CID, one of Indian television’s longest-running crime shows, is back in the spotlight but this time, not for a mystery to solve. The buzz surrounds the sudden exit of ACP Pradyuman, portrayed by the legendary Shivaji Satam. Known as the face of the show, his departure has left both fans and co-actors shocked and confused.
The show’s iconic trio, Shivaji Satam, Dayanand Shetty, and Aditya Srivastava has been central to its identity. But with Satam’s character now written out, things have taken an unexpected turn. In a recent interview, Dayanand Shetty, fondly known as Daya, shared that the team had no prior idea about this major change. “It was a creative decision made by the channel and the production house, and I must say, it took us all by surprise,” he said.
Shetty went on to mention that Shivaji Satam is currently not filming for CID. He admitted the atmosphere on set has changed. There’s a gap where Satam used to be, his absence is deeply felt. Shetty added that the team hasn’t been told the reasons behind the decision and said they are “not in a position to comment further.”
The recent promo added fuel to the discussion. In a dramatic twist, ACP Pradyuman is seen dying in a blast. The CID team is devastated. Yet, amidst their sorrow, they vow to avenge his death and go after Barboza. The emotional weight of the sequence shocked fans and confirmed Satam’s exit, even though the actor himself seemed unaware of the finality.
In a statement to Bombay Times, Shivaji Satam shared his own uncertainty. He said he had no clue about his track ending. According to him, he has taken a break, and the creators of the show know what lies ahead. He didn’t elaborate further, keeping his tone calm and collected.
Meanwhile, actor Hrishikesh Pandey, who plays Inspector Sachin, shared some insight into the storyline. In a conversation with Pinkvilla, he revealed that his character is currently in a coma. He admitted that he doesn’t know when Sachin might return. “Right now, I can’t say when exactly I’m going to come back. Not sooner, I guess, it will take some time at least because the plot is such. Solving the mystery,” he explained.
Pandey stressed that as an actor, he doesn’t get to make creative calls. He explained that even he had no idea his character would go into a coma until the script was handed out. That’s how the team usually finds out through the script. When asked about ACP Pradyuman’s sudden removal, Pandey said that’s how they all found out as well. The script came, and the story was shared. No one had prior knowledge. It was simply laid out during the script reading.
As the show prepares for new developments, actor Parth Samthaan is set to enter as ACP Anshuman. However, Hrishikesh Pandey revealed that he hasn’t met Parth yet. “No, I haven’t because I was not shooting with him. I think Abhijeet, Daya are shooting with him. I was not there and I haven’t met him. I don’t even know him personally,” he said.
When asked if ACP Pradyuman’s absence might hurt the show’s viewership, Pandey admitted it’s hard to predict. He did point out that CID has always had a loyal audience and believes they’ll stick around for the story.
On a personal note, Pandey said he’s still in touch with Shivaji Satam. “Yes, of course. We were talking half an hour ago. Yesterday, we also spoke,” he revealed warmly. The bond between the cast remains strong. He shared that everyone on the set misses Satam and that there’s a clear void.
Finally, when asked if any other character might exit the show in a similar fashion, Pandey assured, “Nothing like that.” The show continues, but for fans and the cast alike, the absence of ACP Pradyuman marks the end of an unforgettable chapter.