'9-1-1' Star Teases Character Hopes Ahead of Season 9

Fans spent a little more time with Station 126's youngest firefighter, Ravi Panikkar (Anirudh Pisharody), in 9-1-1 Season 8. The character struck a friendship with Buck (Oliver Stark) after Eddie (Ryan Guzman) left, and going into Season 9, this relationship and other aspects of Ravi's life might be instrumental. Screen Rant caught up with Pisharody and discussed his hopes for the character when the show returns.

Viewers have shown great interest in having Ravi as a main character in the upcoming season, but no one knows how to make that happen, Pisharody included. "I think it's just the nature of a show like this. There are so many characters, there are so many storylines. If it's a right fit, it's a right fit," the actor said, previewing the biggest obstacle. "I'll petition [showrunner] Tim [Minear]. I'll send him a petition.org, a signature page to do it. I'm hoping it happens. I'm definitely hoping it happens. I love the show, I love the people, and it's a part of me in more ways than one."

Main characters on 9-1-1 get a special episode colloquially known as a "begins," which details critical moments in the character's journey that made them decide to become a first responder. "There are so many things" such an episode could explore with Ravi, Pisharody said. "There's obviously the cancer aspect, and that he was a very sickly child. There's the thing about him being a landlord. I really wanted to do a whole POV episode where it's just him waking up, but it's all filmed from his perspective, and he's just living in this massive mansion as he's strolling around, and he's got 15 rescue dogs and cats just roaming around," he added, teasing some that could be explored. He continued:

"Almost like this capitalist bohemian lifestyle, and then he puts on his uniform and he goes to work. There are so many angles. I think that's the beauty of it. Because it hasn't been so completely fleshed out, you can literally approach it from something totally brand new or whatever has already been written there."

Anirudh Pisharody Is Down for Whatever '9-1-1' Decides to Do with Ravi's Love Life

Viewers have only recently gotten a better glimpse into the character, but that hasn't stopped viewers from speculating about Ravi's love life. Pisharody has to comment on that. "That'd just get me in trouble," he said, adding, "Ravi's a romantic guy. I'm sure he's a ladies' man. I'd like to think he is. Yeah, no other comment on that. [Laughs] Whatever the writers want to do with that angle, I'm down." Whether viewers learn anything about the character is anyone's guess.

Tune in to ABC this Fall to learn what 9-1-1 decides to do with Ravi. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.