ASR seduced us... not the actor playing him - Page 2

You have written my thoughts. thank you

👏 very well written! and i agree with most of what you're saying b/c when i started watching, ofcourse i was attracted to Barun and rightaway thought he played this character so well. but when he argued with nani that he will ask for her input b/c he respects her, but will only do what he thinkgs is best...it made me really sit up and notice that this is a really special character. I agree the character was written really well but i don't think it would've been the same if someone else played him, Barun's ability to express wit his eyes and face gave this character the depth it really needed since Arnave was an introvert. Watch the scene after he finds out about khushi's engagment and He is in his room when Anjali comes in and tells him how she noticed Khushi wasn't happy with her engagement. Anajali is talking behind him but what Sobti does with his eyes is just BRILLIANT. i'm just glad that all the stars aligned and Barun/Sanaya were meant to play these characters.

👏 Loved your analysis. I felt the same way... When I fell in love with the show I realized that the major reason is due to the unique characterization of ASR. Never seen a character like this before. Loved how progressive he was...and as you said, there was always a reason for the way he behaved badly...it made me relate to his character more than Khushi. There was something very "real" about his character. I do believe I fell completely in love with ASR during some very emotional scenes he had with Anjali and Khushi. And it required an actor who could give depth to his acting to do justice to the script in such scenes...someone who can do justice to scenes where he is almost barbaric, as well as scenes where he is most vulnerable and tugs at your heart. And for this, Barun Sobti is responsible. Yes, a good director is also necessary, but the actor has to be talented and have a good understanding of the script, otherwise the scene falls flat. It was a unique combination of very creative writing and great direction and great acting which made ASR one of the most iconic characters on Indian tv.

PS: It did help that Barun is devastatingly good looking. But what I am trying to say is that, this was a bonus. For me, even if Barun was not so good looking, I would have fallen in love with ASR the same way. It was the core of ASR that attracted me. It was much later after I joined IF and started seeing all the drooling posts with amazing screenshots of ASR that I started falling in love with Barun's look.

ugh dude for me ASR exists because Barun supplies the oxygen required to him!😆

Very thoughtful post, very well written.

I agree that ASR's was the most finely developed character in the show and it was an excellent sketch. Modern, as you say. But Barun added a lot to it with the way he understood the character and played it. He breathed life into it in a way that is quite exceptional. So I agree with Coolnisha's post and some of the others that after a while, Barun just owned the role.

And the fact that BArun and Sanaya are both excellent actors and burned down the screen together, meant that we were gonners and hooked well and proper -- despite the flaws in the writing and execution later on, and the erratic development of Khushi's character (over time).

For the first six months khushi's character, arnav's character and the ensemble track were all perfect. Khushi was shown as the perfect blend of spunk, spark, guts, brain, beauty and innocence, Such a perfect match it was.

Nice post

owewwoowww...great analysis...felt In love with Asr al over again!!!

I always credited the writers for the amazing characterisation and story.

Well its true dat da character of ASR was written wid perfection n ASR was most definitely da iconic character...ASR's character was attractive n thus was able to draw audiences very easily 2wards da screen...da whole of da story of IPKKND n da love story of khushi revolved around da character growth of ASR...It was abt how ASR comes out of his shell n how he changes in love...and I must say dat character really seduced da audiences in a true sense BUT what kept da audiences going was not ASR...it was Barun Sobti...many mite not agree but its da truth...During da initial months of IPKKND ASR's character has been perfect n bang on but at a point of time it did start to loose its perfection...ASR still remained da most loved character but not duo to writing anymore,duo to da actor playing it...Dis is when an actor outgrows a character in da hearts of da viewers...Dis is when a character becomes larger dan life...Its da actors credit and not many actors r able to do it,...even in past dere were characters which were intriguing n attracted audiences initially but da moment dat character faltered,viewers could no longer connect...dere r only very few cases where dis doesnt happen..where even if da character goes out of da way,da viewers just cannot get out of da hold of seduction...dis holding power remains wid da actor and definitely not the characters of a daily soap...It is partially true dat any actor oder dan Barun Sobti would have been rewarded wid da same popularity...partially true coz maybe initially any oder actor could have enacted da perfect character at hand n could have drawn da audiences 2wards da tv screen but it needs a lot more dan a perfect character to keep da viewers glued to tv throughout...many things has to click in here...and Barun Sobti indeed was a perfect fit for ASR's character and ofcourse not everybody can create da same chemistry as Sarun/Arshi did...n since Arshi as Sarun were da USP of da show..it would unfair to just appreciate any particular character

very well said and yes its damn true tat ASR chrctr is wht made me look up at ipk...its the charctrsation i loved...its not barun alone...just cz of ASR i strtd admiring him eventually liked him fr wht he is in real though all i miss now (or to say since long back rgt frm whr writrs lost their power and shfted to lame tracks) is ASR..ASR..ASR...ASR...

ASR is your quintisential M & B hero, with a bit of Mr Darcy thrown in!! Considering the fact that most M & B heroes are "modelled" on Mr Darcy, this is not surprising!!


He is the blend of arrogant but honest, direct but kind, and unsentimental but emotional! He is basically an intense guy who feels very deeply but betrayed little to the outside world! Very private and reserved! But he has a heart of gold under the hard exterior!! Such a man is hard to resist, because once you crack the code, he is yours forever!!!


Just like Darcy became Lizzy's without her even realising and him not wanting it, the SAME happened with ASR and Khushi!!! HE didn't want to fall in love! She DID, but not with HIM! However that is exactly what happened to both!!


Falling in love with Khushi, was the only un-calculated move he made in his adult life! His life was ordered like clockwork till KKG happened to him! Then it was just a beautiful mess! She was Chaos that he started to look forward to! :)


Once in love, ASR was to die for! Once he accepted his love it was amazing to watch how he transformed from arrogant tormentor to tender lover!! He was so damned sexy as both!! Loved ASR SO much!


BS did a very good job portraying him, as in real life he is nothing like ASR! But I agree it was a dream role! A role few would be blessed to play! An impactful role! The kind that leave an impression in people's minds! ASR was no lover boy!! He was SO much more!!


Just like my love affair with Mr Darcy that started at age 9, when I first read Pride and Prejudice never ended to this date, my love affair with ASR will also continue!!

Actually I have always loved Darcy and Lizzy together! The same way I will always love ASR and Khushi together!! Why does an epic love story have to end in tragedy?? Darcy and Lizzy are the prime example of an impossible love that became possible and remained possible for the rest of their lives!!


ASR and Khushi will also fall into that category now!! That is how they deserved to be!! I am glad that in our mind they will always live their difficult love story!!

Hope they keep finding new names for their love!! Hamesha... Always!! :)