Sudhanshu Pandey of Anupamaa: It is a big decision to make a prequel to a successfully running show

Bringing one of television’s beloved characters closer to fans, Disney+ Hotstar is currently airing the prequel of the popular running television series, Anupamaa. Celebrating the spirit and resilience of women, the new series, Hotstar Specials presents Anupama – Namaste America produced by Rajan Shahi and Ishika Shahi under their production banner iShahi Entertainment, will offer viewers a closer look at Vanraj’s multi-shaded character played by Sudhanshu Pandey. 

India Forums got in touch with the actor and asked him whether this show, he feels, could be a redemption of sorts for his character and if he had any apprehensions before it went on-air.

Whether the prequel would serve as a redemption for his character, in bits, if not fully, he says,

''It might, because it is also going to show Vanraj at a time when he was a very normal person and you will see a story which will explain why Vanraj was hurt badly at some point in time and then he became what he did, and how the marriage happened between Anupamaa and Vanraj, and later on, when they had kids, they were happy, there was romance, and it'll explain everything and put things in perspective for the audience. It is on OTT and OTT has a large base now, so people will definitely understand where Vanraj is coming from.''

We also asked him what did he first think about this concept and if he had any apprehensions before taking it up, knowing this could go either way. He said,

''No, in fact it was a pleasant surprise. Makers have taken this decision, and it is a big decision. To be making a prequel of a tremendously successful running show, for the last two years, it is a very big decision, doing it for OTT. When I first heard about it from Rajan, I told him that this is going to be very kickass, and I was very excited that this is going to happen. As an actor, I felt that I have been playing the same character for two years and this would give me a chance to play something different, and be a different Vanraj.''

Anupamaa launched in July 2020 for television, is a running series that has already aired over 500 episodes that are available on both Star Plus and Disney+ Hotstar. However, the episodes of the prequel, released over 11 days, will remain exclusively on the platform.