Gaurav Khanna on returning to Anupamaa: Anuj Kapadia for me is...

The popular television personality Gaurav Khanna, who played Anuj Kapadia in the beloved TV drama Anupamaa, recently responded to the circulating rumours that he was leaving the show.

Many viewers were disappointed by his abrupt departure, especially considering the character's emotional depth and strength, and it raised rumours of a possible falling out with lead actress Rupali Ganguly.

In a candid conversation with Pinkvilla, Gaurav cleared the air about these rumours, stating unequivocally that there was no personal rift involved in his decision to step away. “Anuj Kapadia, for me, is a comma; there’s no fullstop. Rajan Sir hasn’t killed the character. It’s just that there’s no space in the story for him. But it is Indian Television. Anyone can be alive and there are many examples. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m coming back to the show. But never say never,” he said, hinting at the unpredictable nature of television storytelling.

The departure coincided with Anupamaa's dramatic 15-year time jump, which aired in October 2024. Characters were significantly rearranged as a result of this narrative change, including Gaurav's beloved Anuj leaving. Fans missed the chemistry between Rupali Ganguly's characters Anuj and Anupama, but Gaurav made it apparent that off-screen dynamics had no bearing on his choice.