] stood out because he was not in the rat race. He had his own USP as an actor. He [belonged to] the old school of professionalism. He [believed] in working hard on a character. Nitesh would never pick a role for the sake of doing it. Despite all these years, his hunger for roles, humility, and positive attitude remained consistent. The unit looked forward to working with him.

On May 7, Nitesh sent me a painting of a beautiful landscape, which is something he had never done before. That was my last interaction with him. His passing is a loss to the industry, and I will always remember his laughs.

Mourning the untimely death of her close friend and colleague Nitesh Pandey, Rupali Ganguly said, “He was the only industry friend who stayed constantly in touch with me during my sabbatical, apart from Delnaaz [Irani] and the cast of Sarabhai. He had come to meet me after Rudransh was born. His son, Aarav, is just a few months older than Rudransh. In fact, we had made plans to make our sons meet. We would bond over dogs [as] his wife Arpita is an animal care giver like me. He was so fiercely protective about me. When he came [on the set of] Anupamaa, it felt as if [I had my] bestie next to me at my work place.”

Aneri Vajani, who played Malvika in Anupamaa, has bid a final goodbye to the daily soap. Her decision to join a show midway and especially not in the lead role might have surprised many given that she has only played the protagonist in all her outings, but Aneri says that it was the strength of the character Mukku that prompted her to take it up.

She says, “When Rajan Shahi sir narrated the character of Mukku, I realised that it was multilayered and I could explore so much as an actor. More importantly, I was brought in to highlight the social evil of domestic violence. So I couldn’t have declined the offer at any cost. After the short break, when Rajan sir asked me whether I would like to come back, I had to return for the love of Mukku. Par ab khatam ho gaya hai and there is no scope of coming back to the show (smiles). I have been a part of Anupamaa and Anuj’s pre-wedding rituals. Maine saari rasme nibha lee bas shaadi mein nahi rahungi. I will enjoy the rest from Cape Town.”

Why Cape Town, you wonder? Well, the actress will soon be flying to South Africa to participate in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK) 12. Talking about it, she says, “I am more excited than nervous, as this is my first reality show. I have never been an adventurous person, so KKK will be a nice addition to my profile. I am a bindaas and carefree girl, and I hope to show that side of me on the show.”

Meanwhile, on the fiction front, Aneri now wants to take up only lead characters and shows that revolve around her. She shares, “I like playing strong characters and that’s the reason why I played Mukku. Ek actor ki craving hoti hai ki yaar kuchh achha karo, ab woh satiate ho gayi hai aur mera pet bhar gaya hai. Now, I am going to focus more on myself. I will only take up lead roles now.”

How does it feel to inspire someone to walk out of a bad marriage? Rupali Ganguly takes a deep breath, soaking in the responsibility that sits on her shoulders, as she continues to drive Indian women to reclaim their space in the sun, every week night at 10 pm.

One of Indian television’s biggest stars currently, Ganguly, who some reports claimed commands a Rs. 3 lakh per day fee, says that the daily soap life doesn’t give her the time to even realise the enormous presence she holds among viewers. It’s 14 hours straight of shooting on set, returning to her home only to sleep. “On most days, I can’t find the time to check social media. It was when I had women visit the set, and hug me, breaking down, that I realised how popular the show had become,” Ganguly, 45.

We are in her room at Set No. 17 at Goregaon’s Film City, where she spends more than half the day, every day, playing Anupamaa Shah, now Joshi. The saree is yellow, the blouse pink, in her characteristic contrasting style. The hair is done up in a braid that she brings to the front over her right shoulder, giving it a symbolic tug each time she makes a win of some sort.

Ganguly is sipping on Thumbs Up, while a stray nuzzles up to her. He is one of the several she has informally adopted around the set. It’s lunch time and she has a few minutes off before she’s back to being the servile homemaker who finds the strength to live life on her own terms when her masochistic husband marries another woman.

Minutes before, she was sharing a laugh with her prickly former husband, Vanraj Shah, played by Sudhanshu Pandey, as the two took pictures for an online teaser. They are hardly the enemies they must play on screen. And it’s this simple reality that viewers, she says, taken in by the power of entertainment, tend to forget. For them, she is Anupamaa, the woman they can’t be, but secretly hope to emulate—the one who finds love after she is abandoned; the one who returns to her passion for dancing, and turns entrepreneur.

“I was in Gujarat, acting in a play when they [the show’s creators] called me. I was a last minute casting choice. They asked me to send a video test, and overnight, I was in,” she recalls. The show’s top boss, veteran producer Rajan Shahi, last directed her in 1999 for her first television stint, Dil Hai ki Manta Nahin.

Ganguly isn’t a stranger to fandom. Her last hit show, the comedy Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, catapulted her and much of the cast, including Ratna Pathak Shah, Satish Shah and Sumeet Raghavan, to stardom. After Parvarrish–Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi in 2011, she took a seven-year-long break. Until 2020, when this role landed in her lap. “I told Ashwin [husband Ashwin K Verma], this is a good character. He asked me, ‘So, do you play the hero’s mother’. I said, ‘no, I am the protagonist, and she is as old as me, 42’. In the years before that, I got offered to play women younger than me or way older. Here, I would play my age. My husband thought I hadn’t got my due as an actor, and said he’d take care of the house.”

Verma seemed to have had the right hunch. In fact, Ganguly says that Shahi wasn’t sure if the idea would work and had planned to give it three months. “I was chubby when the show launched, and wanted to lose weight before we shot, but he said, ‘there’s no time!’”

The show that began to air at the start of the lockdown is now a top ranker. The Broadcast Audience Research Council India, which releases TRPs every week, placed Anupamaa at the top with a TRP of 3.5 as recently as last week (the closest second was Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin). It was the week when Anupamaa decided she would marry her college friend Anuj Kapadia, played by Gaaurav Khanna. It was also the week she uttered the now iconic monologue on marriage. “Yeh dadi ab shaadi karegi!” It’s no wonder that the show is set to make its way to the OTT platforms with a prequel titled Anupama-Namaste America, where the early life of its protagonist will play out.

Ask Ganguly if she is anything like her character and she says, “The only thing we have in common is our love for loving everyone. For me, like her, it doesn’t take much to be nice to someone, but it means a lot for the other person.” That her character is an under-the-radar feminist was always the point of the show. “It’s not about waving a flag. It’s about changing how people think. It’s about asking them to think in the first place. It’s also the story of every household in some way. All of us know an Anupamaa somewhere,” she says trying to put her finger on the reason for its humungous popularity.

The scriptwriters are clear that they will put Bharatiya sanskar front and centre in every episode, but Anupamaa’s new avatar allows her to be progressive in thought. The show tackles gender stereotypes using its only daily soap language, with Anupamaa always clad in cotton sarees, her nemesis, Kavya in Western wear. ‘Will you wear tracks to the office?’ she asks Kavya in one scene. “It’s [the debate] not about the clothes. That’s not being modern. It’s about how you think and react,” she says alluding to a scene where her daughter-in-law says despite her plain Jane lifestyle, Anupamaa is the only one in the house to have told her that the decision to have a child can only be the mother’s.

“My nani was Muslim and she married a Marathi man. She embraced his culture. We grew up seeing this. My father was a feminist. He never distinguished between my brother and I. He encouraged us to think and set our own standards for morals. I am married to someone who is looking after the home and my six-year-old son. He doesn’t need my money, he wants me to enjoy the recognition. And then there is a man like Rajan, who created Anupamaa. I am surrounded by the right people.”

Does she then have any say in how her character behaves? Can she, on a given day, not agree with what the writers have planned for Anupamaa to say or do? “No. The actor never knows the character the way the writers do; they bring in the twists. I don’t interfere,” she says. During the monologue that she performed last week, stretching over 32 pages, she says they granted her the freedom to do it as she deemed fit.

She is called in for the next shot. We return to what she said at the start of the interview, about her responsibility towards the audience. “It’s huge. The messages I get... women have walked out of bad marriages, they tell me [after watching the show]; they realise their self-worth, and want to be independent. It gives me hope that somehow I may be touching lives. I was at Vaishno Devi recently, and even though there was a film star next to me who had also arrived for darshan, people were crowding up to me—not Rupali, Anupamaa.”

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.”

Indian television has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two decades and is one of the biggest entertainment industries today. In recent years, many award functions have been organised to honour members of the fraternity. But Sudhanshu Pandey has a bigger dream for the small screen and he now wants to work in the direction of fulfilling it. He strongly feels that there should be National Awards for television too, just like films. To take this thought ahead, he plans to launch a campaign to garner support from various quarters, and eventually, approach government officials.

The actor says, “This has been on my mind for a while now and some time ago, I decided to work on it. I have shot a couple of videos, and I hope to spread awareness about this initiative — ‘National Awards For Indian Television’. Today, social media can be a very effective tool to put your ideas across.”

Sudhanshu says, “I’ve been discussing this with people from the industry, and I am sure they are going to support me in it.” Ask him about the inception of this idea, and he says, “I started my career with television in 1998 when I did a show for B R Chopra. Sometime later, I got into films and continued with that and also did web shows. TV happened to me again last year, when producer Rajan Shahi, who’s a friend, offered me Anupamaa, saying he could not see any other actor in that role. That’s when it all began.”

It was during the first lockdown that this thought came to him. “We shot for Anupamaa for a week in March 2020, and the lockdown was announced. During the lockdown, I watched many television shows and got a good understanding of the industry. I realised how television is the most powerful, impactful and influential industry today. In June 2020, we started shooting for our show again, and I have been shooting non-stop since then. The response and the appreciation that I have got for my role is unbelievable. That’s the reach of TV,” says Sudhanshu, further emphasising the need to motivate TV actors, technicians and everyone associated with the medium, so that they keep churning a lot more and better content.

He says, “Television has not got the recognition that it deserves. It’s the only industry that runs 24/7 and 365 days a year. Throughout the pandemic, too, except for a few months, work didn’t stop here. People across all channels, production houses worked relentlessly to provide viewers their daily dose of entertainment. I think their work deserves to be considered for the National Awards. It’s a dream that I have seen, but I want to fulfil it for all of us.”

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.”