Pitt’s Noah Wyle and the show’s creator explain Supriya Ganesh’s exit
“The Pitt” star Noah Wyle and creator R. Scott Gemmill explain the surprise departure of Supriya Ganesh, who played senior resident Dr. Samira Mohan stars in the series after season 2
“It’s an inevitability that’s going to happen every season with this show, because as writers we have a hard time figuring out how much time we can have and realistically keeping most of the ensemble together,” Wyle told me during PaleyFest’s “The Pitt” screening and panel Sunday night in Los Angeles. “Emergency rooms have a high revolving door. As always, we try to bring in new characters or promote from within as we go through these cast changes and try to keep the storylines fresh, but obviously Supriya has been a big part of our show since the beginning.
“Dr. Mohan is a beloved character, and I love playing her and working with Supriya, and we wish her all the best in her next endeavors, and we will miss her,” he added.
It was initially announced that Ganesh would attend PaleyFest, but she posted on her social media on Saturday saying she was skipping the event. “Hello everyone, not sure why it hasn’t been removed from the site but I won’t be at PaleyFest this Sunday,” she wrote. “I know some of you have purchased tickets to see me and I hope you know this is not a decision I make lightly. I love you all.”
When VarietyJoe Otterson broke the news of Ganesh’s departure on April 2. A source said her departure was a story-driven decision. Since Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center is a teaching hospital, it is normal for residents to come in and out. Dr. Mohan also spent part of Season 2 trying to determine what the next phase of her career will be once her residency ends.
Gemmill said while walking the PaleyFest red carpet, “It’s kind of the nature of the show. Unfortunately, the way the medical profession works, you come in, you learn, you move on, and we want to try to be as honest as possible about that process. So we’re going to transition our cast. But I think it’s a great launching pad for people and that’s the best we can do.”
Shortly after the Season 1 premiere, Ganesh told me, “I never thought I’d break into something as artistically and creatively satisfying as ‘The Pitt.’ When it happened, it felt like everything in my life had been leading up to that moment, honestly. Even the week I auditioned and got a call back, I felt like something was watching over me. A bird pooped on me, which, if you ask an Indian, is good luck.”
At the same time it was confirmed that Ganesh was leaving the show, Variety also exclusively reported that Ayesha Harris, who played senior night shift resident Dr. Parker Ellis, was promoted to a series regular entering the third season.
Gemmill also told me that season 3 will begin filming in June and will take place in November to incorporate “colder weather” into the storylines.
