Gurmeet Choudhary Reflects on a Milestone Year: OTT Debut, Parenthood, and Breaking Stereotypes

Gurmeet Choudhary experienced a transformative year in 2024, marking his successful OTT debut with Commander Karan Saxena, followed by his performance in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (YKKA) Season 2. Reflecting on his journey, Gurmeet shared, “I felt Durga maa ki taakat in 2024, and next year, I am going to step it up. This year, the era of Gurmeet Choudhary has started, and I will kill it in 2025. I always wanted to be an action hero, and this year presented me to the audience in that avatar.”

The actor's venture into the digital space was a long-awaited step. “I left TV in 2013-14, and I had been getting OTT offers since then. But I had done the show format, so I was more pulled towards seeing myself on the 70 mm. I wouldn’t get as excited for web shows, but now the audience has also increased on the web today, and there are so many interesting people working here. I didn’t want to do typical OTT shows, thus, I waited,” he explained.

In Commander Karan Saxena, Gurmeet played an army officer, a role he regards as a tribute to his father, who served in the army. In YKKA Season 2, he entered the series as a pivotal character alongside Tahir Raj Bhasin. Addressing his decision to take on a parallel lead, Gurmeet clarified, “My character Guru is a hero in himself. He has his own heroism. So, it was like the entry of a second hero in season 2. Also, Debina (Bonnerjee, actor-wife) was an avid viewer of season 1. So, when the offer came, I told her, and she told me, ‘sochna bhi mat, seedha kar le’.”

Post-Covid, Gurmeet took a deliberate break, focusing on refining his craft while awaiting roles that aligned with his aspirations. “I had done romance, drama, action, and everything on TV, but I wasn’t getting those opportunities in films. Even though some of my films worked, it wasn’t the work that I wanted to do. So, I said no to many films that came in between. Although, I kept working on myself throughout to be ready for an action role as that’s what I wanted to do. That’s when both the shows came to me,” he said.

Beyond his professional achievements, Gurmeet embraced his most cherished role as a father to two daughters, Lianna and Divisha. However, the actor faced societal biases that came with being a parent to girls. “We live in 2024, a big city, and in a modern world, but when we had our second daughter, many people said to us, ‘ladka hona chahiye tha’. Debina and I faced a lot through that time. I even cried hiding in the bathroom after Divisha’s birth because I would get calls from my own people saying, ‘Oh, firse beti hui hai’,” he revealed.

Despite these challenges, Gurmeet remains unfazed, driven by his love for his daughters. “Till now, I was working for myself, but now whenever I close my eyes, I see Lianna and Divisha. All I want is that when they grow up, they should be able to proudly mention my work and say our dad did this. So, now I am choosing work for them,” he concluded.

As Gurmeet steps into 2025, he is determined to redefine his career and continue making choices that inspire pride in his daughters and his audience alike.