Kanwarjeet Paintal, who has played countless memorable characters on-screen, has come on board Indian television’s most cherished show, Anupama, which is produced by Deepa Shahi and Rajan Shahi under their banner, Shahi Productions Pvt. Ltd. He revealed that his yes wasn’t just a professional decision, but it was a personal one. The veteran actor, who has worked in the industry for around six decades, was left impressed by the show’s simplicity, emotional depth, and strong storytelling. “It’s a very good show. It’s a very gripping show. It’s a show made with a lot of hard work and love. When I met the team and they told me about the character, I immediately felt—thank you for thinking of me. The character is very different, and it has a soul. Being part of such a good show is a matter of pride for any artist. That’s the reason I said yes,” he said. But what is his character like? Well, he prefers to keep that a surprise; however, he shared, “There are a lot of ups and downs in this. It is very emotional. The character hides sadness inside. Sometimes he’s childlike, sometimes mature. It’s a very complex, very lovely character.”
While joining an established show midway could have felt intimidating to some, it didn’t for Kanwarjeet. He said, “It has been sustaining for five years, giving entertainment to people. And even today, it is the number one show. That is a big deal. So whether my character is for a month or a year, that does not matter. The length of the role does not matter. First of all, the depth of the character matters.”
What made this decision even easier was the emotional connection he shares with Rajan’s grandfather, P. Jairaj, the legendary actor and director. “I had a personal connection with his grandfather. When I was working with him, he used to make us understand everything like we were children. I have very fond memories with him.” But one moment with Rajan, in particular, left a deep impression. “As soon as I went to meet him in the office, he got up from the chair, came to the door, and touched my feet. That gesture touched my heart,” he said, adding that one can easily make out if that is done with heart or by force. Though this is his first time working with Rajan’s production team, he is in awe of what they’ve built. “The way everyone here welcomed me with love, I didn’t feel like it was my first day.
The lead character, Anupama, cooperated with me and supported me. I felt completely at home,” he said, complimenting Director Kurt Productions and Shahi Productions Pvt Ltd that the sense of warmth and collaboration is the secret behind the show’s long-standing success. “They are very good architects in creativity. Their structure is so beautiful, so normal, so realistic—it touches the heart,” he added. He sees himself as a small but proud part of that larger creative structure. “You can think of me as a floor, a beautiful door, or a nice wall. I’m just a part of a building that is beautifully made from the heart,” Kanwarjeet shared.
