A well-known figure in Gujarati theater and film, Pratik Gandhi rose to prominence with the Hansal Mehta-directed series Scam 1992. In the latest film, Do Aur Do Pyaar, the actor co-starred with Vidya Balan as her spouse. As the actor’s much-talked-about film hits cinemas, The Pioneer’s Shikha Duggal connects with the talented star for our Celeb Talk. The actor not only discusses the film but also shares his take on terms like ‘situationship’, and more.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
The producers of Do Aur Do Pyaar recently threw a star-studded screening of the movie in Mumbai for their friends in the film industry, and this was our brief opportunity to speak with Pratik Gandhi, the movie’s lead actor, for all of you. Any person’s career is tarnished by being mentioned in a scam. For Pratik Gandhi, not so. The Gujarati actor won recognition in October 2020 for his flawless performance in the web series Scam 1992 as Harshad Mehta. So here we have the talented actor for our exclusive Celeb Talk column, as he discusses his first Hindi romantic film, Do Aur Do Pyaar.
“I played my character honestly, leaving all the possibilities open for the viewers to draw their own conclusions. I wasn’t in the film to criticise my own performance,” exclusively begins the actor. “Let my fans evaluate me! To be completely honest, though, I found it difficult to discuss delicate subjects like infidelity and adultery. I couldn’t tell what was right or wrong. The movie helped me to understand that those who practice it do so for personal reasons. Thus, our director attempted to create the impression that an observer was making light of the event.”
He wanted to use it for experiments. We’ve all loved romance at some point. It is ageless and will always find takers. He finds rom-com humour to be really humorous! And therefore, he keeps telling us, “I could really identify with the feelings of bewilderment. I love Hum Tum and Jab We Met. Chupke Chupke is a timeless classic! My kid, who is eleven years old, even knows it by memory. Each actor contributed their own unique techniques and experiences. It enhanced intrigue and depth. When combined, these components produced a wonderful outcome. It is a blessing for me to collaborate with such gifted actors.”
He even said to us, in detail, “I’m not as talented as the leading ladies in the movie. They had such a good influence on my craft. I adore Vidya Balan’s self-presentation! She wouldn’t abandon her simplicity if you gave her any character, as that is how she is in real life. Despite her fame, Vidya is a really kind and humble person. We were portraying a married couple, so establishing that connection was crucial. Thankfully, we clicked right away. Ileana exuded effortlessness and sincerity. We hit it off right away on set, even though she was too sick with COVID-19 to practice. It had an easy working relationship.” He was asked to meet Vidya Balan after receiving the film offer since they wanted to see each other. They also had a few readings after that. Pratik was handling that moment of stardom! In reality, he had to act appropriately and consider that he was merely meeting a colleague. That’s how he had to act.
The Scam 1992 actor further says, “This generation is generally very loud when they shout about “situationships.” I am at a loss for words! Do you know how I feel? They refer to them with terms like these when they are at a loss for words regarding their relationship status. However, this has taught me that relationships don’t need labels.”
“I had never done a romantic comedy for the public. The makers were extremely astute to, you know, include all of the solutions to a viewer’s questions in the previous trailer. We weren’t having fun even though we were filming a romantic comedy because we had to demonstrate how awful our circumstances were. Thus, audiences were being made to laugh! That is the level of intelligence I am referring to among the makers. Although I still recall how obediently we played every scene, you never know when a Vidya Balan on set will start laughing out loud. Her laugh spreads like wildfire across every set! We used to all wind up laughing with her in the end,” the actor told The Pioneer.
Gandhi in this chat spoke to us saying that he is one amongst those who simply adore being on film sets. “I enjoy constructing a variety of personas to leave my own mark. Mumbai is a difficult place to live, so decision-making is essential. However, I have consistently kept a positive mindset and remained committed to my craft. I’ve occasionally been told that portraying rich people could be difficult for me. However, I have jumped right into supporting parts. It’s a dream come true that viewers are eager to see my work and that writers and filmmakers are considering me for their projects.”
Do Aur Do Pyaar, which is helmed by debutante filmmaker Shirsha Guha Thakurta, also features Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
