Hello and welcome to BHRK Forum!
This situation is like a double-edged sword for many viewers, I'm sure. It's always hard seeing an actor leave, for whatever the reasons, especially if he or she was the one who originated the role. Karan has left such a strong mark on all of us with his portrayal of Shaan, and all the quirks and nuances that he brought out so beautifully will always be remembered. I could relate to Shaan, I could see past the superficial quirkiness, and I was intrigued by his inability to empathize with others or express his deepest feelings. A brave move, to show a protagonist with emotional hangups like that. The man had a massive ego, but he was also attached to his family...he just didn't know how to express it. A very hard line to walk on, as an actor...But Karan did it and made Shaan endearing, too. This show's uniqueness and Karan's interpretation of Shaan were what encouraged me to start writing detailed reviews of the episodes.
As I kept watching, I became immensely fond of not just Shaan and Rajni, but also Dev and Shogata. Those four characters, their personal journeys, and their interpersonal relationships are so fascinating to me. That said, each and every character has something to offer to the show that could make the story stronger if they had parallel tracks woven into the main plot, and I keep hoping that we will get to see each character develop positively and watch each relationship in the show flourish as well.
The pacing and development of the story and characters was going smoothly until mid-July, I feel...There was a balance between the Kant family moments, Shaan-Rajni's strange and endearing married life, and Dev-Shogata's incredibly passionate, banter-filled interactions. And I loved the tone of the show, too, when it was humorous but serious, too. Tragicomedy, as they say. It made me smile, but it also made me pause and think about the characters...Like any good science fiction work, this show made me think about what it means to be human. This show has done it before, offered brilliant moments of insight into human nature, and that is why I fell in love with the show in the first place, to be very honest. The depth, the nuances.
After the incredibly beautiful dismantling scene and Shaan's realization of how important Rajni was to him, there was so much potential with Samaira's arrival, to show how Rajni may seem like an odd companion but is actually a perfect match for Shaan's personality and lifestyle...Unfortunately, the way that track was handled made the Shaan-Rajni relationship seem...off. I personally couldn't understand Shaan's behavior by the end of it, even though I tried. So my reviews were put on hold...
I'll be getting back to those detailed reviews, though, because I was very pleasantly surprised with the way the Amartya-Bubbles relationship was handled. Love should transcend physical appearance, it should be above all prejudices. It should be about two people understanding each other, caring about each other, and accepting each other in spite of all shortcomings. And it should be about working together to deal with those shortcomings, too...That is what I saw in Shaan-Rajni before the dismantling happened. And that is what I saw in Amartya-Bubbles, too. Very well done. It's interesting...because the way Amartya-Bubbles' relationship was shown was essentially how I had thought the Dev-Shogata relationship would develop over time. I would love to see such meaningful messages conveyed through the other characters, too.
With Raqesh stepping up to become Shaan, I wasn't sure how long it would take for me to adjust to seeing a new interpretation of the character. I kept an open mind because I have always been most interested in the character's journey...and I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I was able to connect his Shaan to the one I had loved earlier. I'm grateful for the mix of seriousness, sensitivity, and sass that is being shown as part of Shaan's personality. Those were always traits that I had wanted to see develop in the character over the course of the show. Especially the sensitivity. There was a glimpse of it in Karan's last scene with Ridhima when Shaan-Rajni were talking in their bedroom about how Shaan held himself accountable for the danger he put his family in. That was a beautiful scene, reminded me of the Shaan-Rajni of the pre-dismantling days. Because of that seriousness in the character, I was able to transition through the change in actors. This Shaan that we're seeing now seems to have matured and evolved as a result of what happened to him and because of all the choices he had made much, much earlier in the show, so to me, personally, it is a shift that has worked.
I will miss Karan immensely and he will always be special to me because he originated the role of Shaan. Whenever I rewatch old scenes from the first few months, I laugh and cry because of what he gave to Shaan. That impact is something that will never change. But I have to also give credit where it is due, to the people who wrote the Shaan-Rajni and Shaan-Dev moments before and after the change, respectively. That Shaan-Dev recognition scene was so critical and so well done. To be honest, Raqesh is making inroads already, and I appreciate his sincerity. I could have stopped watching the show if I had wanted to, sure, but I am invested in the fates of the other characters as well. And there is a fantastic ensemble cast, all of whom deserve storylines that enable them to help move the story and their characters forward! I hope that will happen! I will keep watching with that hope.
Cheers to Team BHRK!
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
