In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, Anshuman Pushkar, the rising star of the Indian web series, opened up about his inspiring journey in the entertainment industry, challenges, and the joy of stepping into diverse roles, his latest project Moonwalk and more
Vaishnavi Tikka
Anshuman Pushkar is a talented Indian actor making waves in the world of web series. He has impressed audiences with his strong performances in shows like Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega and Kathmandu Connection. However, it was his role in the historical crime drama Grahan that truly showcased his acting prowess. Pushkar’s ability to portray characters from different backgrounds and time periods is remarkable. He brings depth and emotion to his roles, making them believable and relatable. As he continues working on new projects, fans can look forward to seeing even more incredible performances from this rising star.
In his conversation with The Pioneer, the actor shared details about his journey and struggles to become an actor. He also spoke about his experience working on Moonwalk, how much fun he had during the shoot, and the nuances of portraying Tarik Pandey in the series.
Talking about his journey, he said it was always a dream to become an actor, but initially, he doubted his own abilities. “It was a dream to become an actor, but after giving a few auditions, I realized I wasn’t very good at it. Then I started doing theater in Mumbai for 6 to 7 years to improve myself,” he revealed.
Pushkar mentioned that finding opportunities wasn’t easy despite having considerable talent. However, he maintained a hopeful outlook: “I did a few small roles in serials, but I didn’t get any breakthrough roles. Still, I believe in destiny and never lost hope.”
His first significant breakthrough came with Jamtara, an Indian crime drama television series.
He shared how his situation transformed during the lockdown when he received positive recognition for his acting in Grahan. “Once the lockdown began, I found myself doing nothing until I got the opportunity to work on Grahan, which is a series based on a novel. I received a lot of appreciation from the public and everyone involved.”
Pushkar began gaining recognition along with better opportunities. “I started receiving great offers. I played a pivotal role in 12th Fail, followed by Kathmandu Connection. I can’t say it was a smooth ride, but the industry is appreciating my work and everything I’ve done,” he added.
When discussing how roles are chosen in the industry, he said, “You don’t really get to choose what you want to play; the makers pick the actors. As someone starting out, I didn’t really have the choice to pick my roles. In this business, it’s more about the industry choosing you rather than you picking what you want.” Moonwalk is a Hindi comedy series that premiered on December 20, 2024, exclusively on JioCinema. The series is set in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, and follows two rival thieves, Tarik Pandey (Anshuman Pushkar) and Maddy Kapoor (Samir Kochhar), competing for the affection of Chandni Lakhani (Nidhi Singh). Chandni challenges them to steal the most valuable item for her, resulting in a series of comedic heists. Additionally, a local gangster and his son plot to steal a fallen piece of the Moon, hoping to gain immense wealth. Pushkar explained that he wasn’t the first choice for Moonwalk but ultimately landed the role after filming had already begun. “I wasn’t the primary choice for the makers of Moonwalk at first. I was on vacation when I suddenly received a call from the casting team saying they had a script and wanted me to come for a narration. They informed me that I was selected for the role. I was given only a day to decide whether or not I would take it. After reviewing the script, I said yes.”
He credited director Ajay Bhuyan for making the process easier. “Working with a supportive director makes the work much easier. Director Ajay Bhuyan was very helpful in explaining the script and encouraging spontaneity on set,” he emphasized. He also shared how unprepared he felt while working on the project, but his co-actors and the director provided invaluable support. “I was on set without any preparation or script in hand. I had many questions in my mind about whether I could pull it off or not. Fortunately, all my co-actors and the director were very supportive and understanding.”
Pushkar described his character, Tarik Pandey: “This character, Tarik Pandey, is a thief, but he doesn’t see himself that way. His main priority is to master everything he does and ultimately become a master himself. He is also very emotional about his family and friends and exhibits innocent, childish behavior. I connected with his innocence and felt that I share similar traits in my personal relationships. To embody this role, I had to bring out the child within me. I believe a character like this doesn’t require much preparation. I had a blast on set playing this role.”
In conclusion, Pushkar mentioned that he has been working on new projects recently and is enthusiastic about entertaining people.
