Netflix’s Class dropped like a bomb in early 2023. It wasn't just another teen drama. It was the Indian adaptation of the massive Spanish hit Elite, but honestly, it felt like something entirely different. The Class TV show cast didn't just play rich kids; they inhabited a version of New Delhi that felt claustrophobic, glittering, and deeply broken all at once. People expected a carbon copy of the original. They didn't get that. Instead, they got a group of relatively unknown actors who suddenly found themselves at the center of a global conversation about caste, class, and the crushing weight of expectation.
It's been a while since that first season shook up the streaming charts. Some of these actors have moved on to massive film projects, while others are still navigating the weird, fickle world of being "Netflix famous." If you're looking at the Class TV show cast and wondering why their faces look so familiar—or why some of them seem to have disappeared—you’re not alone. The trajectory of a breakout cast is never a straight line.
The Standout Performers Who Stole the Spotlight
Let's talk about Gurfateh Pirzada. Before he was Neeraj, he was already making waves in Guilty, but Class solidified him as a leading man who actually has range. He didn’t just play the "brooding rebel" trope. He brought a specific kind of desperation to Neeraj that made the character’s descent feel inevitable. It’s rare to see an actor balance that much physical presence with such obvious vulnerability. He's arguably the most recognizable face of the Class TV show cast right now.
Then you have Anjali Sivaraman. Her portrayal of Suhani was... haunting. There’s no other word for it. She had this ethereal, detached quality that made her the perfect centerpiece for a murder mystery. Sivaraman wasn't a newcomer to the camera—she’d done modeling and music videos—but this was her trial by fire. Most viewers didn't realize she was actually playing a character significantly younger than her real age, a testament to her ability to tap into that raw, teenage instability.
Aashim Gulati and the Complexity of the "Villain"
Aashim Gulati as Ranbir Kapur was a stroke of casting genius. He managed to make a character who is essentially a spoiled, manipulative elitist somehow sympathetic. Or, if not sympathetic, at least understandable. Gulati was already a veteran of television and smaller film roles before joining the Class TV show cast, and that experience showed. He navigated the shifts between Ranbir’s arrogance and his internal identity crisis with a subtlety that a less experienced actor might have missed.
Why the Casting Strategy Worked (and Where it Risked Failing)
Casting director Panchami Ghavri took a massive gamble here. Usually, for a high-budget Netflix India production, you’d expect at least one or two "nepotism babies" or established stars to anchor the marketing. They didn't do that. They went for fresh faces. This was crucial. If we had seen a famous Bollywood kid playing Dheeraj or Saba, the immersion would have shattered instantly.
The Class TV show cast had to represent the stark divide of Delhi life.
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- Piyush Khati as Dheeraj Kumar brought a grounded, gritty energy that felt real. He looked like someone who actually belonged in the shadows of the upscale Hampton International.
- Madhyama Sehgal as Saba Manzoor handled the intersectionality of her character—being a scholarship student and a Muslim girl in a high-pressure environment—without falling into "after-school special" clichés.
- Cwaayal Singh as Balli was the chaotic energy the show needed. He was the wild card.
The chemistry was palpable. It didn’t feel like actors hitting marks; it felt like a genuine social hierarchy being enacted. That’s the "secret sauce" of the Class TV show cast. They spent months in workshops before the cameras even rolled. This wasn't just about learning lines. It was about understanding the social dynamics of New Delhi, a city where where you live and what car you drive determines your entire identity.
Addressing the "Elite" Comparison
You can't talk about the Class TV show cast without acknowledging the Spanish shadows of Elite. In the original, the characters often felt like archetypes—The Hot Rebel, The Rich Princess, The Outsider. Ashim Ahluwalia, the showrunner for the Indian version, pushed his actors to find "the Indian grime."
Take Zeyn Shaw’s Veer Ahuja. In the Spanish version, his counterpart is somewhat one-dimensional. In Class, Shaw portrays Veer with a specific kind of "Old Money" anxiety that is very specific to the Indian upper class. It’s the fear of losing face, the fear of the family name being dragged through the mud. Shaw’s performance highlighted how the Class TV show cast had to adapt European tropes to fit a South Asian context. It wasn't just a translation of language; it was a translation of trauma.
Where Are They Now? The Post-Class Career Path
The "Netflix Effect" is a double-edged sword. You get millions of Instagram followers overnight, but then what?
Gurfateh Pirzada has been the most active, moving into larger cinematic spaces. Aashim Gulati has continued to find success in the digital space, often playing roles that lean into his "charming but dangerous" persona. For some of the younger actors, like Naina Bhan (who played Koel), the focus has been on fashion and brand partnerships while waiting for the right follow-up project.
The reality of the Class TV show cast is that they are now part of a global talent pool. Because Class was dubbed into dozens of languages, these actors are recognized in Brazil, France, and the US just as much as they are in Mumbai. This opens doors that weren't open to Indian TV actors even five years ago. However, the pressure to replicate that breakout success is immense.
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The Impact of Social Media on the Cast's Image
If you follow the Class TV show cast on social media, you see a very different vibe than their characters. They are, by all accounts, a tight-knit group. They post behind-the-scenes photos that soften the blow of the show's dark themes. This "para-social" relationship fans have with the cast is what kept the show trending months after its release. It wasn't just the plot; it was the people.
The Technicality of the Performance
One thing people overlook when discussing the Class TV show cast is the language. The show uses a specific blend of Hindi and English—"Hinglish"—that is common in Delhi’s elite circles. Getting that "South Delhi accent" right without making it a caricature is actually incredibly difficult.
If the accent is too thick, it’s a parody. If it’s too thin, it’s not believable. The cast had to nail that specific cadence. Chintan Rachchh, who played Faruq, had one of the most difficult roles in this regard. His character navigated multiple worlds—the streets, the drug scene, and his secret relationship with a wealthy student. His performance was quiet, focused on micro-expressions rather than grand gestures. It’s the kind of acting that doesn't get enough credit because it looks easy. It isn't.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cast
There’s a common misconception that the Class TV show cast are all "rich kids" in real life who were just playing themselves. That’s simply not true. While some come from comfortable backgrounds, others fought through years of auditions and minor roles in commercials to get here.
Piyush Khati, for example, had a very different journey than some of his co-stars. His portrayal of the struggle to fit into a world that actively rejects you wasn't just "good acting"—it came from a place of understanding the industry's own hierarchies. When we talk about the Class TV show cast, we have to acknowledge that they are a microcosm of the industry itself: a mix of privilege, raw talent, and sheer persistence.
The Future of Class Season 2
Netflix confirmed a second season, which means the Class TV show cast will be returning to the pressure cooker. But as anyone who has seen Elite knows, the cast usually rotates. Some characters leave (often in body bags), and new ones arrive. This creates a fascinating tension for the actors. They know their time in this specific spotlight might be limited.
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The return of the Class TV show cast will likely see a shift in power dynamics. Now that the "mystery" of the first season is solved, the actors will have to dig deeper into the consequences of their characters' actions. For an actor, that’s the real meat of a role. It’s not the "who-dunnit" that matters; it’s the "what-now."
Why This Cast Still Matters in 2026
Even as new shows come and go, the Class TV show cast remains a benchmark for how to do a "reimagining" correctly. They didn't just imitate; they inhabited. They took a script that could have been a superficial teen romp and turned it into a stinging critique of modern Indian society.
If you’re a fan or a student of acting, there are specific things to watch for in their performances:
- Physicality: Watch how the scholarship kids (Dheeraj, Saba, Balli) take up space compared to the wealthy kids. They are often more closed off, their shoulders tighter.
- The Eyes: In a show with so much neon and fast editing, look at Anjali Sivaraman’s eyes in her quietest moments. There is a "deadness" there that perfectly captures Suhani's depression.
- The Silence: Some of the best moments from the Class TV show cast happen when no one is talking. The looks shared between Faruq and Dhruv convey more than any of the show's explicit dialogue.
The legacy of the Class TV show cast isn't just about a hit show. It's about a shift in the Indian streaming landscape. It proved that you don't need a Bollywood superstar to carry a series if the ensemble is strong enough and the casting is brave enough to prioritize "vibe" over "fame."
Next Steps for Fans and Creators:
To truly appreciate the craft behind the Class TV show cast, compare their performances in Class to their other work.
- Watch Gurfateh Pirzada in Guilty to see his evolution toward a more nuanced, internal style of acting.
- Follow the cinematography of Ashim Ahluwalia to understand how the lighting choices informed the actors' performances.
- Research the work of casting director Panchami Ghavri to see how she identifies "raw" talent that fits specific social archetypes.
Understanding these layers makes the viewing experience far more rewarding than just treating it as a "teen drama." The actors didn't just show up; they built a world.