Manish Naggdev on Anupamaa's Toshu: 'Much more to me as an actor'
Synopsis
Manish Naggdev, who has played Toshu in Anupamaa for two years, wants audiences to see him as more than the character. The actor, who stepped in after a 15-year story leap in the Rupali Ganguly-led show, says his next role will be a deliberate departure — part of a conscious career strategy to keep redefining himself.
Key Takeaways
Manish Naggdev has been playing Toshu in Anupamaa since October 2024 , completing two years in the role.
He joined the show after a significant 15-year story leap , replacing actor Gaurav Sharma in the role.
Naggdev says he wants to be remembered as an actor beyond any single character or role.
He plans to deliberately choose a very different character once Anupamaa wraps for him.
Anupamaa is produced by Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi and stars Rupali Ganguly in the lead.
Actor Manish Naggdev, who portrays Toshu in the long-running daily soap Anupamaa, has spoken candidly about his two-year journey with the character and his desire to be recognised for the full breadth of his acting talent — not just for the one role that has dominated public perception of him.
Beyond the Character
Naggdev, speaking in a recent interview, was direct about what drives him professionally. 'For me, the important thing is that, at the end of the day, it is Manish Naggdev who should remain with the audience — not just the perception they have created around one particular character,' he said. 'I want people to know that there is much more to me as an actor than the face they have seen most recently.'
The actor acknowledged that television naturally creates a deep, sometimes restrictive bond between a performer and a single role. He added, 'Over the years, I have consciously tried to break the perception audiences may have formed about me. But today, I don't think about it as much because when you are doing a television show, you have to completely surrender to the character and the story that needs to be told.'
His Entry into Anupamaa
Naggdev joined Anupamaa — produced by Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi — in October 2024, following a significant 15-year story leap in the show's narrative. He stepped into the role of Toshu previously held by actor Gaurav Sharma, who reportedly chose to exit as he was not keen on playing the father of a grown-up child. The show, which stars Rupali Ganguly in the lead role, remains one of the most-watched Hindi television dramas.
Career Graph and Future Plans
Reflecting on what comes next, Naggdev was clear that his post-Anupamaa choices will be deliberate. 'Once the show ends, my conscious effort will definitely be to choose a character that is very different from the ones I have played before. If you look at my career graph, you will see that I have always tried to do that,' he said.
He noted that while television gives actors unmatched audience reach, it can also risk reducing a performer to a single defining image. For Naggdev, resisting that reduction is a long-term creative priority — and one he says his own career track record supports.
Point of View
Or whether the casting market rewards his range the way he expects, will be the real test of the career-graph argument he is making.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manish Naggdev and which character does he play in Anupamaa?
Manish Naggdev is a Hindi television actor who plays the character Toshu in the popular daily soap Anupamaa, produced by Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi. He joined the show in October 2024 after the narrative took a 15-year time leap.
Why did Manish Naggdev replace Gaurav Sharma as Toshu in Anupamaa?
Gaurav Sharma, who originally played Toshu, reportedly chose to exit the show as he was not keen on portraying the father of a grown-up child following the 15-year story leap. Manish Naggdev stepped in to take over the role at that point.
What has Manish Naggdev said about his plans after Anupamaa?
Naggdev has said he will consciously choose a character very different from the ones he has played before once the show ends. He pointed to his past career choices as evidence of always trying to avoid being typecast.
How long has Manish Naggdev been playing Toshu?
Manish Naggdev joined Anupamaa in October 2024 and has completed approximately two years in the role of Toshu as of October 2026.
What is Anupamaa and who leads the show?
Anupamaa is one of Hindi television's most-watched daily soaps, produced by Rajan Shahi and Deepa Shahi. Rupali Ganguly plays the titular lead role, and the show has been on air for several years with a large national viewership.
