During the privacy task on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, Gaurav opened up about one of the most difficult chapters of his life. He revealed that after a string of unsuccessful shows, people in the industry had begun calling him “jinxed.” Every time a project didn’t perform well, he felt the blame somehow found its way back to him, making it increasingly difficult to land new opportunities.
Interestingly, producer Rajan Shahi had spoken about this very phase in one of his earlier interviews. He revealed that when he decided to cast Gaurav in Anupamaa, he knew exactly what the industry was saying about the actor. In fact, several people advised him against casting Gaurav, warning him that it could affect the show’s success.
Despite those opinions, Rajan chose to trust his own instincts as he was convinced by the actor’s sincerity and determination.
He discussed the character with Gaurav over the phone and, by the end of the conversation, simply asked him to report to the set and begin shooting. By the time Rajan returned to India, Gaurav had already been filming Anupamaa for more than two weeks. The producer even revealed that he met Gaurav in person only after the actor had already started shooting for the show.
Gaurav has often acknowledged Rajan’s faith in him. He thanked the producer for believing in him at a time when very few people were willing to take that chance, admitting that the opportunity came when his career was at one of its lowest points.
The decision turned out to be a defining one for both the actor and the show. Gaurav’s portrayal of Anuj Kapadia quickly became one of the most loved characters on Indian television, earning him widespread appreciation and re-establishing him as one of the industry’s leading actors.
Since then, Gaurav’s journey has only moved upward. He went on to win Bigg Boss 19 and is now testing his limits as a contestant on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15.
