Anuj is a character drawn from the heart - he is most every woman’s dream man - kind, good looking, upright, successful, understanding, staunch supporter of woman’s rights, multi-talented, charming. He is the writer’s love, the ideal man that every storyteller would love to sing gunn gaan about… Does such a man exist you ask? Perhaps in one’s dreams or when one imagines those dashing heroes riding through the night to rescue damsels in distress.
Anupama is a damsel in distress, and Anuj is the chivalrous knight sent by kaanaji to rescue her from the clutches of the Shah family. Every one is deserving of redemption, even those women that slave in silly fashion believing it to be their life’s only goal.
Anuj is the ideal hero in stark contrast to Vanraj, also good looking, family man, devoted son to Ba & Bapuji, pampering dad to Toshu and Pakhi, besotted and faithful manfriend to Kavya, vacillating groom (to Kavya) but awful monster husband, evil misogynist, abusive partner to Anupama.
Is Anuj all good? Maybe he has human failings. He did not confess to Anupama about his feelings all those years ago, temerity might be lacking, he might have a temper, he did snap at Kavya when she was belittling of GK. But those are minor faults, he need not be shown as jealous or obsessive or a womanizer to portray him as a good human.
6