Exclusive! I have changed a lot since my last relationship. I am open to the idea of being married now, says Ankit Gupta

Actor Ankit Gupta, of Udaariyaan fame, was recently in Varanasi with his close pal, actor Abhishek Kumar. Ankit’s recent Varanasi visit evoked childhood memories of hometown Meerut, complete with ghat explorations, surprise Shayan Aarti darshan, boat rides and local chaat delights amid laughs over directional quirks.

The actor is currently on a quest to visit all 12 jyotirlings in the country, of which he has covered 8 so far.

Jyotirlinga Quest BeginsTalking about how the Varanasi trip was planned, Ankit tells us, “This fascination to cover all the 12 Jyotirlingas started when a friend asked me if I had been to any of the Jyotirlingas and my reply was, no. Cut to one week later, I got a call from Abhishek that he was going to Triyanmabkeshwar Jyotirlinga with his family, and asked if I would like to accompany him.

And I immediately said yes. So, I went to Triyambakshwar.

I was overwhelmed with how peaceful I felt there. In Varanasi I found peace which I had been looking for since long. And that’s how my journey to cover all the 12 Jyotirlingas began which also includes Varanasi,” he shares.Banaras childhood echoes“Coming back to the trip to Banaras, it was amazing. Banaras reminded me of my hometown Meerut. Yahan aake mujhe apne bachpan ki yaad aa gayi. Waise toh I liked everything about the city and the people, the only thing that bothered me was that aap kisi bhi Banarasi se kisi jagah ke baare mein poocho toh woh keh dete hain ki bas pass mein hai, though it might be kilometres away (laughs).

Abhishek and I went to see the ghats and market on the first day.

Later we went for the Shayan Aarti to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Then we also went to all the ghats, did boat ride and also ate the famous chaat and kachauri. It was a memorable trip for me.”Meerut’s desi rootsDespite Mumbai’s pull, Ankit’s heart stays tied to his origins, shaping his grounded outlook. “While I may have shifted my base from Meerut, I still owe everything to that city.

I was born and brought up there. My schooling is from Meerut Public School and I did my college from Meerut College. Growing up in Meerut made me a very desi guy, who prefers to stay grounded, always. The best memory I have of Meerut is of kite flying which I miss a lot in Mumbai.

Woh chhatton pe taap taap ke patang udana aur lootna, uska mazaa hi kuch aur tha,” he says.

TV Innovation HuntTurning to his craft, Ankit voices frustrations and hopes in a TV landscape, craving innovation.

“On the professional front, I am looking for something really good, even on TV. On TV, the problem is that shows start on a very good note, but ultimately it becomes a typical daily soap. I was supposed to do a show on TV last year, but it got scrapped. I am looking for something in which I get to learn something new and challenges me as an actor.

As of now, on TV, makers are mostly relying on remakes. I am also auditioning for OTT but nothing has been finalized so far.

Being out of work for so long does take a toll on my mental health but now it doesn’t scare me. I am evolved as a person now, especially spiritually, which helps me realize that everything has its own timing,” shares Ankit. Organic Marriage MindsetAnkit and Priyanka Chahar Choudhary were supposed to be in a relationhip but the duo, who was seen in Udaariyaan and Bigg Boss 16 together, reportedly parted ways in 2025 after unfollowing each other on social media. Ask Ankit about his views post breakup and he says, “I have changed a lot since my last relationship, especially the way I think.

Earlier, I was not a marriage person. But now I am open to the idea of being married. I have realized that who am I to say no to something? If it has to happen, it will happen, and I want my marriage to happen organically.

But yes, I don’t see myself getting married because of family pressure or just because I have reached a certain age,” says Ankit.Money MattersIn this phase away from projects, Ankit has focused on learning to manage his finances better and be less of a spendthrift, and the experience has made him deeply aware of how important it is for actors to have a solid backup plan. "I am good at spending money rather than saving. I have been a spend thrift all my life. Somehow, I never had this habit of saving money for the future. But ab woh bhi seekhna pad raha hai. I have realized that if I want to be picky, I need to have a backup plan in terms of my finances.

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