Oct 18, 2026 6:00pm IST
Sai Ketan Rao on Rejecting Reality TV Show Offers: ‘My Priority Is To Explore My Options As An Actor’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Sai Ketan Rao, known for his work on shows like “Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali,” “Chashni” and “Imlie,” is back on television and streaming with “Suraag 2.0.” It is a reboot of the 1999 Doordarshan show “Suraag - The Clue” that had Sudesh Berry in the lead. Rao is happy with the audience response to the reboot. He tells Variety India, “‘Suraag’ was a popular show. In the reboot, we had to make sure that ‘Suraag 2.0’ matched what people are consuming right now in the genre.”
Rao also highlights how collaborating with Ravi Adhikari was a huge motivating factor for him to sign up for the series. He says, “He has directed two films and two web series. He has a very unconventional approach towards storytelling. He is very spontaneous and always cajoles you to experiment and do better. I am elated to be a part of a production house that has a wonderful legacy of work.”
Teaming up with Jigyasa Singh
Jigyasa Singh plays his love interest in “Suraag 2.0.” Rao calls her “a superb co-star” and “a really good human being.” He shares, “Jigyasa has a considerable body of work in the TV industry and we broke the ice pretty soon. Our friendship has translated onscreen. I would say she is a fab actor and a great friend.”
Related Stories
Crime genre ruling over audiences
The crime thriller genre is the most popular one in the Indian streaming space. Commenting on what could be the reasons for an insatiable appetite for these shows, he says, “As an actor, I love this genre. I feel it is more preferred by audiences who like intensity, intrigue and situations completely unknown to them. Crime thrillers help viewers escape monotony in a very engaging way.”
On a different platform
The series, which has a 52 episode-run, is airing on Doordarshan and its streaming platform, Waves OTT. All of Rao’s previous shows were on popular satellite channels. He shared his apprehensions with the channel. He states, “I asked the same question to my production house before signing the show. I was told that Doordarshan’s streaming platform has the highest viewership in Tier-II and Tier-III cities as compared to private OTTs. It is free and does not need a subscription like the rest in the OTT segment. Doordarshan’s OTT platform has new shows and also content from other platforms so it does well with the masses.”
The bane of stereotyping
Rao had a great entry into the Indian daily soap space with “Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali.” His character was popular on social media. He highlights how he was stereotyped after his character of a mafia don. He says, “I was getting calls for gangster roles only but I want to play versatile characters. I cannot be a mafia guy all the time (laughs). I deliberately chose a boy-next-door role in ‘Chashni,’ a person who was bubbly and chilled-out. For ‘Suraag 2.0,’ I have bulked up and let go of my moustache. It is a completely fresh look.”
Popular on Variety
Going slow with reality TV
Rao’s only reality TV show stint has been “Bigg Boss OTT 3.” He shares, “I am getting a lot of offers for reality shows including some of the new captive reality formats but my priority is to explore my options as an actor. I have a few projects lined up. I want to look for good offers in the regional market as I am fluent in Hindi, Marathi and Telugu. My last project in Telugu was in 2019 and I am very keen to work in their TV and film industry."
Revisiting onscreen pairing
His onscreen and offscreen pairing with Shivangi Khedkar in “Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali” is loved till date. Addressing how fans want to see them together in new projects, he says, “It feels good to see people cheering us like this. To be honest, I am an actor. I can't influence the production house to cast someone else. In the future, if any production house or casting director, if they approach us for a project, I would definitely be a part of it.”
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.