After wrapping up his role in Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye , Arjit Taneja wasn’t in a rush to take on another project. So, when he was offered the male lead role in Jhanak after the generational leap , his first instinct was to decline. “I prefer being part of a show from the start,” he explains, adding, “With leaps, there’s usually a lingering attachment to the original cast. Also, I needed time to detach from my previous character and experience. But sometimes, you have to go with the flow, and eventually, I said yes.”
Quite often, a popular face is roped in to boost an ongoing show’s ratings . On dealing with the pressure that comes with such a move, Arjit says, “Of course, ratings matter — they determine how long a show runs. But you can’t keep thinking about that. My focus is on doing justice to the role and I want this new character to connect with viewers the way my last character Virat did. Chemistry with the heroine, a solid story and a supportive team all play a role. I had that in my last show, and I hope I find that here too. When you are spending 12 hours a day on set, the environment matters.”
In a previous chat with us, Arjit confirmed that he was indeed part of the show and shared how he initially declined the offer before eventually agreeing. He recalled, “While I was still shooting for KMTMG, I got a call from the production house of Jhanak for what I thought was a new show. I did a mock shoot but didn’t think much of it since I was busy wrapping up a show I was emotionally invested in. Later, they told me the mock shoot wasn’t for a new show but for the male lead in Jhanak after the leap . I declined the offer. I’ve always believed that if I do a show, I want to start from the beginning.”
When asked what changed his mind, he replied, “The makers reached out again and explained their vision. They pitched it as a new version with a fresh story, and that made me see it differently.”