MUMBAI: The upcoming JioHotstar drama series Kanneda, premiering on March 21, 2025, follows the journey of a Punjabi man from the 1984’s anti-Sikh riots to the struggles of life in Canada. Among the key cast members is Anirudh Surya, who plays Harjit- one of the most colourful characters in the show.
Speaking about his role, Anirudh shared, “Harjeet is a crucial part of the ensemble because he’s the one who both impresses and gets impressed by the lead, played by Parmish Verma. He is flashy, loves money and is all about partying. He drives a Trans Am, wears more jewellery than he can carry, and speaks broken English here and there. A hardcore Punjabi character. The moment I read the role; it reminded me of Mahesh Manjrekar’s character in Kaante but with a lot more play. Infact I had him on my mind while preparing for the role”.
His transformation into Harjeet was quite the journey. "I thought a gold tooth would be killer, and Chandan sir let me go for it. They bleached my hair, curled it more than it already was. The costumes were wild—bright colours, flamboyant beyond my personal taste, and loads of jewellery! Harjeet is larger than life and it was interesting to get into his headspace" Anirudh recalled.
Landing the role was a mix of persistence and fate. “I was in Oman, staying with my dad. I had just moved back from Dubai after working in theatre productions and ads but wasn’t satisfied. I started working as a personal trainer while sending my profile to casting directors in India. I had a small role in Decoupled on Netflix, so I thought- why not try? I told my dad one evening that I’d keep going without any huge expectations. That mindset helped unlock this blessing. Next moment, Mukesh Chhabra’s team texted me. I was beyond stoked- this was the kind of work I had dreamed of. My dad helped me film the audition that night. It took three hours, and I submitted it. Two months later, on my birthday, I got another text- I was locked in! A month later, I flew in, met Chandan sir, and soon after, I was on set.”
While gearing up for the release of Kanneda and dabbling with a few more auditions. Given his roots in Punjab and reprising the role of a hardcore Punjabi character, Anirudh is also keen on exploring Punjabi cinema, he said, “The Punjabi industry is growing in full swing. Punjab and its culture has always been romanticized in Bollywood but now we Punjabis literally becoming a character in the storyline or extremely central to the narrative, films like Chamkila and Udta Punjab has showcased Punjab in a new light, being a Punjabi munda I will always be loyal to my roots and definitely foray into the Punjabi industry soon’.
With Kanneda, Anirudh Surya steps into a role that promises to be both entertaining and unforgettable.
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