I have stayed away from talking much about ASR -- the fav character of all these women on the forum! Also, it is a guy! So, I did not want to comment on his character!
But after 15 pages of comments I thought well might as well write about the guy so here goes:
If Lalith was directing and had control on the screenplay etc he would have show the following:
1. People who are soft inside develop a strong exterior
2. The best way to keep people at a distance is to INTIMIDATE them
3. As long as you keep the relationship to a transaction you are safe -- you dont have to open up to these people or let them get close
4. THe percieved close relationships are really not OPEN -- they are just thought of as OPEN as long as you can control them. A relationship under control is one where the other party does not need you to open up but you maintain that relationship your way -- example Arnav's relationship with Anjali -- it is always under control -- he takes care of her -- she doesnt expect to know what is in his mind.
5. When one is smarter than most around, quite honestly one sees how stupid and petty people can get.
6. So while there is a clear understanding of what a good relationship really is taking the risk of running into a stupid petty person is difficult!
This is the reason for Arnav's difficulty in accepting the Soul-Mate philosophy! To accept it his fundamental belief that most people are stupid and petty has to be ammended to add this person as an equal -- a very tough task and a tough test for the one joining -- the other person also needs to believe that it is worth it. For Arnav, after he ascertains that she has decided it is worth it to put up with his crap starts the process of trusting -- opening up comes in the very end and with some strong resistance!
While his visible difficulties exist it is the invisible ones that are really the reason for his difficulties in relationships -- the controlled ones work best because there is no investment and hence no real danger of getting hurt -- once he opens up it is the most difficult for the guy if he gets screwed!!!
Thankfully he is close to opening up to our Khushi -- he couldnt have chosen better.
As I have been repeating my new theme -- if Lalith was directing he would have completed the task of showing this nuanced character completely -- now that some other guy has taken over -- I dont think we can expect nuances and subtilities anymore -- just expect him to blatantly ask Khushi "you ok" over and over again -- Not like before where there is a long pause, a look and a low voiced "tum theek ho?" which has a lot of meaning associated with it.
Actors cant help it -- they already said they come in 9-9 every day -- this has to be someone's baby -- it was Lalith's for a long time -- now this show is actually an orphan!
Cheers.
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
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