By Anil Merani: Amar Upadhyay’s situation with Doree 2 on Colors TV has been marked by reported tensions and narrative challenges, though the whole picture is nuanced. Upadhyay, who reprised his role as Ganga Thakur, faced significant issues that led to his exit from the show, with reports suggesting both personal dissatisfaction and storyline problems contributed.
Amar Upadhyay’s Challenges
Upadhyay’s departure from Doree 2 stemmed primarily from the underutilization of his shooting dates. Sources indicate he was promised 15 shooting days per month, but after the wedding track of the lead character, Doree, his screen time was drastically reduced, with him being called for only two or three days a month. This led to frustration, as he felt sidelined, especially since his high per-day fee reportedly made it costly for the makers to utilize him frequently. Additionally, Upadhyay missed out on a pivotal role in the TRP-topping show Anupamaa (as Parag, played by Rahil Azam) due to his Doree 2 commitment, which further fueled his discontent. Reports from February and March 2025 suggested a fallout with the producers, with Upadhyay deciding to quit because his character’s track was not developed as expected.
However, there’s evidence of attempts at reconciliation. The channel and producers reportedly worked tirelessly to retain him, and Upadhyay returned briefly in April 2025 for a two-day shoot to provide closure to his character, Ganga Thakur. He clarified he wasn’t returning full-time, indicating a professional approach to wrapping up his role despite earlier tensions. Producer Kinnari Mehta denied exit rumors, suggesting some reports may have been exaggerated. These developments point to Upadhyay struggling to align his expectations with the show’s direction, but not necessarily a personal failure to “get it together” as suspected by some naysayer —rather, a mismatch in creative and logistical priorities.
Storyline Issues
The Doree 2 narrative itself has faced criticism, which may have compounded Upadhyay’s reduced role. The show, which premiered on January 21, 2025, took a 14-year leap, focusing on an adult Doree (Priyanshi Yadav), navigating empowerment and societal challenges as a single mother and aspiring fashion designer. While the first season was a hit for its father-daughter bond between Ganga and Doree, fans on X expressed disappointment with the second season’s shift away from this dynamic. Posts from April 2025 noted the show’s low TRP of 0.6 due to the IPL season and a perceived decline in storytelling quality. Specific complaints included the story becoming “pathetic” after key plot points like Doree’s marriage and the focus on new characters, which diluted Ganga’s presence.
The current storyline, as of February 2025, had Ganga locked in jail on a false charge, reducing Upadhyay’s screen time as the plot centered on Doree’s married life with Mann Thakur (Ishaan Dhawan) and conflicts with the antagonist Rajnandini (Sreejita De). This shift was cited as a reason for Upadhyay’s dissatisfaction, as his character lacked meaningful development. Fans also voiced concerns about the show being “under scanner” with a limited episode count, suggesting broader narrative struggles that could lead to an abrupt end if ratings don’t improve.
Critical Perspective
While Upadhyay’s exit and the show’s low ratings might suggest he or the story went “awry,” the reality seems more complex. Upadhyay’s frustration reflects a professional prioritizing his craft—he’s historically chased meaningful roles over money, as seen in his choice to play the grounded Ganga to break his “rich man” stereotype. While ambitious in tackling empowerment themes, the storyline’s pivot to new characters and arcs appears to have alienated some fans and marginalized key original cast members like Upadhyay. The low TRP and competitive IPL backdrop further strained the show’s performance, but these are industry-wide challenges, not solely Upadhyay’s or the writers’ fault.
In summary, Upadhyay faced logistical and creative frustrations on Doree 2, leading to his exit, while the show struggled with a divisive storyline and poor ratings.