Where do you find an Anuj?

I am finally going to try posting what was typed out in my phone notes over the past 2 years or so since Anuj Kapadia came into our lives.
Note: I loved the OG Anuj but have my issues and reservations with how Anuj turned out later and now I struggle to relate to him on many days though sometimes I understand him.

Background about this rant - I was creating a character sketch of a feminist man for a writing assignment (i am passionate about writing/storytelling so was learning the craft) and came across Anuj just around the same time. It was so surprising that things I had written about my character sketch man much before I knew of the show matched with how Anuj played out on screen and I was thrilled that after ages there is a male character on ITV that aligned with my ideals. Then it became a game. I sometimes picked up from Anuj Kapadia on screen for my writeup & other times found that he almost behaved like I had already written. It warmed my heart and I enjoyed this writing game. I cheered the character with all his flaws because there was a certain earnestness.

In the last year or so while I connected to Anupamaa's journey (not that she does not frustrate me), my resonance with Anuj reduced. The show destroyed his core essence & what he stood for in my view. Its not his emotional breakdowns or vulnerability. I love his raw emotions, but he did loose what he once stood for in my heart and mind. Nevertheless, I continued writing this rant to authentically express my feelings.

I am now ready to share a piece of my heart here.

Note: This is a rant and not a story.

The work is kind of a mix between my ideal man and how Anuj played into it and then it just became a means to articulate my feelings about both. Includes the good, bad and ugly expressed with earnestness that OG Anuj had.

Image Edits: All the images I use here are all the beautiful edits of @OneHappyInsaan on X