Why was Gaurav Khanna almost not cast as Anuj Kapadia in Anupamaa? EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Gaurav Khanna shared a surprising story about how he got the role of Anuj Kapadia in Anupamaa. The actor revealed that the show’s producer, Rajan Shahi, was actually advised not to cast him.
Gaurav, who recently won Celebrity MasterChef, is still loved by fans for his role as Anuj in Anupamaa. His character was seen as a “green flag” by many viewers, and even after his exit, people still miss him in the show.
During his conversation with Pinkvilla, Gaurav looked back on his time working with co-stars Sudhanshu Pandey and Rupali Ganguly. He said he wanted to prove not just to himself but also to producer Rajan Shahi that he could do justice to the role. Gaurav then revealed that people told Rajan Shahi to pick a more famous actor instead.
He shared,
“I wanted to prove to myself that I can do it. I also wanted to prove it to Rajan sir because he believed in me. Many people told him, ‘Why are you taking him? There are bigger names in the industry. The show is huge, cast someone else.’”
When asked who made those comments—whether co-actors or others from the team—Gaurav said he didn’t pay attention. He believes in moving forward and focusing on his goals.
He added,
“Rajan sir was the only one who stood by me. My goal was to thank him by giving my best. I gave my 200%.”
Gaurav also spoke about how involved he was in shaping the character of Anuj. He would message Rajan Shahi even at midnight to discuss how his character should look. From clothes and sunglasses to coats, Gaurav chose everything himself—some items even came from his own wardrobe.
He praised Rajan Shahi for trusting his creative choices. Gaurav said that the producer told his team to give Gaurav full freedom to create the look and feel of Anuj.
The actor added,
“Rajan sir always says in interviews, ‘This boy gave his life to the show.’ That made me really happy. Then the audience gave me love too, and that’s why I’m here today.”
For those who don’t know, Gaurav Khanna’s journey as Anuj Kapadia ended in Anupamaa in 2024.
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