Hi All,
Like everyone here, I have been addicted to IPKKND. It's not over for me yet as I still watch the episodes or something connected with IPKKND almost daily just like I used to, when the show aired. It was truly an amazing show. Amazing characters! Amazing actors! Amazing team! It had it's faults but the good moments outnumbered the bad ones.
Barun's latest interview has got the fandom talking about it all again. The blame game continues. I thought about this rationally and this is what I felt. Some may disagree while some may agree. And this forum is all about healthy discussions and So, I decided to share my thoughts here. Please feel free to share yours too.
Why did Barun quit IPKKND when he did?
Truly, I don't know the actual answer to this one. But here's what I think is the reason. He has said in most interviews that he quit as he wanted a break to spend some quality time with his family as well as rest, as he has not been able to do in the last 2 years. I am happy to believe that this is one of the reasons but I don't think this is all of it. I do admit though, he was looking very weary in the last few months of the show.
When I think hard on this, this is what I think may have happened. Purely, my assumptions based on what I have read. Barun was desperate for a few weeks break to rest and spend time with his family. He also needed a few weeks break in April for his movie promotion. And there were some movie offer possibilities (nothing concrete) that would be tricky to commit or consider as he was bound by contract with the channel/PH. Obviously, we don't know the details of his contract but I am sure there must be some clause about committing to other shows only if the channel/PH permits etc. And also what if some movie PH had issues about their lead actor doing a serial while doing their movie, which means he could miss out on good opportunities. His options were
1. Risky option: Quit the show and wait to see if he actually gets good movie offers
2. Ideal but impractical option: Talk to PH about how flexible they can be if he continued with the show but needed several weeks of break in between for rest, movie promotions etc. Also, how accommodative would the channel/PH be if he was interested to do more movies if good ones came his way?
I have a feeling Barun must have discussed the above 2 options with the PH who could have indicated that they would not encourage more absences and he had to choose between IPKKND and something else. I think that's why Barun quit. He didn't have much of a choice. If he had not quit, he might have to let go of any good opportunities that came his way. So, Barun took the risky route and quit. I might be wrong but this is my understanding.
Is Barun wrong to quit IPKKND?
Let me start by telling you what I think of Barun.
Barun is an excellent actor. The dashing looks are an added bonus. And this combination is lethal and he proved it to us in IPKKND. No one could have played ASR like Barun did. (The same goes for Sanaya as Khushi and the whole cast. But since this post is about Barun and his decisions, I am going to talk about him only). We fell in love with ASR not just because of his character in the serial but also because Barun played it so well and made us fall in love with that character. So, Is Barun at fault for quitting IPKKND when he did?
My answer to this is a big 'No'. He is 28, handsome and talented. If better opportunities came his way, why should he not take it?
It is true that IPKKND gave him the fame and name, but that doesn't mean that he is resigned to this serial all his life, no matter what. Let's not forget that he gave IPKKND, ASR too.
And to be really honest, IPKKND was starting to fizzle out even before this whole quitting drama started. The makers had lost interest or didn't have a clue how to take the serial forward. Many of us stopped watching it after the remarriage due to stupid and rushed tracks. IPKKND was not the same anymore. Why would any lead actor want to act in a serial where the makers were not ready to put their best effort and when they had lost interest? Let's not forget the stupid english heroine track or the salman khan movie track or the sheetal track. None of which complimented the IPKKND we had known. The serial was losing its flavour and the makers admitted that they didn't know how to take it forward.
The next big question, Did Barun lie?
I acknowledge that his statements varied with interviews and time. But I believe that was because he felt he was not at liberty to say the truth. Because of people he was associated with. Because of contracts and future prospects. From what I have seen, he is an honest guy. He wouldn't lie for himself, but he would for others. When he said he was taking a break, I think he was asked to say that by the PH as they intended to continue the serial and did not want his leaving to affect the serial's popularity. Once SP started saying that he was leaving, Barun said it too.
So, I don't think he lied at any point. But he said what he was asked to say, now to realise he has been made a scapegoat. He also would have felt that he could not go against the big guns such as PH or SP as in this industry, you never know when you might need to work with them again. So, he stayed silent while they did the talking. I personally think they took advantage of his niceness.
Edit: I agree he didn't handle the media and interaction with fans very well in this matter. Perhaps a bit naive there and has to learn to protect his interests as well. In this instance, I think he said what he was told to say by PH/SP, who had their interest in mind and not his.
Is Barun responsible for the sudden and poor ending of the show?
Ofcourse not! The makers had enough notice about Barun leaving. If the makers/SPwanted , they could have given IPKKND a fitting ending in the last 2-3 months. But they didn't. They instead spoilt it with stupid plots. They thought they could milk it no matter what, even after Barun left. But they did not have a good plot or interest in the show. I am glad that it ended when it did. I am glad the show was not spoiled any further. I am glad the show now has more good memories for me than bad. The show ended because
The story makers did not have a good story to tell!
There could be no IPKKND without Barun or Sanaya!
Barun, I wish you the very best in whatever you choose to do. One piece of advice: The industry can be a nasty one. Hire a good agent and don't let people take advantage of your niceness.
Sorry for the lengthy post, Guys. I guess I got carried away.😛
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