Rithvik Dhanjani on TV absence: 'Pavitra Rishta' set the bar, new scripts don't move me
Synopsis
Rithvik Dhanjani isn't abandoning television — he's simply refusing to compromise. With Pavitra Rishta setting an impossibly high bar, the actor has spent years chasing better stories across web platforms and reality shows rather than settle for formulaic TV drama. His calculated patience is a quiet rebuke to an industry churning out scripts that don't demand his best.
Key Takeaways
Rithvik Dhanjani cited Pavitra Rishta as the reason behind his absence from mainstream television fiction.
The actor has rejected multiple TV scripts, saying they "haven't done something to my heart." He has pivoted to web projects including Cartel , Half Love Half Arranged , and an Amazon Singapore short film.
Pavitra Rishta (2011), produced by Ekta Kapoor , starred Ankita Lokhande , Sushant Singh Rajput , Usha Nadkarni , and Savita Prabhune .
Dhanjani is set to appear on Khatron Ke Khiladi season 15, his first reality television venture.
Actor and host Rithvik Dhanjani, who became a household name playing Arjun Kirloskar in the iconic drama Pavitra Rishta, has opened up about his deliberate step back from mainstream television, despite remaining active across digital and reality platforms. In an exclusive conversation, Dhanjani revealed that the benchmark set by his defining 2011 role has made him selective about fiction television offers, and that recent scripts simply haven't resonated with him creatively.
"I miss being on set. I miss being on a fiction set," Dhanjani said. "But specifically when it comes to the medium of television, the stories that have been offered to me haven't really enticed me enough. They haven't done something to my heart."
Pivoting to web and digital storytelling
Rather than languish in television's traditional format, Dhanjani has consciously pursued reinvention across emerging platforms. Over the past several years, he has appeared in web projects including Cartel and Half Love Half Arranged, alongside a short film for Amazon Singapore. "I am trying on web, whatever has happened in the last few years — all of those things are things that I am trying to do to break the mould and do something else," he explained.
The weight of 'Pavitra Rishta'
Pavitra Rishta, which aired in 2011 and was produced by Ekta Kapoor, became one of Indian television's most celebrated dramas. The ensemble cast included Ankita Lokhande, Sushant Singh Rajput, Usha Nadkarni, and Savita Prabhune. The show's cultural footprint has cast a long shadow over Dhanjani's subsequent television offers — a reality he acknowledges without regret.
Patience in reinvention
Dhanjani emphasised that creative reinvention cannot be rushed. "It takes time. It will take its own sweet unfolding time. And when it unfolds, it will unfold the way it is supposed to be," he said, signalling he is in no hurry to accept roles that don't align with his artistic vision.
Reality television and beyond
Currently, Dhanjani is preparing to compete in Khatron Ke Khiladi season 15, marking his entry into the reality television space — a departure from scripted drama but one that keeps him visible on the small screen without requiring the narrative compromise he seeks to avoid on fiction television.
Point of View
A standard against which every subsequent offer is measured. That he has chosen web over television, and reality over fiction, suggests the traditional TV drama factory is losing its grip on serious actors. His patience may frustrate producers, but it reflects a larger truth: the best talent is voting with its feet.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Rithvik Dhanjani stayed away from television fiction?
Rithvik Dhanjani has stated that the television scripts offered to him haven't moved him creatively. He cites his iconic role in Pavitra Rishta as having set a benchmark that subsequent TV offers have failed to match, and he has consciously chosen not to return to the medium unless a story truly resonates with him.
What projects has Rithvik Dhanjani worked on recently?
In recent years, Dhanjani has pursued web and digital projects including Cartel, Half Love Half Arranged, and a short film for Amazon Singapore. He is also set to appear on the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi season 15.
What was Rithvik Dhanjani's role in Pavitra Rishta?
Rithvik Dhanjani played Arjun Kirloskar, a businessman, in Pavitra Rishta (2011). The show, produced by Ekta Kapoor and featuring an ensemble cast including Ankita Lokhande and Sushant Singh Rajput, became one of Indian television's most celebrated dramas.
Is Rithvik Dhanjani returning to television?
Rithvik Dhanjani has not ruled out returning to television fiction, but only if a script truly moves him creatively. He emphasised that reinvention takes time and that he is in no rush to force a comeback without the right material.
