Anurag Sharma On Playing A Morally Complex Character In Sony SAB's Yaadein: "Every Actor Dreams Of..."

Mumbai, June 2nd, 2026: With Sony SAB's Yaadein keeping audiences hooked through its engaging storytelling and layered characters, actor Anurag Sharma is leaving a strong impact as Dr. Sunny, a character filled with unpredictability, emotional conflict and hidden pain. While Dr. Sunny often finds himself at odds with Dr. Dev (Iqbal Khan), his journey is shaped by years of hurt, frustration and the fear of losing everything he once worked for.

In this conversation, Anurag Sharma opens up about understanding the many layers of Dr. Sunny, portraying grey shades on screen, his bond with the cast and what makes the character both challenging and exciting to play.

1. Dr. Sunny is not completely positive or negative. How would you describe him in your own words?

Dr. Sunny is not entirely good or bad, there are many layers to his personality. He was once a talented doctor who always felt that he never got the recognition or opportunities he truly deserved and that frustration stayed with him over time. Things took a turn after an unintentional mistake led to the loss of a child's life, following which Dr. Dev decided to take strict action against him. Since they were family, Dr. Sunny felt deeply hurt and believed he was being treated unfairly. That pain, along with the fear of losing his career, slowly pushed him towards a darker path, shaping him into the person he is today.

2. Dr. Sunny and Dr. Dev once shared a close friendship. What really changed between them?

Dr. Sunny and Dr. Dev were once very close and shared a strong bond as doctors who genuinely wanted to help people. But over time, life and personal pain changed them in very different ways. Dr. Dev became strict and emotionally distant after losing his son, while Dr. Sunny was deeply affected by the unfairness and hurt he felt he had gone through. At their core, both are still good doctors, but their experiences and emotional struggles shaped them into the people they are today.

3. What has been the most challenging part of playing Dr. Sunny?

There hasn't been one constant challenge while playing Dr. Sunny, but certain moments definitely demand a lot more emotionally. Especially the scenes where Dr. Sunny is trying to hide his mistakes and protect himself. What makes it interesting is that Dr. Sunny never intentionally set out to become a bad person; circumstances slowly pushed him in that direction. And now, he feels he cannot afford to let his truth come out. Portraying that desperation to protect himself, while also making sure the audience still understands and empathizes with him somewhere, is the real challenge. It's a very fine balance and I hope I'm able to maintain it throughout.

4. Did you have to emotionally prepare yourself differently for this role?

Honestly, I never really have to prepare emotionally in a different way because for the last 15 years, most of the roles I've played have been negative characters. Initially, people felt I had a very soft and simple face and wouldn't suit such roles, but once one negative character connected with audiences, I kept getting similar parts. Over time, I started genuinely enjoying these layered characters. Every actor dreams of playing the hero but even being the main antagonist on television comes with its own identity and recognition. I still remember Sushant Singh Rajput once telling me that I was like the Irrfan Khan of television and somewhere I feel I've now become the 'negative Irrfan' of TV. It was a huge compliment because Irrfan sir brought so much honesty and depth to every role. I feel grateful for all the opportunities I've received, and I always try to make every character feel different so audiences continue to connect with my work.

5. As an actor, do you enjoy playing characters with grey shades because they're more unpredictable?

Absolutely. There's a different kind of excitement in playing characters with grey shades because they are unpredictable and emotionally complex. Such roles give an actor the chance to explore many layers and emotions, which isn't always possible with completely positive characters. I've genuinely enjoyed playing these kinds of roles over the years and I always try to bring something new to each character so that every role feels different from the last one.

6. Is there any quality in Dr. Sunny that you personally connect with, despite his flaws?

Honestly, not really. Dr. Sunny and I are very different as people. I don't personally relate to the negative choices he makes in the show because, in real life, I'm a very positive and simple person. I believe in working with honesty and sincerity and I always make sure that the characters I portray on screen do not influence who I am in my personal life.

7. What has your experience been like working with Iqbal, Gulki and the rest of the cast of Yaadein, and who do you bond with the most off-screen?

It has honestly been a wonderful experience working on the show. Everyone on set is extremely warm, supportive and easy to work with, which creates a very positive and comfortable atmosphere. This is my first time working with Iqbal and Gulki, and both of them are not only fantastic actors but also genuinely humble people. Despite achieving so much, they are very grounded and make everyone around them feel at ease. The younger cast members are also full of energy and very respectful. Overall, the entire cast and crew share a great bond and I truly enjoy working with all of them.

Tune in to watch Yaadein every Monday to Saturday at 8:00 PM on Sony SAB