Aamna Sharif and Rajeev Khandelwal who play the roles  of Kashish and Sujal in Kahiin to Hoga

If residents of Chembur are to be believed, their favourite soap Kahiin To Hoga isn’t going to be the same again.

Ever since Rajeev Khandelwal aka Sujal stepped out of the popular Balaji Telefilms show, viewers across the suburb insist that they’ve lost all interest in a show that they earlier followed like religion. They say they aren’t going to watch it anymore.

If this isn’t proof enough of the actor’s popularity, the fact that metro received an overwhelming number of fan mails (some from married women), sure is evidence.

In a random discussion on the reasons for this mass hysteria, we discovered that it isn’t only Rajeev’s chiseled good looks but also the character of the brooding lover he portrays that people find attractive. Add to this is the fantastic chemistry between Aamna ‘Kashish’ Sharif and Rajeev and you’ve got magic, says a resident.

So what is it that women (and some men) find so fascinating in this one-serial-old actor? And will they now give up Kahiin To Hoga that Rajeev’s not on the show anymore?

metro finds out. Residents also write to Ekta Kapoor asking her to get their Sujal back.

Chemburkars appeal to Ekta Kapoor

Sunita Lund
Resident of Chembur Naka
“Rajeev Khandelwal is a very good actor. In fact I think he is the most talented actors on small screen. He has given Sujal Grewal’s character a certain amount of gravity that is missing in most characters we see on TV today. I am very sure that the serial will not remain the same after Rajeev exits it. Many people I know stay up till 11.30 pm, battling sleep, to watch just Rajeev and Aamna together.”

Dear Ekta,
Please get Rajeev Khandelwal back into the show. He is such a fantastic actor. I’m sure you can overlook the differences that you have and call him back to play Sujal. Imagine the number of viewers you will lose after Rajeev is replaced. The Sujal-Kashish romance will lose its flavour without Rajeev playing the character.

Divya Lalwani
Resident of Collector’s Colony
“I can’t tell you how bad I am feeling about the fact that Rajeev Khandelwal has quit the show. He was the soul of the show. No other love story was as fascinating on TV as this serial, and it’s so successful because of Sujal and his brooding personality. I don’t think I’ll watch the serial regularly after Sujal has been replaced. In fact, I have heard that Karan from Kyunki… (Hiten Tejwani) or Rudr from Kesar (Nikhil Arya) will replace Rajeev. I don’t think they’ll be able to match up to Rajeev.”

Dear Ekta,
I am a huge fan of Rajeev Khandelwal. You gave the small screen one of the most sensitive actors in the recent times in the form of Rajeev. Why can’t you make small compromises to keep him in the serial. With Rajeev exiting the show, the TRPs of the serial will drop.

Geeta Jajoria
Resident of Kurla
“I will find it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that Rajeev Khandelwal will not play Sujal anymore. He is a very good actor and he makes a very nice pair with Kashish (Aamna Sharif). I don’t know if anyone will look as good with her as Rajeev does. When Piyush died on the show, I did feel bad, but this feeling is quite overwhelming. Somehow, I cannot imagine the show without him.”

Dear Ekta,
It’s not fair to separate Sujal and Kashish. They make the best on screen pair and have together made your show so popular. No matter how good the new actor who is to play Sujal will be, he’ll never have the same impact as Rajeev. You must keep in mind his iconic status and bring him backto the show.”

chandrika@mid-day.com