Over recent months, the popular TV series Anupamaa, produced by Rajan Shahi, has experienced a series of high-profile exits. While the official reasons have largely cited a lack of character growth, rumors have emerged pointing to lead actress Rupali Ganguly as a potential cause for discontent on the set, allegedly prompting co-stars to walk away.
In a candid conversation on a podcast with Bhaktiyar Irani and Ali Asgar, former cast members Paras Kalnawat (Samar), Nidhi Shah (Kavya), and Sudhanshu Pandey (Vanraj Shah) opened up about their reasons for leaving Anupamaa. Each alluded to issues on set, hinting at a tense work environment and suggesting that Ganguly might have played a role in some of the challenges they faced.
Reflecting on his exit, Sudhanshu Pandey shared, “It had been four years. This was my first daily soap, and I’ve done over 50 films and OTT projects. Anupamaa became iconic, but it was becoming difficult to keep my portrayal fresh. I feared my character might start feeling repetitive and boring to the audience.”
Nidhi Shah revealed additional hardships, explaining how the production’s demands took a toll on Pandey’s health. “We would cry while performing scenes because of how intense they became. His pain, mental health, and body took a hit. He was so unwell that he sometimes had to rest in between scenes, and we’d all be waiting for him. It reached a point where he relied on multiple painkillers a day,” she recalled.
In a more direct reference to alleged tensions on set, Nidhi pointed to a “troublemaker,” suggesting that a specific person’s actions caused strain among cast members. “There came a time where we didn’t want to work together. We would just try to stay away from each other on set,” she explained. While she refrained from naming anyone explicitly, she did mention that 2-3 individuals had contributed to this difficult atmosphere.
Paras Kalnawat, who left the show unexpectedly, detailed his abrupt departure. “I didn’t know if I was quitting or being fired,” he admitted. “I wanted to leave, but they don’t have an exit policy. If you want to leave, the terms become strained. I felt my character’s storyline was cut short, and I know who was responsible for that.”
Kalnawat also expressed frustration about perceived favouritism, saying, “If someone didn’t want to work with me, the channel wouldn’t question it. Everyone knew who had an issue, but they didn’t intervene because it was the top-rated show.”
Producer Rajan Shahi, previously criticized for alleged conflicts with cast members, now faces renewed scrutiny regarding these claims of a challenging work culture on Anupamaa.