Rohit Bakshi opens up on his Return to ‘Anupamaa’

Rohit Bakshi, renowned for his role as Ankush in the beloved Star Plus show “Anupamaa,” has recently rejoined the cast after a hiatus of several months. Last seen before the show’s leap, Bakshi is now back in action and shares insights on his return and latest stint on the show.

Reflecting on his absence, Bakshi revealed, “I definitely missed being a part of Anupamaa. It was a wonderful experience working on the show for 1.5 years with such a great team, including my co-actors, the crew, and Rajan Shahi ji. When the show took its initial five-year leap, we anticipated a break of about 1 to 1.5 months, but it turned out to be a bit longer. However, the team was very considerate and encouraged us to take on other work during this period, as they were uncertain about the exact return.”

His return came as a pleasant surprise. “Recently, I received a call about a new track they were planning and was asked if I was available. I was eager to return, as I’m ever ready for Anupamaa, and fortunately, the shoot began soon after. While my involvement will be for a limited number of episodes and not on a continuous basis, the team mentioned they were uncertain about how they would progress in the storyline.”

Bakshi’s character Ankush has undergone significant evolution, moving from a negative to a positive role. He teased, “What the makers are bringing, including Ankush’s return, will be exciting for the audience. Ankush’s love for Anuj remains strong, and I believe viewers will appreciate the track. However, you’ll have to wait a bit to see what changes and developments occur. It’s not right for me to disclose too much when everything will be telecast in just 2-3 days.”

The transformation of Ankush’s character has been challenging. “My character’s transformation from a negative to a positive role has been quite intricate. Ankush’s role was challenging because he had to navigate complex relationships. On one hand, he deeply loves his brother Anuj, and on the other, he’s married to a wife who is more concerned with property and material matters. This often put him in difficult situations where he had to choose between maintaining harmony at home and standing up for what’s right.”

He further explained, “Ankush initially found himself misled by his wife’s demands, trying to balance her expectations with his loyalty to his brother. Over time, Ankush realises that staying true to his principles is more important than placating his wife. He decides to support Anuj and Anupama, which represents his shift toward doing what he believes is right. This internal conflict was a significant challenge for me as an actor, as it required portraying the emotional struggle of choosing between family obligations and moral integrity. This decision wasn’t easy, and it’s reflective of the struggles many face in balancing family dynamics.”

Bakshi also touched on the changes he’s observed in the industry over his 22-year career. “In recent years, producers have been experimenting with various new concepts on television, aiming to bring fresh content to audiences. Despite these efforts, the industry is heavily influenced by TRP ratings. If new concepts don’t perform well in terms of TRPs, the focus often shifts back to familiar themes, such as the traditional mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dramas, which have a proven track record with viewers.”

He noted that the television landscape has become more challenging. “While earlier shows were meticulously planned with complete scripts before filming began, today’s production process is more fast-paced. Scripts are often developed on the go, and actors receive scenes to perform with little advance notice.”

Regarding his future plans, Bakshi expressed interest in exploring OTT platforms. “Who wouldn’t want to? Of course, I have the thought of getting into OTT. The appeal of OTT is that you work on a show for 2-3 months, which is a very different concept that is well received by the audience. The OTT audience is different from the TV audience, and the film audience is universal.”

“I really want to do good work, regardless of the medium—be it TV, OTT, or movies. I’m open to any opportunity that challenges and excites me. The role should push me and make me eager to perform. I constantly think about doing OTT, and I’ve started meeting with casting directors and others to express my interest in OTT series. If the right opportunity comes along, they will definitely get back to me.”

As for upcoming projects, Bakshi stated, “Nothing specific as of now. There’s nothing concrete on paper yet, but there are ongoing talks. Once something is finalised, that will be the right time to discuss it. I’ll definitely let you know when there’s something concrete happening.”