“Power, pride, and gaslighting”- Aditya Redij unpacks his complex role in COLORS’ ‘Dr. Aarambhi’

COLORS brings a powerful new setback-to-comeback saga, ‘Dr. Aarambhi’, that exposes the realities of sacrifice, love, and lost identity within families and the courage it takes to reclaim self-worth. At the heart of the show is Aarambhi Balbir Chaudhary, played by Aishwarya Khare, a gold medalist doctor who gives up her career after marriage and devotes her life to her family. Living in a powerful medical household, she is unaware that she is being emotionally controlled and gaslit. A life-threatening medical crisis and a devastating betrayal shatter this illusion and force her to confront painful truths about her marriage and her place within it. What follows is not a story of revenge, but of restart, resilience, and a woman figting for her voice and identity. Aditya Redij, who plays Dr. Vishwas, says his character represents the calm, sophisticated face of manipulation that many women encounter but rarely point out. He opens up about the journey of bringing to life a man whose turmoil is buried beneath charm, composure, and respectability.

1. Tell us about Dr. Aarambhi. What is the core idea of the show?
A. Dr Aarambhi is, at its core, a story about rediscovery and reclamation. It shines a light on how many women are conditioned to believe that sacrifice is the solution to every problem to nourish everyone else while quietly letting their own identity fade. Aarambhi is a gold-medallist doctor whose career ends even before it begins, because she’s groomed into the ‘ideal’ daughter-in-law, mother, and wife. Years of subtle conditioning make her believe that erasing herself is normal. But then a life-threatening setback exposes the cracks in her marriage and the truth about her husband, Dr Vishwas, the character I play, forcing her to face the cost of a life where she always put herself last. And instead of breaking, she chooses to rebuild. That’s the heart of the show: can a woman transform betrayal into her greatest comeback? This journey unfolds as a life-saving dose of courage, self-worth, and second chances and a reminder that healing begins the moment a woman decides to reclaim her story.

2. Tell us something about your character.
A. Vishwas is a celebrated surgeon, polished, charming, and seemingly perfect. In public, he’s the ideal husband. But behind closed doors, he is emotionally manipulative and deeply controlling. My character represents the patriarchal gaslighting beneath success and sophistication. He wants Aarambhi dependent on him and sees her sacrifice as convenient rather than valuable. He’s the kind of man who thrives on silent power, be it emotional, financial or psychological. He believes he is never wrong. His most unsettling moment comes when Aarambhi needs him the most, and he chooses his reputation over her life. Through Vishwas, the show brings out what constant sacrifice costs women.

3. How did you prepare for your character?
A. The preparation was more psychological than emotional. I focused on understanding how control can be exercised without raising a voice through politeness, calmness, and carefully crafted concern. Vishwas does not see himself as a villain, which meant I had to approach him without judging him. His danger lies in his composure, not in aggression. I observed people who maintain power through subtle manipulation, where the tone is soft, but the intent is sharp. That quiet intimidation, that ability to make someone question their own worth it became central to how I shaped him. Vishwas embodies the conditioning that convinces women that sacrifice is their duty and portraying that with authenticity required a lot of internal study.

4. What drove you towards this show? How is it different from any other family drama on Hindi GEC?
A. What pulled me toward Dr Aarambhi was its honesty. This is not a drama built on loud twists it’s built on truths that live quietly in many Indian households. The show doesn’t preach; it mirrors reality. It exposes how a woman can be made to believe that disappearing into responsibilities is her purpose, until life forces her to see what she has normalised. The medical backdrop adds urgency, but the emotional core is universal: a woman breaking the cycle of sacrifice to reclaim her individuality. It’s a setback-to-comeback story in the most powerful sense about healing from within and choosing yourself without guilt. That relevance, that emotional depth, sets Dr Aarambhi apart.

5. You’re returning to COLORS after quite some time, what does this homecoming feel like for you?
A. Honestly, it feels like a true homecoming. COLORS has been a very special part of my journey, right from Na Aana Iss Des Laado to Bawara Dil. That shows gave me a deep connection with the audience and with the channel, so coming back now with Dr Aarambhi feels incredibly meaningful. It’s amazing to return on COLORS with a project that is so emotional and rooted in reality. There’s a sense of comfort and pride working with COLORS again, they’ve always believed in strong, character-driven stories, and that’s something I connect with deeply as an actor. For me, this comeback isn’t just about being back on a platform I’ve worked with before it’s about revisiting a space that shaped me and now getting to contribute to it again with a role that challenges me and excites me in equal measure. The feeling is very special.

6. How has working on this show been for you so far, both on set and with your co-actors?
A. The entire team is emotionally invested in telling this story with sensitivity because it deals with themes that are deeply personal. Working with Anjuum, Aishwarya, and the rest of the cast has been wonderful. They bring honesty to every scene. When you’re performing material that deals with identity, healing, and emotional manipulation, having a supportive and collaborative environment makes a huge difference. The set feels like the perfect space to explore every layer of the story.

7. What is your message to the audience?
A. My message is simple: never let anyone convince you that sacrifice is a virtue. Sacrifice has meaning, but never at the cost of your identity. Dr. Aarambhi reminds us that pausing your life is okay but erasing yourself is not. If you ever feel unheard or unseen, acknowledge it, choose yourself, without guilt. It is never too late to restart, rebuild, or reclaim your voice. And that’s exactly what this show stands for. If you’ve ever felt bahut hua setback, ab hoga comeback, you’ll relate to this story. We’re excited for you all to tune in and witness a story that might just mirror someone you know or someone you used to be.

Watch ‘Dr. Aarambhi’ every Monday to Friday at 8:00 PM only on COLORS