Celebrating 13 Years of
HYMAE Arjun
Tera Mera Saath Rahe
What makes a show, that ran for a mere 2 years, that too 13 years ago, generate interest even today? One wonders.
Was it the casting that just.....fit?
Was it the actors what slid into their roles like hand in glove?
Was it the freshness that it brought to investigative shows at a time when saas-bahu shows ruled?
Was it because it was shot as "real" and as close to reality?
Was it the heroic exit it gave it's main cast, in realising that superpower is ordinary people doing extraordinary acts, going beyond limitations?
Was it flawless or apologetically flawed that the audience was ready to ignore?
Whatever it was, it brought out the hidden writers through platforms such as these, friendships that, though faceless, made for discussions so profound.
Arjun Suryakant Rawte — The Man, The Legend, The Shadow of Justice
When Arjun – Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek premiered in August 2012, the Indian television landscape had plenty of cops and detectives, but none quite like Arjun Suryakant Rawte. Played with a brooding, magnetic intensity by Shaleen Malhotra, Arjun wasn’t just another police officer catching criminals; he was a storm contained in human form — calm on the surface, turbulent underneath.
The series introduced him as a Senior Officer in the ETF (Emergency Task Force), a man with razor-sharp instincts, unyielding morals, and a personal history soaked in tragedy. Over time, he became one of Indian television’s most compelling crime-thriller protagonists — a complex mixture of stoic leader, wounded soul, and relentless seeker of justice.
Arjun walks into the ETF not as a fresh recruit but as a man with a reputation preceding him : "kya kaam karwata hai, apne tareeke se karwata hai." From the first episode, you could sense his aura - minimal words, direct eye contact, deliberate movements. The kind of man who doesn’t need to raise his voice to command authority.
Shaleen Malhotra's portrayal ensured Arjun felt real, his silences were loaded with meaning, his rare smirks told entire stories, and his sarcasm cut sharper than his gunshots.
Arjun’s physical presence is half the battle won — tall, broad-shouldered, in his signature black shirts and trousers, often with rolled-up sleeves like he’s perpetually ready for action. His walk is slow but purposeful, his posture upright, and his eyes — oh, his eyes — are a masterclass in controlled emotion. Shaleen uses micro-expressions to convey whole scenes without dialogue.
Even when he’s just standing at a crime scene, there’s a sense of suppressed danger about him, like a predator who’s already spotted his prey.
Core Personality Traits
a) Stoicism & Composure
Arjun doesn’t panic. Ever. Gunfire, explosions, hostages — his breathing doesn’t change. That isn’t coldness; it’s focus. He is the man you want when things go wrong.
b) Relentless Pursuit of Justice
He isn’t satisfied with the surface truth. If a case is “closed” but his instincts say otherwise, he will dig — and dig — until the truth is unburied. This sometimes puts him at odds with his seniors, but it’s also what makes him extraordinary.
c) Empathy Beneath the Armour
He may seem unapproachable, but cases involving children, women in distress, or injustice stir something deep in him. His soft spot for victims is one of the few cracks in his emotional armour.
d) Sarcasm as a Weapon
Arjun’s wit is dry and razor-sharp. His one-liners to criminals and even teammates are iconic. It’s how he communicates without opening too much of himself.
Arjun’s past is his shadow — always following him, shaping his choices. Once married to Roshni, the love of his life, he was shattered when she was brutally murdered by the criminal Sikandar. Her death was not just a loss but an open wound, a wound that fuels every mission.
This tragedy serves as both his driving force and his Achilles heel. He carries survivor’s guilt, an unresolved need for vengeance, and an unspoken tenderness for the life he lost. It explains his occasional recklessness, his refusal to back down, and his deep empathy for victims.
Sameer Damsingh Rathore – ETF Chief and former best friend. Their relationship is a fascinating mix of tension, professional respect, and the ghost of their old camaraderie. Roshni’s death created a chasm between them, but there’s an unspoken trust that never fully dies.
Riya Mukherjee – The charming research specialist whose lightness contrasts Arjun’s gravity. While not an overt romance in canon, their dynamic has hints of admiration, irritation, and a subtle emotional push-and-pull. Riya challenges his patience, earns his respect, and occasionally cracks his shell.
ETF Team – For someone who seems like a lone wolf, Arjun functions as a quiet protector for his team — from Shree’s tech brilliance to Chotu’s brawn and Ayesha’s sharp shooting.
Criminals – He doesn’t just arrest them; he dissects them. His understanding of criminal psychology makes him terrifying to those he hunts. Many episodes end with criminals breaking under his unyielding gaze.
While he speaks little, his words often stay with you:
“Main sawaal kam poochta hoon… jawaab zyada milta hai.”
“Kanoon se khelne waalon ka anjaam hamesha ek hota hai.”
“Galti karne walon ko maaf kiya ja sakta hai… lekin gunahgar ko nahi.”
Over the episodes, Arjun changes from an entirely closed-off man to someone who allows slivers of warmth back into his life. The progression isn’t rushed; it feels earned. By the later episodes, his exchanges with the team carry more humour, his silences feel less isolating, and you can sense Roshni’s memory evolving from pure pain to a bittersweet source of strength.
Shaleen’s performance is the soul of Arjun. He never overplays the brooding — instead, he lets Arjun’s depth seep through subtle gestures, layered silences, and measured voice modulation. His physical discipline (fight choreography, stance, weapon handling) adds believability, while his emotional restraint makes the rare moments of vulnerability absolutely shattering.
Thirteen years on, Arjun Suryakant Rawte remains one of Indian TV’s most iconic crime-thriller heroes. Arjun represents a rare combination, an officer who’s both a weapon and a shield, a man who inspires fear in criminals and hope in victims. His moral compass is unshakable, his presence unforgettable.
His character set a benchmark for how crime-drama leads could be layered, morally complex, and emotionally resonant without losing their edge.
Arjun endures because he embodies the timeless idea that justice is not just about laws, but about human dignity. He’s the kind of hero who doesn’t need a cape; his weapon is his mind, his shield is his will, and his greatest strength is his refusal to stop.
In a landscape full of quick thrills and over-the-top drama, Arjun’s story remains a masterclass in controlled intensity and lasting impact.
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Sameer Damsingh Rathore: The Commander Who Led from the Front
(Portrayed by Behzaad Khan)
When Arjun premiered in 2012, every hero needs a counterpart — someone who can match him in strength, discipline, and presence. For the ETF, that figure was ETF Chief Sameer Damsingh Rathore. Played with a commanding gravitas by Mohammed Behzad Khan, Rathore was the steel backbone of the team — a man of rank, honour, and unwavering responsibility.
~ Leadership & Authority
As the ETF’s Chief, Rathore wasn’t just a desk officer — he was the man who made the tough calls, led raids in the field, and took accountability for every operation. His leadership style combined military precision with a policeman’s instinct, making him both respected and feared in equal measure.
~ Personality & Principles
Rathore embodied discipline, loyalty, and duty. He was rarely swayed by emotion in the heat of an operation, but beneath his crisp orders lay a man deeply committed to his people and to justice. He believed in the system, often clashing with Arjun’s maverick methods, but those clashes only revealed how much they respected each other.
~ The Rathore–Rawte Dynamic
One of the show’s most compelling relationships was the charged camaraderie between Sameer and Arjun. Once close friends, a shared tragedy — Roshni’s death — created a rift between them. Yet, in every mission, their mutual trust peeked through. They were two sides of the same coin: Rathore, the disciplined commander; Arjun, the lone wolf.
~ Bonds with the Team
To Shree, Chotu, Riya, and later Ayesha, Rathore was both a boss and a protector. He pushed them to excel, but also shielded them from unnecessary danger. His respect for competence was clear — he didn’t hand out praise lightly, but when he did, it meant everything.
~ Presence on Screen
Behzaad Khan gave Rathore an unmistakable commanding aura — his upright stance, clipped tone, and the way he could silence a room with a single “Enough.” Whether in the ETF command centre or at a crime scene, Rathore looked every bit the man in charge. His rare moments of humour or gentleness carried extra weight precisely because they were rare.
Thirteen years later, Sameer Damsingh Rathore remains a symbol of honour in leadership. He reminded viewers that real strength isn’t about loud heroics, but about standing firm when it matters most. In a world of fictional leaders who bend for convenience, Rathore stood tall in face of all challenges.
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Roshni Arjun Rawte: The Heart That Still Beats in His Silence
(Portrayed by Samiksha Singh)
In a show driven by crime, action, and high-stakes investigations, Roshni Arjun Rawte was the rare, gentle heartbeat that reminded us of the life and love behind the man in black. Portrayed with grace and warmth by Samiksha Singh, Roshni was more than just the wife of ETF’s stoic officer Arjun Suryakant Rawte — she was his anchor, his light, and his reason to dream of a softer world.
Roshni’s presence in the series was fleeting in screen time, yet eternal in impact. Seen mostly in flashbacks and memories, she was the woman who brought laughter into Arjun’s life, challenged his seriousness, and had the rare ability to disarm him with just a smile. She was spirited, compassionate, and stubborn in her own gentle way — the perfect counterbalance to his intensity.
Her tragic death at the hands of Sikandar became the defining wound of Arjun’s life, shaping his journey and fuelling his relentless pursuit of justice. Yet, the beauty of her character lies in how she continued to exist beyond her absence. In his silences, in the softness that occasionally surfaces, in the moments when he allows himself to care — Roshni is there.
Samiksha Singh infused Roshni with a believable warmth, the kind of energy that makes you understand why Arjun still carries her with him like an unshakable part of his soul. She wasn’t just a backstory — she was a living memory, a promise that love can outlast loss.
Thirteen years later, Roshni remains one of Indian television’s most quietly unforgettable characters — proof that sometimes, the most powerful roles are not measured by episodes, but by the depth of the heart they leave behind.
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Writeups: SarafWasima
Cover Edit : Phir_Mohabbat & DishaAriya
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