YRKKH's Rishabh Jaiswal says people like new version of Krrish more: 'Flooded with messages'

Rishabh Jaiswal, who essays the character of Krrish in Star Plus' Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, recently got in an exclusive chat with India Forums and spoke about his character turning negative in the show and the kind of response he has been receiving for the same.

When asked about his character turning negative in the show, the actor said, ''As you’ve already seen, Krrish has now fully embraced his role as the show’s new antagonist. Post-leap, his character has undergone a massive transformation. He was once the quintessential ‘ghar ka ladka’—the beloved younger brother, respectful, emotionally rooted, and always fighting for his passion, even if that made him come off as stubborn at times. But now, we’re seeing a very different side of Krrish: more fiery, more intense.''

Speaking about what drove him to be the new version of Krish and why does he harbour angst against the Poddars, Rishabh says, ''That change stems from a major shift in circumstances. After the death of Rohit bhai, the departure of Armaan bhai from the family, and Abhira bhabhi stepping away from everything, the entire responsibility of the family business fell on Krrish’s shoulders. With no one left to manage things except his father, Sanjay Bansal, who had always hoped Krrish would eventually take charge, Krrish made the difficult decision to set aside his personal dreams and step into a leadership role. He took over the business single-handedly, driven not just by necessity, but by the emotional weight of everything he had lost. That loss, that abandonment, brought out a hardened version of Krrish. He’s no longer the boy who fought for passion; now, he’s a man who fights for power, stability, and control. He’s become emotionally distant, indifferent to what others in the house think or feel. Krrish is now focused entirely on financial strength, authority, and protecting what remains of the family legacy—on his terms. He doesn’t care about being liked anymore.''

Post-leap, his character has undergone a massive transformation. He was once the quintessential ‘ghar ka ladka’—the beloved younger brother, respectful, emotionally rooted, and always fighting for his passion, even if that made him come off as stubborn at times. But now, we’re seeing a very different side of Krrish: more fiery, more intense.

- Rishabh Jaiswal

Calling Krrish's change an 'exciting one,' Rishabh says, ''What matters to him is taking charge and ensuring no one can question his place again, especially those who once doubted his choices and ridiculed his ambitions. So yes, he’s changed. And that evolution is what makes this phase of his journey so complex and so exciting to play.''

Ask him if his character will continue being negative and the actor says, ''Yes, on paper, Krrish is definitely the villain now. He’s undergone a complete transformation, this is a brand-new avatar. Honestly, even for me as an actor, it’s a challenging shift because this is Krrish 2.0. I’m genuinely curious to see what this evolved version of the character brings to the table, both for the audience and for me creatively.''

''The response so far has been incredible. On social media, I’m flooded with posts, messages, and comments, people are really engaging with this new version of Krrish. What’s interesting is that many viewers actually feel this version suits me more than the earlier one. That’s a huge compliment, especially when it comes to portraying such a layered role. What excites me most is that people are noticing the contrast, the shift in tone, attitude, and energy. They’re appreciating this different dimension of character portrayal, and that kind of recognition means a lot,'' says Rishabh as he speaks about audience's response to his character in the show.

He concludes by saying, ''So, I’m diving in headfirst, fully committed to where this character is headed. It’s an opportunity to push boundaries and explore a more intense, perhaps darker, side of Krrish. Let’s see how it unfolds, but I’m all in."

For the uninformed, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai is led by Samridhii Shukla and Rohit Purohit and the show is produced by Rajan Shahi under the banner of DKP Films.