ASR Decoded!

ASR/ARNAV DECODED

Disclaimer- This is purely an analytical exercise of decoding Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada and to understand why he does things the way the does! I am trying to figure out the space from which he comes. I don't endorse any of his actions as good or bad/ right or wrong.

Now with this disclaimer, hopefully I am safe 😆 So lets begin!

ASR- He, though is the Mighty ASR in the eyes of the World, but after looking at him closely, I find him one of the most fearful and insecure human beings! While saying this, I am reminded of one of the first few episodes when ASR introduces Anjali on the ramp on the night of his fashion show at Sheesh Mahal. Anjali told him that he somehow is still stuck in his 15 year old self and she was right! He is still a hurt, fearful boy who was thrown out of his own house by his uncle.(I am sure there are more deep rooted scars in his psyche which are yet to be revealed). The only response that people take to a problem is FLIGHT OR FIGHT. It is researched that since kids are incompetent to fight on their own, they tend to run away from the situation as a defence mechanism (Flight response).
ASR is still stuck up in his 15 year old KID self. That kid in him doesn't let him face his problems(not business problems but deeper emotional ones). That is why he always tells Khushi-'main tumhe kuch bhi batana zaroori nahi samajhta!!' This is because he has ALWAYS been like that...fleeing away from facing himself, his emotions and reality. It takes STRENGTH to show your WEAKNESS to others, to show them your vulnerability and the ONLY time he has done that was in his half conscious state on Holi by confessing his love for Khushi.

There is plethora of instances showing his flight response to situations. His near kiss on diwali made him run away again and in a jiffy, he agreed to get engaged to Lavanya. After he got married to Khushi, he didn't explain anything to his family and in a cowardly act rather ran up to his room leaving the devastated Khushi to deal with the mess! Also, when asked why he got married to her, this time too he didn't feel the need to explain the reasons!

He believes that goodness holds no value in the world and just about ANYTHING can be purchased by money. In a way he proved that by buying Sheesh Mahal back from his uncle. It was an act of revenge and he did buy that sense of achievement through money! He is so CONVINCED in this belief that it has become a FACT for him! He looks at the world and Khushi in particular through this conviction. Imagine when one's own family plays games with you, how can one believe in relationships and trust?!! It's very difficult and that's the SPACE from which ASR operates even today. We say he jumps to conclusions but from his perspective, it is a FACT which doesn't need any kind of scrutiny from him. He never believed Khushi's story about the papers and how they were important for Payal's wedding that night at Sheesh Mahal...he just KNEW that Khushi was lying.

'The world is out to get me and the only way to keep myself safe is by putting an intimidating front'.

That's the core of ASR's personality. That explains his anger all the time. It is to intimidate people and not let them come near him because letting them do so would make him vulnerable to pain which he simply can't stand. The only time he allowed his heart to rule over was his near confession to Khushi about his love during the Payash's wedding night and we all know what he saw! His outburst at the middle of the road, that scream from him was a vent out on himself as to WHY did he have to go on that path?!!! So seeing the scene on that terrace REITERATED that goodness and love hold NO MEANING in this world. The BELIEF that he held once again proved to be a FACT for him. This ONE scene OVERRULED ALL OTHERS! His lack of trust on Khushi is justified when we look into the space which Arnav comes from.

So it's the LONG BURIED hurt that is such an inseparable part of ASR's personality which makes him believe Shyam and not Khushi, despite NUMEROUS instances of her love and concern for him. HE CHOOSES to ignore these signs of Khushi's love for him. I think he does know that but keeping with his ostrich approach, he doesn't want to acknowledge that. So' not connecting the dots' seem 'in character' to me now. Because he doesn't WANT TO.

So no matter how good and caring Khushi will be to him, he will find it VERY DIFFILCULT to give her due credit!

Arnav is a man full of complexes and he very well disguises them with his anger and control. It is well known that control freaks are the most fearful people in the world. I somehow feel that the reason he doesn't want to give any credit to Khushi for her actions is that he finds it difficult to accept that someone can be so good and perfect or rather better than him. That's why he keeps punching her dignity, self respect and her status. That gives him a high and makes him more powerful (I know its sickening but then no one would disagree that ASR does need professional psychiatric help!! Anyone with such messed up past might need it at one point or the other!! Ok, don't kill me for this 😛 )

Either a person can prove itself superior by doing things better than the other or by making the other feel inferior. ASR thinks and believes himself to be perfect with no chances of improvement, thus he resorts to making Khushi feel inferior and belittles her.

I feel its not just Anjali who seems delusional but ASR too. This bro-sis pair doesn't want to look at things which are painful or seem difficult to accept. We know ASR is a grey character and it does turn dark at times but then the CVs will have to bring some MAJOR expansion into his character sketch. Till then he will remain a mystery to not only Khushi but also to us! 😆

Any more insights into this, please do leave a comment!