Indian cinema has always had a huge variety of actors. While many people only find it safe and comfortable to follow a specific style and characters with which they are able to do justice, there are some who do not want to be pigeonholed by the industry. And one actor who has always been flexible and versatile in his craft and choosing to do a variety of roles is Pawan Malhotra.
From Nukkad to Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Black Friday, Jab We Met, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the actor in his career spanning over three decades has always proved how he can do justice to any character.
Malhotra, who turns 63 today, recently made his OTT debut with Grahan, which has received a positive response. In this interview he talks about the controversy surrounding Eclipse, how OTT has opened up new avenues, and when the industry wanted to typecast them they couldn’t and why series like Nook wouldn’t work in today’s time. .
Do you like to celebrate your birthday?
No, I don’t like to do that. I am not a birthday person. If I am shooting then I get embarrassed and people start celebrating. I’m still working, and I hope the unit members don’t miss my birthday.
Your recent show Eclipse got into controversy. Do you think celebrities and cinema are an easy target?
We live in a democratic world and everyone has the right to criticize. People are going to react. I remember that three days before the release of the show, I got a call from a friend who said that a section of the audience is not happy as they think we are showing Sikhs in a wrong way. I told him to wait and watch the show. We can see the responses now. People who have seen the show have liked it.
How do you think OTT has changed the dynamics in the industry?
Be it writers, actors, directors, technicians, OTT has opened huge doors for all creative people and has given them new opportunities. The biggest advantage that filmmakers can come up with is unique stories and long-format content made for the digital streaming space, making it a great time for actors to explore unconventional roles and characters that appeal to audiences. . I think it’s a great time for the entire artistic community, both in front of the camera and behind the camera. I was waiting for the right kind of role and I felt Eclipse was the perfect show to start my journey in OTT.
How do you approach a character?
I do not have a certain behavior or style and speech pattern. No one can ever mimic me. Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Road to Sangam, Black Friday, Brothers in Trouble or Fakir for which I got a National Award, the texture of my work changes with every film. As an actor, when you are narrating a story, you deal with human emotions and there is something in it that even after playing that type of character many times, you cannot have the same attitude. I have played Sikh character many times. But the character of Grahan is different from Jab We Met or Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The industry wanted to typecast me but I realized that one must know when to say no and wait as I was in no mood to repeat.
You have been in the industry for more than 35 years. How do you see the journey back?
As I said earlier, no one can mimic me. The actors who can be mimicked are usually big superstars. People may not have pictures of me, but I have made my own identity in this industry. I have done commercial films like Judwaa 2, Rustom, Mubarakan as well as films like Black Friday, Bagh Bahadur, Fakir. And I have a huge acceptance for what I’ve done. Also it is the industry and the media that differentiate between art and commercial cinema. For me every film is a commercial film because there is money involved. As an actor, I should have the freedom to choose the film I want to do. When you sit down with a story, sometimes you just want to do it. Like I mentioned, sometimes I realize that it’s not my world, but I slip into that space only to see if I can pull it off. Sometimes I fail and other times I succeed. Success doesn’t motivate me to do the same thing again. Or failure don’t want me never to do it again. I have always believed in God and worked with utmost sincerity.
In an earlier interview you mentioned how you can never sell yourself. Do you think it affected your career?
Many people have asked me to be active on social media. I should get my photographs published regularly in newspapers and websites. But I’ve never done that. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet. I am not comfortable showing the world what I do in my personal life. My work should speak for me. Like I said, I work honestly. If people appreciate my work they will show it. You have seen the show and you have called for an interview and that is a huge compliment to me.
You also mentioned how television series like Nukkad don’t work in today’s time.
Yes. it’s a fact. Society has changed and values have changed. I have seen some videos on social media where someone is asking college students who was the first President of India or who wrote the Constitution of India and they are not aware of it. People just want to google everything and get answers. Today’s youth is mostly in latest phones and wears branded things. So it will be very difficult for this generation to relate to what we showed in Nook.
What other projects are you working on?
I have three films ready which are completely different subjects. The first is 72 Hurray in which I am playing the role of a terrorist. The films are directed by Sanjay Piran Singh and also got a special mention at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MAMI). I also have Unfair and Lovely (which also stars Ileana D’Cruz and Randeep Hooda). There is another movie called Love Hackers which deals with hacking. I am currently shooting for an OTT show but I can’t talk about it right now.
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