6 works of Undekhi’s Ankur Rathee that deserve your attention

Indian-American actor Ankur Rathee is best known for portraying Daman on SonyLIV’s crime thriller Undekhi. The young actor has left his mark in various films and digital series, slowly but surely becoming a favourite among OTT viewers. As Ankur gears up for the second season of Undekhi, we examine some of his best works.

Ankur plays the role of political figurehead Imran Qureshi in this 2019 thriller film chronicling the events leading up to the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the former Prime Minister of India. Ankur holds his own in a film with a powerful star cast with actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Mithun Chakraborty, and Vinay Pathak. He brings an unparalleled rawness and sinister energy to the role of Qureshi, a man attempting to cover up his role in the incident.

Ankur joined the cast of the Inside Edge in its third season. He essayed the role of Allen Menezes, an LGBTQ rights lawyer and activist in a relationship with a cricketer who is afraid to come out of the closet (Akshay Oberoi). His track depicts the highs and lows of closeted relationships, making for some of the show's most powerful moments.

Made in Heaven was one of Ankur’s first mainstream acting roles, setting a precedent for his subsequent success. He plays the role of Sam, a close friend of protagonist Karan, essayed by Arjun Mathur. Sam is a gay man who tries to encourage Karan to move to the United States and start a new life. Ankur’s role may be short, but he leaves a lasting impression.

Touted as the desi version of Sex and the City, Four More Shots Please revolves around four unapologetically flawed women from Mumbai. Ankur plays Arjun Nair, a young man in love with a divorced, slightly older woman Anjana Menon (essayed by the gorgeous Kirti Kulhari). The duo shares fantastic chemistry, but something seems to hold them back. Watch the show to find out exactly why Arjun and Anjana can’t be called the perfect pair.

The Taapsee Pannu starrer Thappad was one of the most hard-hitting movies of 2020. In the film, Ankur plays the role of Karan Sethi, the protagonist’s brother. He struggles to comprehend the reason behind his sister’s decision to divorce her husband over a petty squabble. Ankur extends a subtle, nuanced portrayal that deserves your attention.

Eternally confused and eager to love is an upcoming Netflix series, set to release on March 18. In the show, Ankur plays Varun, the best-friend-slash-love-guru to protagonist Ray. With his ill-informed dating advice and witty quips at Ray’s expense, he is practically the Salman Khan to Ray’s Govinda from the film Partner.