Several actors including Sushanshu Pandey, and Madalsa Sharma, have quit the popular show 'Anupamaa', sparking speculations about friction on set. While some attributed their exit to limited character development, whispers grew that the lead actress, Rupali Ganguly, may have influenced these departures. Now, in a podcast with Bhaktiyar Irani and Ali Asgar, ex-cast members Paras Kalnawat, Nidhi Shah, and Sudhanshu Pandey shared insights on their exit, hinting at underlying issues.
Sushanshu Pandey on why he left Anupamaa
Reflecting on his decision to leave, Sudhanshu Pandey, who played Vanraj Shah, opened up about his journey on 'Anupamaa', calling it a memorable experience that, however, reached a natural end. “It had been four years; this was my life’s first daily soap. I’ve done over 50 films and worked in OTT. 'Anupamaa' became iconic, but everything has its descent. I feared my character would become repetitive and eventually boring to the audience.”
Supporting Sudhanshu’s sentiments, Nidhi Shah, who portrayed Kavya, spoke about how the role affected him both mentally and physically. “We used to cry during scenes. He was under such strain—his health was compromised. There were days he’d need to rest, leaving everyone waiting. At his worst, he’d rely on 5-6 painkillers daily to get through 15-page solo scenes.”
Nidhi went on to hint at tensions with specific cast members that contributed to her decision. “There was a trigger point, a person, who made scenes challenging. Our interactions became so repetitive and emotionally exhausting that we no longer wanted to share the screen. Eventually, even being near each other on set felt uncomfortable.”
"Our scenes were cut"
When questioned if Rupali Ganguly had a role in this tension, Nidhi responded carefully. “She’s a talented actor, and I’m being genuine here. Among the 10 core actors, 2-3 created issues.” Paras Kalnawat, who played Samar, also mentioned his struggles, saying, “My scenes were cut without explanation.”
Nidhi continued by adding, “I noticed changes in my role too. My scenes were cut, and there were even disputes over wardrobe and styling. I was given nicer clothes, which led to problems.”
"Someone ended my track abruptly"
Paras Kalnawat, who left the show abruptly, shed light on his own departure. “It’s been two and a half years since I left, and it was sudden. I didn’t know if I was quitting or being fired. I wanted to leave, but there’s no policy to allow actors to quit—they prefer firing you. If you try to leave, things turn sour. I wanted more development for my character, but someone ended my track abruptly. Because it’s the top show, the channel didn’t intervene. If someone complained about me, no one questioned it. We all knew who had issues.”
Sudhanshu said, “Every event in life has a reason, but if we dwell on it, we’ll get trapped. I believe it’s all God’s will.”