Abrar Ali on replacing Azhar J Malik as Raunak; says ‘It feels surreal to step into ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2’

Actor Abrar Ali, who has stepped in as Raunak Virani in ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2’, has opened up about taking over the role and making it his own.Raunak is Karan (Hiten Tejwani) and Nandini’s (Gauri Pradhan) younger son in the show, which is the reboot and sequel of the iconic television drama featuring Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay as the leads, Tulsi and Mihir Virani. The character was earlier played by Azhar J Malik.Talking about stepping into the legacy show, Abrar shared that the experience has been surreal for him.He said: “Stepping into a legacy show like ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2’ feels absolutely surreal. The world of this show is so iconic, and Azhar did a fine job laying the foundation for Raunak. My focus has been to make the character my own while respecting what has already been built.”The actor further spoke about how he approached the character — someone who looks simple at first glance, but holds a lot of emotional depth within.“To do that, I really leaned into the emotional weight Raunak carries. On the surface, he comes across as sweet, sincere, and a bit geeky – the kind of boy who means well and wears his heart on his sleeve. But there is a lot brewing beneath that simplicity,” he said.“He grew up watching his father, Karan, navigate immense emotional turmoil, and that has quietly shaped who he is today. He has seen heartbreak and complexity at close quarters, which has made him much more observant and empathetic than he appears,” Abrar added.The actor said he tries to bring a quiet intensity to the role.“I try to bring a quiet intensity to those earnest moments. For me, it is about blending his innocence with that deeper understanding that comes from his family’s past struggles. Raunak may seem light, but his heart carries history, and that is what I try to bring alive on screen,” he concluded.On professional front, Abrar earlier featured in Chikoo Ki Mummy Door Ki, Thukra Ke Mera Pyaar, Anupamaa.Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 premiered on 29 July 2025 and continues to star popular actors like Aman Verma, Sumeet Sachdev, Ritu Chaudhary, Kamalika Guha Thakurta, Sandeep Baswana, Suvarna Jha among others.