Carrie's Breakup With Aidan Has 'And Just Like That' Fans Asking: Where Is Mikhail Baryshnikov Now?

When And Just Like That dropped its latest episode this past week, viewers watched as Carrie Bradshaw broke things off, again, with longtime love Aidan Shaw. The emotional scene had fans reflecting not only on Carrie's romantic past, but on that other complicated relationship from the original Sex and the City: her whirlwind affair with Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, played by ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The breakup with Aidan reopened old wounds for loyal fans, and the internet lit up with a simple but curious question: Whatever happened to the man who played "The Russian"?

Misha's Still Here — Just Offstage

Now 77, Mikhail Baryshnikov remains an iconic figure in the world of dance and performing arts. While he's long retired from the stage, he's far from gone. In fact, he's thriving — just behind the curtain.

Baryshnikov is the founder and artistic director of the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025. The center has become a creative sanctuary for dancers, choreographers, musicians, and multidisciplinary artists from around the world. Every season, it hosts residencies and showcases that reflect Misha's lifelong mission: to support the next generation of creators.

Speaking to Barron's earlier this year, he said:
"We want to give artists the opportunity to fail, to explore. That's what this space is for."

From Petrovsky to Patron

While Carrie's Paris romance with Petrovsky ended with heartbreak (and a dramatic slap), Baryshnikov's real-life story continues to inspire. After defecting from the Soviet Union in 1974, he became one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time, later starring in films like White Nights and, of course, the final season of Sex and the City.

In 2025, Baryshnikov delivered the official International Dance Day message, reminding the world of the power of movement and creativity in uncertain times.

"Dance has the power to make the invisible visible," he wrote. "To give voice to the voiceless and move people beyond borders."

He also continues to speak out politically. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Baryshnikov has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin and a co-founder of the True Russia initiative, which raises funds for Ukrainian relief and supports cultural resistance.

A Presence in New York — Not Paris

So no, Baryshnikov isn't in Paris. He's in Manhattan — attending galas at Lincoln Center, supporting avant-garde theater, and mentoring young talent through his nonprofit. Just this spring, he was spotted at the Chaplin Award Gala honoring Pedro Almodóvar, looking sharp and still magnetic in his quiet, graceful way.

And while Petrovsky remains one of SATC's most divisive love interests (he did, after all, hit Carrie and leave her sobbing in a hotel suite), Baryshnikov's presence on the show was unforgettable — sophisticated, mysterious, and very, very European.

So... Could He Come Back?

Don't count on it. While HBO hasn't hinted at a return for Petrovsky in And Just Like That, fans still haven't forgotten his impact. On social media, users reminisced about "Carrie's Paris era," with one viral tweet reading:
"Aidan's out. Bring back Petrovsky just to wreak a little more havoc."

But Baryshnikov has moved on — and upward. He's not chasing Carrie down the Seine. He's building artistic bridges in Chelsea.