Rupali Ganguly’s popular television drama Anupamaa has taken a bold step by introducing a generation leap a few months ago. The storyline now follows Anu and her daughter, Rahi. With this fresh track came new faces like Shivam Khajuria, Adrija Roy, Randeep Rai, Rahil Azam, Manish Goel, and Alka Kaushal, among others. The love story of Rahi and Prem has struck a chord with the audience, keeping viewers hooked to their screens. However, alongside the appreciation, a wave of criticism has also surfaced.
Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice uncanny similarities between Anupamaa‘s new plot and that of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. From the first meeting of Prem and Rahi to their marriage track and now Aryan Kothari’s entry, many sequences seem to mirror those of Kartik and Naira, played by Mohsin Khan and Shivangi Joshi in YRKKH. This observation spread rapidly on social media. Several fans began posting edited clips blending the two shows, highlighting how scenes played out almost identically.
Interestingly, both shows come from the same production house, making the comparisons even more pointed.
Addressing the issue, actor Shivam Khajuria, who portrays Prem in Anupamaa, recently spoke about the ongoing chatter. In an interview with Fifafooz TV, he candidly shared his perspective. Shivam made it clear that actors have limited say when it comes to storyline decisions. He explained, “I do not have the power to change anything as such.” His role, he said, involves reading the script, understanding the briefing, and performing accordingly.
Shivam acknowledged that viewers might find the scenes familiar, but insisted that every actor brings a unique touch to their character. While the setups might appear identical, he believes the portrayal and emotions differ. Shivam mentioned that he consciously tries to shape Prem as an individual, focusing on adding depth and reality to his performance.
He revealed that he often comes across fan edits online where scenes from Anupamaa and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai are merged. Sometimes, watching those videos, he finds himself reflecting on the performances. Shivam said, “I see those videos and sometimes feel they did it better, and sometimes I feel I did it better.” Rather than being defensive, he chooses to view them as a viewer, enjoying the creative comparisons.
The actor further added that in the world of television and cinema, most stories are inspired by something that already exists. In his words, “99 percent of stories are inspired by something else.” According to him, viewers should focus on enjoying the narrative instead of drawing parallels. Shivam stressed that while inspiration is inevitable in an industry driven by emotions and relationships, the presentation and execution deserve appreciation.
He also emphasized that final decisions rest with the creative team and makers. Actors merely deliver what’s written. Shivam pointed out that audience engagement is what matters most, and as long as viewers feel connected to the characters, minor similarities shouldn’t overshadow the essence of the story.
