In a prime podcast with senior most journalist Bharathi S Pradhan for Lehren Retro, versatile star Pratik Gandhi discusses the unprecedented success of his web show Scam 1992. The remarkable individual talks about how he went from being an engineer to becoming a great actor and participating in popular plays. He also offers some unique stories from his and his wife Bhamini Oza's love story. In addition to discussing his other successful projects like Agni, Madgaon Express, and Dhoom Dham, Pratik talks about his immense excitement about playing the role of Father of the Nation (India) in director Hansal Mehta's next series, Gandhi. Catch the full episode with Lehren to get all the in depth details about this tremendous & talented artist's personal & professional life. #pratikgandhi #pratikgandhiinterview #pratikgandhipodcast #scam1992 #mazgaonexpress
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00:00:00There were some scenes in it, like the cocaine scene, etc.
00:00:06It's very difficult to do, but you did it so fantastically.
00:00:10Did you find it difficult to do?
00:00:13Another hypothetical question is that OTT has been very big in your life.
00:00:19If it wasn't for OTT, where would Pratik Gandhi be?
00:00:22If it wasn't for OTT, maybe something would have happened in 2024 instead of 2020.
00:00:28Or it would have happened in 2020, but in a different way.
00:00:31Because it's fate.
00:00:33Yes, I don't know about that.
00:00:35What's this brain tumor you mentioned?
00:00:37So, Bhamini got this schwannoma tumor.
00:00:39Suddenly, it just happened to her.
00:00:41When?
00:00:42Out of nowhere.
00:00:43When?
00:00:442010.
00:00:52Namaste, how are you Pratik bhai?
00:00:56I'm very happy and having a lot of fun.
00:00:59Very good.
00:01:00Yeah, you have to be on top of the world.
00:01:02You're doing so well.
00:01:03Thank you, thank you ma'am.
00:01:05You know, there was a scam in 2020.
00:01:08Before that, we hadn't even heard of Pratik Gandhi.
00:01:11We were from Bombay.
00:01:12So, I'm sure you're very popular in Gujarat, in Gujarati theatre.
00:01:17But we hadn't heard much about you in Bombay.
00:01:21So, before 2020, who was Pratik Gandhi?
00:01:26Before 2020, I was an engineer.
00:01:31I was also a theatre actor.
00:01:34And before that, I had done 5-6, 7 films in Gujarati.
00:01:41I came to Mumbai in 2004 from Surat.
00:01:45Surat is my hometown.
00:01:47And the theatre scene in Surat is very good.
00:01:50Vibrant.
00:01:51Very vibrant.
00:01:52Every year, there is a Triyanki dance competition.
00:01:56Which is done by the Municipal Corporation.
00:02:00And this year, I guess they have completed almost 50 years of that competition.
00:02:05So, I used to participate in all these plays, competitions and all.
00:02:12So, for years, while doing theatre, I did engineering with equal passion.
00:02:18And I thought that I would get to work in both fields at the same time.
00:02:22So, I came to Mumbai in 2004.
00:02:24So, before 2020, I was in Mumbai for almost 16 years.
00:02:30I used to do theatre here. Hindi, Gujarati.
00:02:32I did a lot of English theatre.
00:02:34I did 2 Gujarati films.
00:02:36Till 2016.
00:02:38I did all this with a job.
00:02:40In Reliance?
00:02:41I was in Reliance Infrastructure from 2008 to 2016.
00:02:44I spoke to some people who have worked with you.
00:02:48They told me that you have been successful as an actor.
00:02:55You are hardworking, talented, all of it.
00:03:01But I have also heard that you are one of the most humble human beings they have ever met.
00:03:08Whoever you have spoken to, they must be very good people.
00:03:13Who are using such good words for someone.
00:03:17But I don't know if this is good or bad.
00:03:22But maybe this is what upbringing is.
00:03:24And the life we have seen, the way I have seen things,
00:03:29I feel that this is the most normal way to talk to people.
00:03:35And it should be the most common thing.
00:03:38Towards any other person.
00:03:41A normal behavior should be what I like and someone should do it with me.
00:03:47I am like that.
00:03:49I don't even know what people think is different.
00:03:53But yes, I feel that whatever this upbringing is,
00:03:57I am very proud of it.
00:03:59Because it is difficult.
00:04:01The kind of success you saw with SCAM.
00:04:04I think it is difficult.
00:04:06You have got so many awards.
00:04:08After that you have got so many offers.
00:04:10So it is difficult for you to stay grounded.
00:04:13I don't know if it is difficult or not.
00:04:15I feel that the time when all this came in my life.
00:04:19So I was 40 years when SCAM happened.
00:04:26So in 2020, at the age of 40, I saw such a success.
00:04:32So the life I have seen before that,
00:04:35maybe it has prepared my mind in such a way that nothing is permanent.
00:04:40So whatever is coming, I have to see it in such a way that I am also an observer.
00:04:47And as an actor, maybe this helps a lot.
00:04:51Because whenever I perform, I have to observe myself constantly.
00:04:54So being an observer is the quality that I guess I have inculcated all this while.
00:04:59And that helps me sail through these situations.
00:05:03I love this phase of my life.
00:05:05I love this success.
00:05:06I have longed for it.
00:05:08I have waited for it for the longest time.
00:05:10And now when it is here, I want to cherish it.
00:05:13But at the same time, I don't want to take burden of this.
00:05:17Get carried away by it.
00:05:19And I don't want to get carried away.
00:05:21So I have reached here because of what I was.
00:05:24So let's continue this journey.
00:05:26Why to change a winning combination?
00:05:28Correct, correct.
00:05:30I have also heard that you had a very real struggle here.
00:05:36So no one has heard much about your struggle period.
00:05:41Because I have also heard that you were in Goregaon or somewhere
00:05:45where you used to live with 6-7 people.
00:05:49And I have also heard that you used to have tea dates.
00:05:59Not in Goregaon but in Parla East.
00:06:01In Parla East, there was a one-room kitchen converted to one BHK house.
00:06:04In Parleshwar society, which is the oldest society of Parla East.
00:06:08Which is on both sides of the road.
00:06:10So I have lived there for a long time.
00:06:12By the way, I have changed 5-7 houses in Parla.
00:06:14Between 2004 and 2014.
00:06:16This was a house where I have lived for 6 years.
00:06:19And this house was after my marriage in 2008.
00:06:23So when my parents, my younger brother, Bhamini, we were all together.
00:06:285-6 people.
00:06:30And the same one-room kitchen converted to one BHK.
00:06:34I guess the best phase of my life.
00:06:36A lot of things were happening around me.
00:06:38And I was constantly trying to achieve my passion also.
00:06:43And I was enjoying my corporate job also.
00:06:46So I got to do so many things together.
00:06:50That happens with very few people.
00:06:54I have never used this word struggle for myself.
00:06:57We have never heard you use it.
00:06:58Because I hate that word.
00:07:00In the sense, it's a very very negative word.
00:07:02As soon as I tell myself that I have struggled, I start feeling pity for myself.
00:07:07I hate this self-pity phase.
00:07:10Absolutely.
00:07:11Because I am not doing anything big alone.
00:07:13There are a lot of people who are working more than me.
00:07:16They are just looking for an opportunity.
00:07:19Whether it is in the field of art or any other field.
00:07:21And I have seen such people.
00:07:23I still see them.
00:07:25So I was enjoying that I was working in the field of my choice.
00:07:30Engineering and acting also.
00:07:32And this happens with very few people.
00:07:35For this you have to be extremely lucky.
00:07:37That you are able to do what you like.
00:07:40You get fame from it.
00:07:42You get some money from it.
00:07:44And you get to learn something every day.
00:07:46There was a time when I used to go for rehearsal at 5.30 in the morning.
00:07:49After 2 hours of rehearsal.
00:07:51I used to travel from Borivali to Vashi.
00:07:55For my office.
00:07:57I used to come back from office at night.
00:07:58Either rehearsing or doing a show.
00:08:00And I did this for 6-8 years.
00:08:03But it must be very satisfying.
00:08:05Very satisfying.
00:08:07For years people used to say.
00:08:09If you ride on two horses, you will fall.
00:08:38When I resigned in September 2016.
00:08:41I was GM.
00:08:43And the kind of projects that I did there.
00:08:47Was so satisfying.
00:08:49So you are a good actor as well as a good engineer.
00:08:53I don't know about good or bad.
00:08:56But I used to enjoy it a lot.
00:08:58Productivity improvement, manpower design, quality journey.
00:09:01Six Sigma, 5S, Lean Sigma.
00:09:03These are all subjects of my passion.
00:09:05I still enjoy it a lot.
00:09:07Innovation and all.
00:09:09That actually helped me a lot.
00:09:11Thinking logically.
00:09:13Understanding people, communicating.
00:09:15So I guess yes that helped me.
00:09:17Precision thinking.
00:09:19Logical thinking.
00:09:21Which I guess must be happening with all the engineers.
00:09:23Because once an engineer, always an engineer.
00:09:25That's true.
00:09:27It also helped me become a part of the solution always.
00:09:31That whenever any situation comes.
00:09:33Your brain constantly tells you to be a part of the solution.
00:09:37That there is a solution to this.
00:09:39And when we shoot on set.
00:09:41There are constant challenges.
00:09:43This happened, that happened.
00:09:45So somewhere I guess it helped me build my personality in such a way.
00:09:49In any situation.
00:09:51No one gets angry.
00:09:53Your attention goes there.
00:09:55How did this happen? How to fix this?
00:09:57So who did it, that question doesn't come.
00:09:59How it happened, that question comes.
00:10:01How to fix it?
00:10:03Because the moment you ask how it happened.
00:10:05You think about process.
00:10:07But the moment you ask who did it.
00:10:09You start into blaming.
00:10:11So these are all small things.
00:10:13But that engineer in me helps me.
00:10:15Navigate these things.
00:10:17Can you give me an example?
00:10:19There are lot of times what happens is.
00:10:21Especially during the shoot time.
00:10:23There is a lot of communication.
00:10:25From the direction team to the production team.
00:10:27From the production team to us.
00:10:29There are so many losses.
00:10:31In communication.
00:10:35And this is such a communication.
00:10:37There can be a lot of blame in this.
00:10:39And everyone is right.
00:10:41Because there is miscommunication.
00:10:43Everyone thinks this was this.
00:10:45You will never win any argument.
00:10:47Nobody will win the argument.
00:10:49So to get it out of your way.
00:10:51And just focus on the process.
00:10:53That keeps you calm.
00:10:55That keeps your focus on actual work.
00:10:57It is very basic.
00:10:59But I am sure everybody faces it every day.
00:11:01Don't you ever get angry?
00:11:03Anger?
00:11:05I don't know.
00:11:07The people around me who live with me.
00:11:09They will be able to see a better answer.
00:11:11I will say that I get very little anger.
00:11:17Hansal Mehta.
00:11:19In 2020.
00:11:21You came out with Scam.
00:11:23You must have started working for it earlier.
00:11:25And now in 2025.
00:11:27You are working with Gandhi.
00:11:29What is the difference in 5 years?
00:11:31Between Gandhi and you?
00:11:37I don't know.
00:11:39The biggest change in my life.
00:11:41Some materialistic changes.
00:11:43Like I bought a house.
00:11:45I got what I wanted.
00:11:47I got a new car.
00:11:49All that has changed.
00:11:51In the thought process.
00:11:53I don't think there is a big change in me.
00:11:57But there are a lot of changes around me.
00:11:59The people I wanted to reach.
00:12:01The people I wanted to work with.
00:12:03A lot of people.
00:12:05They have scripts now.
00:12:07I always wanted.
00:12:09To be in the mind of the writer and director.
00:12:11As a first choice.
00:12:13So that has started happening.
00:12:15That is a big achievement for me.
00:12:17Because in my theatre.
00:12:19We used to be second or third choice.
00:12:21When this actor will not be there.
00:12:23When that actor will not be there.
00:12:25We used to ask him.
00:12:27Since then.
00:12:29My name should be in his mind.
00:12:31So that journey.
00:12:33Has been fulfilling.
00:12:35That is a big achievement.
00:12:37That is a big difference.
00:12:39When someone comes and says.
00:12:41We wrote this script thinking of you.
00:12:43Who told you recently?
00:12:45A lot of people told me.
00:12:47When I was approached for Gandhi.
00:12:49When Samir Naik told me.
00:12:51He told me.
00:12:53We want to do Gandhi with you.
00:12:55Who gets to do such a character.
00:12:59Similarly for Madgaon.
00:13:01When I did Madgaon Express.
00:13:03Kunal also told me.
00:13:05Ever since I have written this character.
00:13:07I was thinking about you.
00:13:09When you get something like this.
00:13:11It overwhelms me.
00:13:13That is true.
00:13:15As an actor.
00:13:17People can think about you.
00:13:19In different characters.
00:13:21Different genres.
00:13:23Tell me about your tea dates.
00:13:25That was the first date.
00:13:27With my Bhamini.
00:13:29After chasing her for almost 2 years.
00:13:31You chased her.
00:13:33For 2 years.
00:13:35Just for one coffee.
00:13:37I did not know.
00:13:39How to ask someone for tea.
00:13:41We used to ask our friends.
00:13:43If we want to ask a girl.
00:13:45If she wants to have coffee with me.
00:13:47I asked her.
00:13:49She said yes.
00:13:51Then we met.
00:13:53At Andheri SV Road.
00:13:55In front of Lallu Bhai Park.
00:13:57We went there.
00:13:59We got to know.
00:14:01She does not like coffee.
00:14:03And I like it too.
00:14:05We did not know which coffee to order.
00:14:07We used to have small phones.
00:14:09I messaged my brother.
00:14:11What should I order?
00:14:13You just order a cappuccino.
00:14:15And 4 sugar sachets.
00:14:17Otherwise you will not be able to drink.
00:14:19You will find it bitter.
00:14:21We ordered a cappuccino.
00:14:234 sugar sachets.
00:14:25We drank half of it.
00:14:27When I paid the bill.
00:14:29I thought I can drink 5-6 cups of tea.
00:14:33So you have come a long way from there.
00:14:37But that coffee date turned out to be.
00:14:39Date forever.
00:14:41Absolutely.
00:14:43That was a scam of your personal life.
00:14:45Absolutely.
00:14:51I have heard that.
00:14:53You are very fond of.
00:14:55Working with certain people.
00:14:57After the scam.
00:14:59Many people came to you.
00:15:01I have heard that.
00:15:03The great Indian murder.
00:15:05When that came to you.
00:15:07You did not even listen to the role.
00:15:09You just wanted to.
00:15:11Work with Digvanshu.
00:15:13I have seen many films of Digvanshu.
00:15:15Last I saw.
00:15:17Before this offer.
00:15:19I saw Pan Singh Tomar.
00:15:21The way he creates the world.
00:15:23He brings the heartland stories.
00:15:25I always thought.
00:15:27If I get to do something like this.
00:15:29It will be fun.
00:15:31When I met Digvanshu.
00:15:33He told me.
00:15:35You have done a scam.
00:15:37I said.
00:15:39Whatever you say.
00:15:41This great Indian murder.
00:15:43We are making a book.
00:15:47Your character is a fictional character.
00:15:49It is not in the book.
00:15:51But I have written it.
00:15:53Let's see.
00:15:55See what you think.
00:15:57I said. Let's do it.
00:15:59I just wanted to work with him.
00:16:01I just wanted to work with him.
00:16:03We did that.
00:16:05I did another film with him.
00:16:07This year.
00:16:09I did a screening in Mami.
00:16:11You are happy now.
00:16:13I am very happy.
00:16:15Kunal Khemu is a new director.
00:16:17Why did you do that?
00:16:19Is it because of the banner?
00:16:21Axel is a big banner.
00:16:23Axel is a big banner.
00:16:25It was my first ever project with Axel.
00:16:27The way Kunal narrated the story.
00:16:31He performed a monologue of 2 hours.
00:16:33He performed almost all the characters.
00:16:35To hear such a clear narration.
00:16:37It was a big treat in itself.
00:16:41When you get narration from the director.
00:16:43The kind of words that they use.
00:16:45Which are not written.
00:16:47The way they explain.
00:16:49Tells you a lot about the clarity.
00:16:51And the vision.
00:16:53Because ultimately.
00:16:55I have to understand the vision in their mind.
00:16:57And perform accordingly.
00:16:59In a film.
00:17:01I don't have a script.
00:17:03I only have my character.
00:17:05How they are going to do other things.
00:17:07When you listen to the narration.
00:17:09This is the sensibility.
00:17:11Apart from that Kunal.
00:17:13I have always admired him as an actor.
00:17:15And his comic time.
00:17:17Impeccable comic time.
00:17:19Golmaal and all.
00:17:21He has impeccable comic time.
00:17:23The small nuances that are required in comedy.
00:17:25Just before that.
00:17:27I saw the loot case of Kunal.
00:17:29It was a decent performance.
00:17:33Though he was going to direct it for the first time.
00:17:35But the way he was clear about the script.
00:17:37Then I came to know.
00:17:39That he was writing this script for the last 5-6 years.
00:17:45Just my gut feel said that this is it.
00:17:47If at all you want to experiment with comedy.
00:17:49This should be the script.
00:17:51And the team.
00:17:55There were some scenes.
00:17:57It is very difficult to do.
00:17:59But you did it so fantastically.
00:18:03Did you find it difficult to do?
00:18:05I have done a lot of physical humour.
00:18:07On stage.
00:18:09But never on screen.
00:18:11Not even in Gujarati films.
00:18:15The only thing about screen comedy is.
00:18:19It is a very tricky space anyways.
00:18:21It is very easy to get lost in it.
00:18:23And when we shoot.
00:18:25When people start laughing on the floor.
00:18:27It becomes a more tricky situation.
00:18:29Because people are laughing.
00:18:31Laughter is such a thing.
00:18:33As the laughter increases.
00:18:35So does your energy.
00:18:37Then you want to play to the gallery.
00:18:39One more.
00:18:41So I always thought.
00:18:43Less is more in comedy.
00:18:45One should know when to stop exactly.
00:18:47And the landing point of a joke is very simple.
00:18:49There is only one point.
00:18:51It can land at only one point.
00:18:53Kunal wrote it.
00:18:55It was absolutely correct.
00:18:57Because he is an actor.
00:18:59He writes and speaks.
00:19:01So his meter was correct.
00:19:03The sound was perfect.
00:19:05I thought the point of physical humour.
00:19:07Was very tricky.
00:19:09It is a slippery ground.
00:19:11So we will handle it carefully.
00:19:13And the cocaine scene.
00:19:15Cocaine is such a drug.
00:19:17How it reacts in the human body.
00:19:19I have read a lot about it.
00:19:21How it goes.
00:19:23How people react.
00:19:25I have just tried a couple of things.
00:19:27That one particular thing.
00:19:29When he becomes a lion.
00:19:31And after that.
00:19:33He becomes a lion.
00:19:35He starts roaring.
00:19:37He becomes tight.
00:19:39I have seen all those things.
00:19:41And then we created that character.
00:19:43When we shot on the shoot.
00:19:45Everyone was laughing on the floor.
00:19:47After a couple of takes.
00:19:49I told them to wait.
00:19:51Because there.
00:19:53The context is ready.
00:19:55If you are watching it live.
00:19:57It is easy for them to laugh.
00:19:59But when you watch it on screen.
00:20:01The context changes.
00:20:03When we were shooting.
00:20:05First two takes.
00:20:07People were laughing.
00:20:09In fact we also laughed.
00:20:11While doing it.
00:20:13Then I said.
00:20:15Let's take a break for five minutes.
00:20:17Then do it again.
00:20:19Because the context is ready.
00:20:21You can laugh watching it live.
00:20:23But on screen.
00:20:25Things will change.
00:20:27And after the first scene.
00:20:29The director was very clear.
00:20:31What he wanted.
00:20:33But as an actor.
00:20:35I wanted to keep myself under check.
00:20:37That it should not be too much.
00:20:39Because in such a character.
00:20:41If you do too much.
00:20:43I wanted to do it.
00:21:03Less is more.
00:21:05And the theatre experience is different.
00:21:07Because there.
00:21:09You get an instant audience reaction.
00:21:13I can equalize myself.
00:21:15What I have to convey.
00:21:17In theatre.
00:21:19The live medium.
00:21:21Performing style changes.
00:21:23You get instant reaction.
00:21:25In fact it happens a lot on stage.
00:21:27When you get an audience response.
00:21:29Especially in comedy.
00:21:31People spread.
00:21:33Then you go out of the character.
00:21:35Two jokes. One line. One punch line.
00:21:37You want to do it.
00:21:39You want to cater to the audience.
00:21:41Unless you practice.
00:21:43To hold yourself back.
00:21:45You don't.
00:21:47I believe you were very excited.
00:21:49To work with Vidya Balan.
00:21:51That's why you said.
00:21:53I will do Do Or Do Pyar.
00:21:55Vidya Balan was a phenomenal actor.
00:21:57Have you seen her films?
00:21:59I have seen a lot of her films.
00:22:01Which one?
00:22:03Before she came.
00:22:05I had not seen Sherni.
00:22:07I had not seen Sherni.
00:22:09The script was beautiful.
00:22:11Do Or Do Pyar.
00:22:13I really liked the script.
00:22:15Coming of age.
00:22:17New age relationships.
00:22:19The problems that a lot of people are facing.
00:22:21In this relationship these days.
00:22:23It was a new world.
00:22:25Sheer Shah was a first time.
00:22:27Film director.
00:22:29Before that she has done a lot of ads.
00:22:31Ad films.
00:22:33She has done amazing ads.
00:22:35She was absolutely clear.
00:22:37How she wanted this film to look.
00:22:39She wanted to show.
00:22:41These emotions.
00:22:43Anirudh Banerjee's character.
00:22:45Was a layered character.
00:22:47In the first narration.
00:22:49He is going through a lot of things.
00:22:51He is a common guy.
00:22:53Who doesn't want to be uncommon.
00:22:55Who doesn't want to be a hero.
00:22:57That is the heroism.
00:22:59That he carries.
00:23:01Being a common guy.
00:23:03He is an absorber.
00:23:05He absorbs things around him.
00:23:07Circumstances around him.
00:23:09He adjusts.
00:23:11He just adjusts.
00:23:13There is a beautiful line also in the dialogue.
00:23:15I haven't done anything.
00:23:17I just adjust.
00:23:19That is such a powerful thing.
00:23:23For an actor to create a character like this.
00:23:25I really enjoyed it.
00:23:27I didn't have any reason to say no.
00:23:29I really enjoyed it.
00:23:31First of all.
00:23:33I thought of such a character.
00:23:37That too with Vidyabal.
00:23:39Romantic comedy.
00:23:41That too with Vidyabal.
00:23:43The pairing.
00:23:45Somebody thought about it.
00:23:47Which is great for me.
00:23:49To experiment and explore.
00:23:51When you get to work with an actor like Vidyabal.
00:23:53It is a pleasure to sleep.
00:23:55Vidya is such a fantastic co-star.
00:23:57To be with.
00:23:59She is a gem of a person.
00:24:01She makes things so comfortable.
00:24:03For everybody on set.
00:24:05I heard you had a problem with the kissing scene.
00:24:07And she made you comfortable.
00:24:09She was very inhibited.
00:24:11You also told the director.
00:24:13Is it necessary to do it?
00:24:15There are many ways to show one thing.
00:24:17You tell me.
00:24:19I can give you different options.
00:24:21If I can communicate through my eyes.
00:24:23Then you see it.
00:24:25She was clear what she wanted.
00:24:27You had never done such a scene before.
00:24:29I have never done any kissing scene before.
00:24:31But the way Vidya manoeuvred the whole thing.
00:24:33The way she performed.
00:24:35The way she made things so clear.
00:24:37That's right.
00:24:39So easy.
00:24:41As a senior actor.
00:24:43For me.
00:24:45It was only her who could make it.
00:24:47Or break it for me.
00:24:49I heard that.
00:24:51Very inhibited on the sets.
00:24:53It was Vidya who went out of her way.
00:24:55To come and help you do that.
00:24:57She is very jovial.
00:24:59And she made things absolutely light.
00:25:01We did that scene while laughing.
00:25:05But that is Vidya.
00:25:07I also noticed that.
00:25:09Madgaon Express and Agni.
00:25:11You have a co-star.
00:25:13Divendu.
00:25:15He is a very good actor.
00:25:17And both of you look good on screen.
00:25:19On screen and off screen.
00:25:21First Madgaon was offered.
00:25:23Then Agni.
00:25:25Then Agni.
00:25:27But Agni was shot first.
00:25:29And Madgaon was released first.
00:25:31So Divendu and I.
00:25:33When we met personally.
00:25:35It was on the sets of Agni.
00:25:37And our first scene.
00:25:39I was taunting him.
00:25:41We were not even looking at each other.
00:25:43That was the first day.
00:25:45The scene where the colleague dies.
00:25:47At his funeral.
00:25:49I used to tell him.
00:25:51Tell him.
00:25:53That our image should not be spoiled.
00:25:55So without looking at each other.
00:25:57We were supposed to perform this scene.
00:25:59But I think there are some people.
00:26:01You just click with them.
00:26:03It's a natural bond.
00:26:05I think you have it with him.
00:26:07We both clicked just that way.
00:26:09It helped creating this chemistry.
00:26:11In Agni.
00:26:13Which is fiery chemistry.
00:26:15There is a little enmity.
00:26:17There is a little undercurrent.
00:26:19We are taunting each other.
00:26:21And then the other way.
00:26:23Madgaon is absolutely a different world.
00:26:25Total camaraderie.
00:26:27But it's a blessing.
00:26:29To have that kind of friendship.
00:26:31Off screen also with co-actors.
00:26:33Do you have a friendship with them?
00:26:35Yes.
00:26:37Okay.
00:26:39Which works wonders.
00:26:41That's interesting.
00:26:43I thought it was just on screen.
00:26:45No.
00:26:47During the film itself.
00:26:49We were able to spend more time with each other.
00:26:51And we became friends.
00:26:53We can just casually call each other.
00:26:55We can meet each other.
00:26:57Apart from film also.
00:26:59There are different interest areas.
00:27:01That we can talk about.
00:27:03Excellent.
00:27:05Coming to Gandhi.
00:27:07What is it like working with Bhamani?
00:27:09Is it an overdose?
00:27:11That you both are working together.
00:27:13At home also.
00:27:15Isn't it an overdose?
00:27:17It wasn't an overdose.
00:27:19It was an old dream of ours.
00:27:21That we will get to work together.
00:27:23On screen.
00:27:25We have worked a lot on stage.
00:27:27We have directed each other.
00:27:29We have worked with each other.
00:27:31In theatre.
00:27:33We have explored all the power equations.
00:27:35With each other.
00:27:37But this was our first ever screen.
00:27:39Work together.
00:27:41So we both were looking forward for it.
00:27:43When will we get this chance.
00:27:45Had you auditioned for it?
00:27:47Not me.
00:27:49Bhamani had auditioned for it 5 times.
00:27:51You didn't have to do it.
00:27:53Sameer had already asked you.
00:27:55I do a monologue on Gandhi.
00:27:57I have been doing it for the last 8-10 years.
00:27:59So yes.
00:28:01I don't know if it was useful for the audition.
00:28:03But yes.
00:28:05I hadn't auditioned for it.
00:28:07It was Bhamani's audition.
00:28:094-5 auditions.
00:28:11And you all were happy when you cast together.
00:28:13When I came to know
00:28:15that she is going to play Kastur.
00:28:17I was very happy.
00:28:19So now that you have started
00:28:21working together.
00:28:23You are not getting overdosed.
00:28:25No.
00:28:27I have never got overdosed.
00:28:29I have such a comfort with Bhamani.
00:28:31We can talk to each other about
00:28:33how to explore the scene.
00:28:37It helps.
00:28:39Because we both know each other.
00:28:41She can also tell me.
00:28:43So it is good
00:28:45that my biggest critic
00:28:47is doing the scene with me.
00:28:49So you all go home and discuss.
00:28:51Yes.
00:28:53We have a lot of topics.
00:28:55To discuss.
00:28:57To fight.
00:28:59To fight.
00:29:01Yes.
00:29:03I am sure.
00:29:05I wanted to ask you a very hypothetical question.
00:29:07Actually 2 hypothetical questions.
00:29:09One is
00:29:11if
00:29:13both of you are actors.
00:29:15If Bhamani
00:29:17had got a break like a scam
00:29:19earlier.
00:29:21And she would have become very famous.
00:29:23And you would be known as
00:29:25Bhamani's husband.
00:29:27Would it have been a good situation?
00:29:29I don't think
00:29:31it would have been a good situation.
00:29:33Because people knew me before I got a scam.
00:29:35A lot of people.
00:29:37Bhamani is a big name
00:29:39in theatre.
00:29:41She has done a lot of plays.
00:29:43She has done a lot of plays.
00:29:45She has done 500 shows.
00:29:47She has been doing theatre
00:29:49before me.
00:29:51When I saw her
00:29:53for the first time
00:29:55there was a play called
00:29:57Bapu Tame Kamal Kari.
00:29:59Dilip Joshi, Sumit Raghavan,
00:30:01Amit Mistry and Bhamani.
00:30:03And I am talking about
00:30:052005.
00:30:07She has been doing plays and theatre
00:30:09before that.
00:30:11So you don't think
00:30:13it would have been a good situation?
00:30:15I don't think it would have been a good situation.
00:30:17Do you know why I asked this?
00:30:19Many years ago,
00:30:21since 1982,
00:30:23when Gandhi came,
00:30:25Rohini Hatangadi, she got that big break.
00:30:27And her husband
00:30:29was also an actor.
00:30:31Both of them worked together.
00:30:33And he became famous.
00:30:35And he became known as Rahul Rohini's husband.
00:30:37So people used to ask him
00:30:39how do you handle it?
00:30:41And one day
00:30:43he told me
00:30:45why are people asking this?
00:30:47Because if it was the other way around,
00:30:49they wouldn't have asked.
00:30:51So now Rohini got a big break.
00:30:53So why do they ask me this question?
00:30:55But it is a very interesting thing.
00:30:57The social fabric is such.
00:30:59Where it is still considered that.
00:31:01In fact, we used to have fun
00:31:03talking about it.
00:31:05When I used to work,
00:31:07she used to do television also.
00:31:09So just before she got diagnosed
00:31:11with a brain tumor,
00:31:13she got one of the biggest
00:31:15TV series of Star Plus.
00:31:17She was about to do a lead.
00:31:19My job was going on.
00:31:21We used to talk like this.
00:31:23If it clicks,
00:31:25if you become big and if it clicks,
00:31:27she said that you leave your job.
00:31:29And then you get into this full time.
00:31:31So you have that leeway to select
00:31:33projects.
00:31:35So we used to think that
00:31:37when someone clicks,
00:31:39he will think of taking another risk.
00:31:41So it was always a team work for us.
00:31:43So you don't think
00:31:45you would ever have had a problem?
00:31:47I don't think.
00:31:49I know it is hypothetical.
00:31:51That is why people will think
00:31:53what is there to say.
00:31:55But we know each other.
00:31:57So I don't think it.
00:31:59One more hypothetical question is
00:32:01OTT has been very big
00:32:03in your life.
00:32:05If there was no OTT, where would Pratik Gandhi be?
00:32:07I don't know.
00:32:09If there was no OTT,
00:32:11there would have been something in 2024 instead of 2020.
00:32:15Or it would have been different in 2020.
00:32:17Because it is fate.
00:32:19I don't know about that.
00:32:21It will come in any form.
00:32:23It would have come in any form.
00:32:25But
00:32:27I guess
00:32:29before that, I used to feel
00:32:31that
00:32:33it is late 30s now.
00:32:35I am almost approaching 40s.
00:32:37If not now, then when?
00:32:39I wanted to do that central protagonist character.
00:32:41That leading character.
00:32:43If it doesn't start now,
00:32:45if I don't break into now,
00:32:47then when?
00:32:49Earlier I used to think
00:32:51that after the scam,
00:32:53my thought process changed.
00:32:57Because I felt that
00:32:59if it would have happened earlier,
00:33:01then maybe I
00:33:03couldn't have justified it
00:33:05the way I could in 2020.
00:33:07You would have matured as an actor.
00:33:09Yes, because my practice
00:33:11as an actor, as a person
00:33:13would have been less.
00:33:15So I guess it is all designed
00:33:17in a way, it will come to you
00:33:19when you are absolutely ready.
00:33:21So if I would have been ready,
00:33:23then it wouldn't have been OTT,
00:33:25it would have been in some other way.
00:33:27How did you celebrate scam
00:33:29when it came to you?
00:33:31First of all, everything was closed at that time.
00:33:33So there were a lot of celebrations,
00:33:35there were no options.
00:33:37Earlier, for 1.5 months,
00:33:39I celebrated only by giving interviews.
00:33:416 hours a day,
00:33:43when I used to live
00:33:45in Charkop,
00:33:47that 2BHK flat,
00:33:49I used to set up in a corner
00:33:51and change my half pant and T-shirt
00:33:53and give interviews.
00:33:55For 1.5 months.
00:33:57And the more people
00:33:59asked me, the more I realized
00:34:01that something big has really happened.
00:34:03But people
00:34:05also started recognizing you.
00:34:07That happened very next day.
00:34:099th October,
00:34:11scam released.
00:34:13I gave 1 or 2 interviews later.
00:34:1510th October, because it was lockdown,
00:34:17I used to go to get vegetables
00:34:19and milk every second day.
00:34:21It was released on 9th October.
00:34:23On 10th October morning,
00:34:25I went to get vegetables.
00:34:27My mother had told me
00:34:29that the potato would be of this price
00:34:31and if he says so, you say so.
00:34:33So I was arguing with him.
00:34:35I told him that it was of Rs.14 per kg
00:34:37and he was saying something like Rs.18.
00:34:39Suddenly,
00:34:41one girl with her dad,
00:34:43she was looking at me
00:34:45and she said, that's the one.
00:34:47Now, I realized that
00:34:49someone was talking about me.
00:34:51But I thought, because it's a predominantly Gujarati area
00:34:53and all, so they must have watched one of my Gujarati films.
00:34:55That's why they must be saying that.
00:34:57That had happened to me too.
00:34:59I said, okay, I'm talking to her.
00:35:01And suddenly, the father approached me and said,
00:35:03are you the same actor
00:35:05who played Harshad Mehta?
00:35:07He said, yes.
00:35:09I was half pant and T-shirt, I was getting vegetables.
00:35:11And the price of potatoes.
00:35:13Yes, I was arguing with him.
00:35:15And after that,
00:35:174-5 people were saying, I saw it yesterday.
00:35:19And I was almost mobbed by 10 people.
00:35:21So that's when I realized
00:35:23that something big has happened.
00:35:25And things change overnight.
00:35:27Right.
00:35:29It completely changed.
00:35:31Tell me a little bit about
00:35:33Charkop.
00:35:35Your dream
00:35:37came from Charkop.
00:35:39How does that feel?
00:35:41And what is this house all about?
00:35:43What does it signify to you?
00:35:45It's a surreal feel.
00:35:47All the poetic lines
00:35:49that
00:35:51it's important to see the dream
00:35:53to fulfill it.
00:35:55All this seems to be happening suddenly.
00:35:57So did you see your dream?
00:35:59When I came to Mumbai,
00:36:01I stayed in Parla for a long time.
00:36:03And when we used to come in childhood,
00:36:05my aunt used to live in Parla.
00:36:07She used to live on Charni Road.
00:36:09So for me, Mumbai means Parla
00:36:11and Charni Road.
00:36:13Because I had seen those two places
00:36:15since childhood.
00:36:17And I have lived in Parla for a long time.
00:36:19So I used to think that Mumbai means this.
00:36:21Parla East, Parla West.
00:36:23When I came here in 2004,
00:36:25I stayed here for 10 years.
00:36:27So I always felt
00:36:29that I have to stay here.
00:36:31My cousins are also here.
00:36:33Through them, all my friends
00:36:35were also here.
00:36:37So this was the world.
00:36:39I worked for 8-9 years
00:36:41in Vashi.
00:36:45Earlier I was a consultant for 4-5 years.
00:36:47That's why I left.
00:36:49Because in consultancy,
00:36:51I used to go to different places.
00:36:53But even then my seniors used to ask me
00:36:55why don't you shift to Vashi?
00:36:57Why do you travel so much?
00:36:59Why do you go to Parla everyday?
00:37:01But somehow I constantly felt
00:37:03that I belong here.
00:37:05So I had to take a loan.
00:37:07So I found out that
00:37:09I don't have to go to Parla,
00:37:11Andheri, Malad.
00:37:13I have to go to Charkob in front of Kandivali.
00:37:15So slowly
00:37:17I started searching.
00:37:19In 2014,
00:37:21I bought a house in Charkob.
00:37:25It was an old building.
00:37:27But since then,
00:37:29I felt that I have to come back.
00:37:31I have to come here.
00:37:33East and West, I had to come to Parla.
00:37:35And of course,
00:37:37in Juhu, 10th road,
00:37:39there is a Haveli.
00:37:41Krishna Haveli,
00:37:43where we used to go for Darshan.
00:37:45It's my mom's favorite place.
00:37:47The one in front of Amitabh Bachchan's house.
00:37:49Yes, the old house.
00:37:51Vaishno Haveli.
00:37:53So we used to go there for Darshan.
00:37:55It was my mom and dad's favorite place.
00:37:57It was my mom's favorite place.
00:37:59Around this place,
00:38:01around that place.
00:38:03We used to go there for fun.
00:38:05Life set.
00:38:07And then when life actually
00:38:09gave me a chance,
00:38:11I could actually get a house there.
00:38:13So you still go to that Mandir?
00:38:15Yes, that's our everyday place.
00:38:17Okay.
00:38:19And now it's near our house.
00:38:21Now it's near our house.
00:38:23I have heard you are not a drinker.
00:38:25You don't smoke and you are not a drinker.
00:38:27I don't smoke.
00:38:29Occasional drinking.
00:38:31Because I heard you have got a good bar at home.
00:38:33Yes, yes.
00:38:35I have made a new set.
00:38:37So you have also made a good bar.
00:38:39I have made everything.
00:38:41I mean,
00:38:43we enjoy hosting people.
00:38:45Oh, you do?
00:38:47We are from Surat.
00:38:49I love to eat Surati food.
00:38:51As it is,
00:38:53Gujarati people eat a lot.
00:38:57You can't see a Gujarati
00:38:59without eating.
00:39:01And feeding.
00:39:03When dad was there,
00:39:05he used to enjoy a lot.
00:39:07Had dad been there,
00:39:09he would have been the happiest.
00:39:11When did you lose your dad?
00:39:132018.
00:39:15Just before SCAM?
00:39:17SCAM was the last project that I discussed with him.
00:39:19He was around to hear you.
00:39:21He was in the hospital.
00:39:23His cancer treatment was on.
00:39:25He was worried
00:39:27about the expenses.
00:39:31I had just given an audition.
00:39:33I had spoken to Anzal sir.
00:39:35The project had not started yet.
00:39:37It had been delayed for a year and a half.
00:39:39But we had spoken about it.
00:39:41I told him that it was a big project for me.
00:39:43It is of mainstream Hindi.
00:39:45So don't worry. Things will work out.
00:39:47It was the last thing that I had discussed with him.
00:39:49And that's what happened?
00:39:51That's what happened.
00:39:53I lost him in October
00:39:55No, November 2018.
00:39:57And
00:39:5919, we started shooting for this.
00:40:01Fantastic.
00:40:03What is this
00:40:05brain tumor you mentioned?
00:40:07Bhamini got this schwannoma tumor.
00:40:09Suddenly it just happened to her.
00:40:11Out of nowhere.
00:40:132010.
00:40:15Okay.
00:40:17And as I said, she was
00:40:19selected for this big show.
00:40:23Heads of Production was
00:40:25producing it. Star plus.
00:40:27And
00:40:29she is doing the lead and everything is set.
00:40:31A play was also going on.
00:40:35Suddenly she came to know
00:40:37that there is some constant sound in the ear.
00:40:39Like people have tinnitus.
00:40:41So we
00:40:43went to the doctor.
00:40:45He said that tinnitus happens at a very late age.
00:40:47She is too young for it.
00:40:49So for the safety he asked us
00:40:51to get the MRI done.
00:40:53We got the MRI done and
00:40:55my cousin
00:40:57who was in charge of ICU at Seven Hills Hospital
00:40:59back then.
00:41:01She went there.
00:41:03She did the MRI and my cousin actually called me.
00:41:05I was in a board meeting in Reliance.
00:41:07Okay.
00:41:09He generally doesn't call that way.
00:41:11So I just excused myself, took the call
00:41:13and he said that I can see the tumor.
00:41:15It is 2.5 cm big tumor
00:41:17on the hearing now.
00:41:19Which needs to be operated as soon as possible.
00:41:21Okay.
00:41:23So within 7 days we found couple of doctors
00:41:25and the first appointment that we got.
00:41:27And she got operated.
00:41:31She lost the series because of that.
00:41:33Because immediately after that
00:41:35she was facing harsh light,
00:41:37standing and all was not allowed.
00:41:39So yeah, she lost that
00:41:41supposed to be a big break
00:41:43in her life.
00:41:45But then she survived, everything was fine.
00:41:47It was a benign tumor.
00:41:49She is all okay.
00:41:51The best part is that we got to know about it on time.
00:41:53Absolutely.
00:41:55And all is well.
00:41:57That's what matters.
00:41:59She is the bravest woman that I know.
00:42:01Really?
00:42:03Okay.
00:42:05And she has been with you through all your ups and downs
00:42:07and everything, isn't it?
00:42:09We have seen everything together.
00:42:11In last, how many years now?
00:42:1316 years now.
00:42:15That's fantastic.
00:42:17And you must have known each other little before that also.
00:42:19Yeah, 2 and half, 3 years before that.
00:42:21So that's almost
00:42:23close to 20 years.
00:42:25You were mentioning
00:42:27there is a film which Jio cinema
00:42:29had,
00:42:31Jio Cinema, but we
00:42:33haven't heard anything about it.
00:42:35Can you tell us
00:42:37anything about it?
00:42:39The film is Derbi Ka Zameen.
00:42:41Pulkit directed that film.
00:42:43Pulkit is the same director
00:42:45who has written and directed
00:42:47Bhakshak.
00:42:49So his storytelling is very hard hitting.
00:42:51Real to life.
00:42:53And it tells
00:42:55I guess the most bitter truth of
00:42:57the society maybe.
00:42:59I loved the script.
00:43:01And this is something that came from his
00:43:03personal life experience.
00:43:05Something very
00:43:07similar happened to his father
00:43:09also.
00:43:11Where he is on the ground.
00:43:13And
00:43:15I am sure a lot of people may not have seen
00:43:17this film.
00:43:19But it is on Jio Cinema.
00:43:21So whenever you get a chance, do watch it.
00:43:23I have heard about it.
00:43:25It's a story of a common man who is
00:43:27fighting against
00:43:29the system.
00:43:31Against all the odds
00:43:33that he is facing.
00:43:35He doesn't want to lose that hope.
00:43:37And there is a beautiful dialogue
00:43:39in the film.
00:43:41He is told
00:43:43that don't fight with them.
00:43:45They are too powerful
00:43:47for you to fight.
00:43:49You will lose
00:43:51in any way. But you will never
00:43:53win. So just don't fight.
00:43:55His comeback is that
00:43:57even the weakest player
00:43:59can hurt at least one person.
00:44:03But I won't give up.
00:44:05And I shouldn't lose hope.
00:44:07I really liked that story.
00:44:09It is very emotional.
00:44:11So yeah, I mean
00:44:13there is something that I loved.
00:44:15I was hopeful of it.
00:44:17Do you like such heavy stories?
00:44:19Do you like to play such roles?
00:44:21Because
00:44:23you like comedies.
00:44:25I like both.
00:44:27But drama is my
00:44:29favorite genre.
00:44:31Comedy is something that I enjoy.
00:44:33It takes a lot of hard work
00:44:35and concentration.
00:44:37It has to be done
00:44:39with utmost sincerity. Otherwise,
00:44:41you can't pull it off.
00:44:43I heard that you
00:44:45choose very well.
00:44:47Because whatever you have chosen,
00:44:49after the scam,
00:44:51whatever you have done,
00:44:53it has been very different.
00:44:55There has been a lot of variety.
00:44:57A lot of variety.
00:44:59And as an actor, I really find myself
00:45:01absolutely lucky
00:45:03that I got these opportunities
00:45:05and I got these kind of scripts.
00:45:07A lot of people told me after the scam
00:45:09to be careful.
00:45:11People will think of you
00:45:13as a serious character.
00:45:15But luckily,
00:45:17it didn't happen that way.
00:45:19In fact, people approached me
00:45:21with this varied script.
00:45:23Madgaon, Door Do Pyar,
00:45:25Der Bhi Ka Zameen,
00:45:27Ghamasan is different.
00:45:29Dhoom Dham is
00:45:31different, absolutely.
00:45:33Phule is different.
00:45:35You have got a lot of variety.
00:45:37I feel very lucky
00:45:39that
00:45:41I am able to challenge myself
00:45:43and serve the audience with different varieties.
00:45:45That's right.
00:45:47If you were given a choice,
00:45:49because in web series,
00:45:51your investment
00:45:53in terms of time
00:45:55is a lot.
00:45:57It's a long format.
00:45:59It takes a lot of time.
00:46:01It takes months.
00:46:03Films is quick in, quick out.
00:46:07How do you balance the two?
00:46:09I think I enjoy
00:46:11working in different formats.
00:46:13Be it theatre,
00:46:15which is a live medium,
00:46:17short films, full-fledged films,
00:46:19regional films,
00:46:21and long formats
00:46:23like web series.
00:46:25In every format,
00:46:27performance,
00:46:29performing style is little different
00:46:31to connect with the audience.
00:46:33That is something that I guess as an actor,
00:46:37it's a virtue.
00:46:39It's a blessing if you get to explore yourself
00:46:41in different formats.
00:46:43Long format requires
00:46:45more time commitment,
00:46:47longer time commitment.
00:46:49But it's fun to explore a character
00:46:51in this depth.
00:46:55If the script excites me,
00:46:57I don't mind.
00:46:59I am okay with this.
00:47:01One web series is like four films.
00:47:05Hardly you get to explore a character
00:47:07in this detail.
00:47:09Scam was 10 episodes,
00:47:11nine and a half hours.
00:47:13I got a chance to live with that character
00:47:15in so much detail,
00:47:17layer upon layer,
00:47:19so I enjoyed that process.
00:47:21That's really nice.
00:47:23When you consider
00:47:25the actors you work with,
00:47:27do you think
00:47:29your competitors
00:47:31or people in the same bracket
00:47:33are people like
00:47:35Vijay Verma,
00:47:37strong actors?
00:47:39Do you think of them
00:47:41as Pratik Gandhi
00:47:43falls into that category or do you think of yourself
00:47:45like Siddharth Malhotra
00:47:47and Varun Dhawan?
00:47:49I don't know.
00:47:51In fact,
00:47:53it's a very interesting question.
00:47:55I so wanted to talk about these particular things.
00:47:57Personally,
00:47:59I have never felt
00:48:01and I have never believed
00:48:03that two actors can be compared.
00:48:05You can only
00:48:07compare two actors
00:48:09if they both perform the same character.
00:48:11Otherwise,
00:48:13it is impossible.
00:48:15Different human beings,
00:48:17different characters, different films.
00:48:19Though actors are competitors
00:48:21or comparable,
00:48:23I don't understand this technically or logically.
00:48:25Because it just doesn't fall in any logic.
00:48:27Having said that,
00:48:29there are people
00:48:31who actually put you in that category.
00:48:33There is this term,
00:48:35A-listers.
00:48:37There is such a character.
00:48:39There is such an actor.
00:48:41Mostly,
00:48:43we read in the news
00:48:45that
00:48:47he falls in this category.
00:48:49How do you decide
00:48:51this category?
00:48:53Because you might not have seen me
00:48:55performing different things.
00:48:57If I hadn't done Madgaon,
00:48:59nobody would have ever imagined me
00:49:01performing in a comedy film.
00:49:03By then, my category would have been different for them.
00:49:05But if I did Madgaon, my category would have changed.
00:49:07So, it is like
00:49:09you don't know anybody fully,
00:49:11any actor fully.
00:49:13When I announced that this is my full range,
00:49:15now you put me in a category, understood.
00:49:17But that doesn't happen that way.
00:49:19Range of living classes?
00:49:21Yes.
00:49:23Sometimes, talent managers
00:49:25put you in the category.
00:49:27I have heard this from many people.
00:49:29We need such and such an actor.
00:49:31The four names you have given
00:49:33are four different people.
00:49:37It is not like
00:49:39I want a cold drink.
00:49:41What kind of cold drink do you want?
00:49:43Black or blue?
00:49:45It's not that simple.
00:49:47It's not soap.
00:49:49I want a rose-scented soap.
00:49:51These are living beings.
00:49:53That's true.
00:49:55The way I create one emotion
00:49:57in this range
00:49:59is my personal trait.
00:50:01The same emotion
00:50:03in this range
00:50:05will be done differently by some other actor.
00:50:07You will never be able to equate
00:50:09or match
00:50:11or compare them.
00:50:13You talked about managers.
00:50:15I have heard that your manager is Kajol.
00:50:17Yes.
00:50:19Who is a family friend.
00:50:21Usually, nowadays
00:50:23in our film industry,
00:50:25the agency
00:50:27or the manager
00:50:29resists and says
00:50:31that his family friend
00:50:33will handle it.
00:50:35My simple logic was
00:50:37because Kajol knows me since childhood.
00:50:39She has been in PR world.
00:50:41Kajol and her father
00:50:43Manohar Gharia
00:50:45Manohar Gharia is a very famous name.
00:50:47They used to run
00:50:49and Kajol still runs
00:50:51Kajol Ads which is the only
00:50:53theatre PR company.
00:50:55Her father only introduced me to Mumbai
00:50:57theatre scenes.
00:51:01She knows
00:51:03a lot of things about
00:51:05this field.
00:51:07Films and all can be different
00:51:09but theatre and all.
00:51:11I used to have creative discussions
00:51:13mostly with Kajol.
00:51:15When I used to do plays,
00:51:17when I used to go to shows.
00:51:19She knows me
00:51:21personally, very closely
00:51:23and I wanted somebody
00:51:25who can talk about me or who represents me
00:51:27or who can talk on my behalf
00:51:29to have the same voice.
00:51:31The way I would react
00:51:33I wanted anybody who represents me
00:51:35to react in the same way.
00:51:37There is no confusion.
00:51:39There is no complications.
00:51:41I guess Kajol is the only person
00:51:43that I thought can do this
00:51:45for me.
00:51:47She willingly and happily agreed.
00:51:49And it has worked.
00:51:51It's a boon.
00:51:53People say about you that
00:51:55unlike other actors
00:51:57who meet some people
00:51:59and don't meet some people
00:52:01whatever offer comes
00:52:03whether you do it or not is a different thing.
00:52:05But you meet everyone
00:52:07and hear what the offer is.
00:52:09Is this correct?
00:52:11I want to know
00:52:13first of all
00:52:15I think any good thing
00:52:17any good story
00:52:19can come from anywhere
00:52:21from anywhere
00:52:23so I don't want to leave it.
00:52:27It can be a first time writer-director
00:52:29it can be a senior
00:52:31it can be from another era
00:52:35it can be from another language
00:52:37so I don't want to let go of anything
00:52:39I want to listen to them
00:52:41so that's why
00:52:43I want to read
00:52:45I want to read any story
00:52:47and answer it
00:52:49but at least I want to read it
00:52:51and listen to it
00:52:53otherwise I don't know
00:52:55how it happens
00:52:57I have heard
00:52:59about you that
00:53:01you meet everyone
00:53:03whether you like it or not
00:53:05you may not like it
00:53:07you may not have time to do it
00:53:09It took me little time to train myself
00:53:11to say no
00:53:13because it's the most difficult thing I feel
00:53:15That's an art by itself
00:53:17Many people come to me
00:53:19and say that
00:53:21they have worked hard for 4 years
00:53:23this may be the best script for them
00:53:25It's just that it's not working for me
00:53:27so I want to be equally sensitive
00:53:29when I say no
00:53:33I am not demoralizing you
00:53:35I don't want to demoralize them
00:53:37I don't want to demean them
00:53:39but I have to make myself very clear
00:53:41So that is also very important
00:53:43At the same time
00:53:45you have to look after your career also
00:53:47and your interest
00:53:49I am not able to see myself in it
00:53:51so I don't want to do it
00:53:53But how to talk about it is a very difficult thing
00:53:55And you should keep the door open
00:53:57Yes
00:53:59My email idea
00:54:01people send me scripts from different places
00:54:03It's just that
00:54:05the biggest drawback in this process is
00:54:07that it takes a lot of time
00:54:09It's not like if you send me a script today
00:54:11I will be able to answer it in the next 10-12 days
00:54:13because sometimes we are on a shoot
00:54:15and sometimes we are travelling
00:54:17I need that time frame where I can just read the script
00:54:19and give my
00:54:21objective analysis to it
00:54:23to understand
00:54:25Otherwise if I read it in a hurry and answer it
00:54:27I might miss something
00:54:29So I don't want to do that
00:54:31But yes
00:54:33there is always a time crunch
00:54:35and sometimes
00:54:37I feel like I have to answer so many people
00:54:39and so many people are following me
00:54:41When Gandhi came to you
00:54:43and that also
00:54:45Hansul Mehta again
00:54:47How did you feel?
00:54:49Did you again feel that ecstasy
00:54:51which you felt during SCAM?
00:54:53Absolutely, I almost jumped out of my seat
00:54:55When Sameer Nayar
00:54:57offered me to do Gandhi
00:54:59I didn't want to hear anything
00:55:01beyond that sentence
00:55:03I was so happy
00:55:05that as I said I have been doing Gandhi
00:55:07on the stage for the last 10 years
00:55:09We have seen that KBC
00:55:11I do that monologue of 2 hours
00:55:15I am in love with that character
00:55:17the story, the human side of Gandhi
00:55:19and when I came to know
00:55:21that this is happening for the
00:55:23series in a long format
00:55:25And that too with Hansul Sir
00:55:27Yes, that too with Hansul Sir
00:55:29So what else can I ask for?
00:55:31Exactly, so how did you celebrate that?
00:55:33We celebrated
00:55:35In fact, when this happened
00:55:37Hansul Sir and I
00:55:39were shooting a short story
00:55:41in Baroda
00:55:43There was a function
00:55:45of applause
00:55:47in Amazon
00:55:49where we had to come back
00:55:51There was a gap for a day
00:55:53Hansul Sir and I came from Baroda
00:55:55We met Sameer Nayar there again
00:55:57and that's when it completely decided
00:55:59that Hansul Sir is directing, applause is producing
00:56:01performing
00:56:03For us it was like
00:56:05everyday is celebration
00:56:07In fact till that
00:56:09we are still celebrating
00:56:11And in 2025
00:56:13is that what you are looking forward to?
00:56:15It is the biggest, the big ticket item
00:56:17One big ticket item
00:56:19for all of us involved in it
00:56:21And lots of films
00:56:23also happening?
00:56:25So there are 3 films which are ready to release now
00:56:27I am waiting for the announcements
00:56:29when do they release it
00:56:31But I am hoping that at least one will be
00:56:33released in the first quarter of 2025
00:56:35which should come out soon
00:56:37and that should be Dhunda
00:56:39hopefully
00:56:41You mentioned one thing
00:56:43so that's going to be my last question
00:56:45You said that if one actor
00:56:47is doing the same role
00:56:49different actors are doing
00:56:51then you can talk about comparisons
00:56:53So the character of Gandhi
00:56:55that Ben Kingsley
00:56:57has also done
00:56:59who is actually half Gujarati
00:57:01I know
00:57:03His father is a Gujarati
00:57:05His name is I think
00:57:07Krishna Bhanji
00:57:09Krishna Pandit Bhanji
00:57:11Krishna Pandit Bhanji
00:57:13So Bhanji is a surname
00:57:15which is quite a common surname
00:57:17in Gujarat, Saurashtra
00:57:19So he became Ben of Bhanji
00:57:23Ben Kingsley did
00:57:25A lot of people did
00:57:27Naseeruddin Shah did
00:57:29Then Rajat Kapoor did
00:57:31Then I think Anu Kapoor did
00:57:33So many people
00:57:35Recently Chirag did
00:57:37Chirag Hora did
00:57:39So how do you compare yourself
00:57:41with them
00:57:43I mean with these people
00:57:45one line will have a name
00:57:47With so many big actors
00:57:49one line will have a name
00:57:51that who did Gandhi
00:57:53I am very happy with that
00:57:55But who makes the best Gandhi
00:57:57All the Gandhi's I have seen
00:57:59Of course Ben Kingsley
00:58:01the Gandhi that we have seen
00:58:03that has become cult
00:58:05Last I have seen Chirag
00:58:07Chirag's look
00:58:09I have seen him
00:58:112-3 times on stage
00:58:13He looks Gandhi
00:58:15He looks Gandhi
00:58:17So yeah the closest that I could see
00:58:19Chirag
00:58:21He is a phenomenal performer
00:58:23We have done so much theatre
00:58:25There was also Dilip Prabhavalkar
00:58:27He did Gandhi Munna
00:58:29So actually so many
00:58:31We have seen so many Gandhi's
00:58:33What an array of Gandhi's
00:58:35But I
00:58:37was talking to my friend
00:58:39Gandhiji
00:58:41Krishna
00:58:43Ram
00:58:45Army
00:58:47Army character
00:58:49Doctor
00:58:51These are common characters
00:58:53which all of us
00:58:55did in school's fancy dress
00:58:59Everyone did it
00:59:01Ok
00:59:03Correct
00:59:05Be it a boy or a girl
00:59:07Everyone did it
00:59:09Krishna
00:59:11All the boys and girls in my class
00:59:13did Krishna
00:59:15You have already
00:59:17You have already got that experience
00:59:19You did it on stage but is this different
00:59:21Very different
00:59:23So this season
00:59:25also talks about his early days
00:59:27Very early days
00:59:29And some part of my
00:59:31play is a part of the series also
00:59:33I mean in that time period of his life
00:59:35So yeah that way
00:59:37There is a little overlapping
00:59:39So somewhere
00:59:41I was prepping to perform
00:59:43Gandhi for screen from last 10 years
00:59:45Looks like it
00:59:47And you did that Gandhi
00:59:49I saw your KBC
00:59:51You did the same thing in Hindi
00:59:53in Gujarati and in English
00:59:55Three languages
00:59:57So this monologue that I perform in all three different languages
00:59:59And you did
01:00:01all three in one day
01:00:03We did it in Prithvi theater in 2016
01:00:05I got one date
01:00:07And
01:00:09I was a very very gritty actor
01:00:11Very gritty
01:00:13At that time it was more
01:00:15Now I have to do a lot of things in a hurry
01:00:17But at that time I felt
01:00:19that if I am getting a chance to perform on stage
01:00:21then I will do it
01:00:23And in Prithvi we get dates
01:00:25in pieces
01:00:27That day we got a
01:00:29Saturday date
01:00:31So a very weird idea came to my mind
01:00:33I was in the office
01:00:35in Vashi
01:00:37I spoke to my director Manoj Shah
01:00:39that sir let's do it in all three languages
01:00:41He said in one day
01:00:43I said yes
01:00:45He also got kicked
01:00:47So I did a show in Gujarati at 11 in the morning
01:00:49Because Gujarati audience
01:00:51is tuned to come to Prithvi
01:00:53at 11 o'clock show
01:00:55They come
01:00:57That's the safest bet
01:00:59If I have to do a show in the morning
01:01:01I do it in Gujarati
01:01:03I did a show in Hindi at 4 in the evening
01:01:05And evening 8 o'clock show
01:01:07was in English
01:01:09And at that time
01:01:11I felt that it has not happened
01:01:13So let's ask
01:01:15So I mailed
01:01:17I mailed to Guinness book of records
01:01:19and Limca book of records
01:01:21I just mailed
01:01:23We are trying and attempting this
01:01:25If you think it is worthy enough
01:01:27to be covered
01:01:29So a mail came from Limca book
01:01:31It has never happened before
01:01:33that we have covered
01:01:35So we would like to cover it
01:01:37Conditions
01:01:39That there should be so many people
01:01:41You have to take this from them
01:01:43Our team will come
01:01:45So I said ok
01:01:47Let's do that
01:01:49And I was prepping for these three languages
01:01:51Before that I did a show in these three languages
01:01:53On different days
01:01:55But in one day
01:01:57We just did it
01:01:59It happened and all three household shows
01:02:01Three different languages
01:02:03One day
01:02:05I never thought of it
01:02:07You have been living a dream now
01:02:09For the last five years and more
01:02:11Throughout my life
01:02:13Whatever I thought happened
01:02:15Timing was according to me
01:02:17That is so fantastic
01:02:19Keep dreaming and set many more records
01:02:21Such a pleasure talking to you
01:02:23Thank you very much