Harshul Kaul, making his acting debut in Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Wapas Aaunga', has spoken warmly about sharing the screen with Vedang Raina — and about the quiet pride both actors carry as members of the Kashmiri Pandit community. In an interview, Kaul described the experience as 'unreal', saying he never imagined his first film would place him beside an actor he had admired from a distance.

A Community Connection That Ran Deep

Kaul, who played Raina's best friend Aftab in the film, said the bond between the two actors extended well beyond the script. 'Coming from a Kashmiri family, I had seen his journey being celebrated by so many people around me,' Kaul said. 'After The Archies and then Jigra, I remember hearing his name in conversations everywhere and feeling proud seeing someone from the Kashmiri Pandits community achieving so much at such a young age.'

He added that the shared cultural roots made their on-set dynamic especially meaningful. 'There were so many beautiful moments off set that we shared, including talking in Kashmiri, laughing between takes and simply spending time together,' Kaul recalled. 'Those little moments in between the scenes made this journey more beautiful for Aftab and Keenu.'

Audience Response to Aftab's Journey

Kaul said the public reaction to his character has been deeply personal. 'A lot of people have reached out personally to me through social media and messages,' he said. 'Many told me that Aftab's innocence and emotional journey stayed with them long after the film ended, while some even said they felt like they personally knew these characters. Those messages mean the world to me because that's why we do cinema, to make people feel something.'

The emotional resonance of the character, he suggested, was partly a product of the genuine warmth he felt working alongside Raina — something that translated onto the screen.

Learning From Vedang Raina Up Close

Kaul was candid about how much he absorbed simply by observing Raina at work. 'Most of my scenes in Main Wapas Aaunga were with Vedang and I learned so much just by watching him,' he said. 'His dedication, discipline and the way he gives every single scene his 100% is truly inspiring.'

He recalled one instance during the shoot of the song Ishq Mastana when Raina reportedly performed through illness without any visible drop in energy. 'I remember him being unwell during the shoot and still showing up with the same energy, dancing, performing and giving everything to the scene without ever letting it affect his work,' Kaul said. 'So, as a young actor, witnessing that level of commitment up close was a huge learning experience for me.'

About the Film and Its Cast

Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Wapas Aaunga', which released on 12 June, features a cast that spans generations — with veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Diljit Dosanjh alongside younger talent including Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and debutant Harshul Kaul. Raina was born in New Delhi into a Kashmiri Pandit family and grew up in Mumbai; his grandparents hailed from Rainawari, Srinagar. Kaul similarly comes from a Kashmiri family and has spoken of maintaining a strong connection to the community's cultural heritage.

For a first-time actor, Kaul's experience on the film appears to have been as formative off camera as on it — a reminder that in cinema, the relationships built between takes can shape a performance as much as the direction itself.