Television heartthrob Gaurav Khanna, who became a household name with the daily soap Anupamaa, has finally announced his exit from the show. His much-loved character, Anuj Kapadia, had been missing for the show for the past couple of months, and while rumours were rife that the actor has quit the show, he has now finally opened up on the same.
Gaurav told Times of India that post the recent 15-year leap in Anupamaa, the makers wanted to retain the character of Anuj in the storyline in some way, and they had even discussed his "grand re-entry", but for some reason it did not work out. "We waited for two months for it to materialise. However, the storyline had to progress, and waiting no longer made sense," he said.
While stating that it was time for him to "explore bigger things", Gaurav assured that he will return to Anupamaa if and when the show requires him in future. "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 said.
Gaurav revealed that his character of Anuj was initially planned as only a three-month-long cameo, but due to the immense love and demand, he went on to be a part of the show for three long years.
"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," he stated.
Post the 15-year leap in Anupamaa, several central characters had quit the show, including Sudhanshu Pandey, Nidhi Shah, Madalsa Sharma, Shivam Saxena, Gaurav Sharma, Kunwar Amar, and others.
However, Rupali Ganguly continues to play the titular role in the show, and at present, it revolves around her character and her grandkids.
A few months ago, reports of tension on the sets of Anupamaa had also surfaced online, and while the actors did not directly address it, Sudhanshu, Nidhi and other former co-stars of Rupali on the show hinted at politics and rivalries on the sets.
