One thing is for sure that OTT has changed the way content is working with audience and the
makers both so I would say it is a perfect time for actors to be around
Audience has accepted you coming from nowhere with some interesting work that touched
their hearts so and then there is excitement so I guess a lot of actors like me who are getting
good projects, good offers now be it Bollywood films, be it OTT projects
So, whenever we see mob lynching happening or once if the group of people have decided
something about you then the onus is on you to prove yourself otherwise
If someone says you are bad its your responsibility to prove that you are not
Firstly, Pratik welcome to Pinkvilla its lovely having you here and congratulations because
I’m speaking for the first time after Scam congratulations on
everything that has happened to you after Scam so yeah
Thank you, thank you very much.
My first question to you is you know after Scam there have been so many offers that must
have come your way be it OTT, be it feature films and everything else so how was the
process of streamlining the work that you want to do?
So, I had always been very intuitive as far as the work is
concerned you know and I would select a project purely based on my gut feel
Okay
So, till date I guess the process is same you know I read the script, I get the narration and
that's how I decide it should be exciting enough for me to create that character and it
should be equally challenging to me.
That's what I look for that's it.
How did Ravan Leela come your way?
You see technically my first film or Hindi film as lead so that were very close to my heart
and I guess we did this film in 2018 so Hardik he narrated me the script and then on the
narration only that I said let’s do it that's how we started back then so it's way before Scam
you know then Scam happened and Scam actually helped me reach out to large number of
audience so that it is you know it is getting possible for Hardik they can even pass two years
to now go and release it in theatres also is what I feel and that's how it has worked so but this
is a very special film it touches upon a very, very interesting
subject also in the current social scenario that we are in
You know so that was my next question I have seen the trailer of Ravan Leela and it
discusses you know multiple topics and you know there is a segment in the trailer where you
are seen speaking about Ravan and you know there has been so much discussion about Ravan
that has been going on since ages what do you have to say
about Ravan like the personality Ravan and the
Ravan, the personality I see these things as a caution and you know because whatever the
stories that we have heard from our grandparents whatever that we’ve read and the Rama and
that we have seen on television so Ravan was always he was
highly educated and he was spiritual also
But over and above like we say he had an ego and that didn't work for him and then there are
a lot of layers so I guess the way I understand Rama and Ravan is that there is a part of Ravan
and Ram the bad thoughts, the good thoughts, the good deeds,
the bad deeds so who wins and in which situation makes us the person we are
Oh, absolutely I think that's put out very well that we all have Ram Ravan it's about what comes out
Which roles wins in what situation
And Pratik what was your prep like for this character because you know there are so many
monologues like we see in the teaser trailer that you have long monologues in it
which is a very difficult thing for an actor so what was your prep like for this?
So see I come from theatre and theatre you know and I had been performing monologues
from last almost seven eight years now two hours monologues then I perform on stage so
getting those lines correct, performing those was a very exciting thing for me and you know
the biggest excitement for me to be in this film is that it is very close to the theatre world
because in the film my character who’s Rajaram is playing Ravan on stage so there is this
entire element of stage and all the thing is very interesting to perform for the screen and it is
very well written all the lines, it has that poetic touch when it
comes to Ram Leela performance on stage.
It has a rhythm also so as an actor I’ve always loved you know juggling between forms
Bhavai is a very old form of theatre in Gujarat
Ram Leela is very close to that form
And it just struck me your character name is Rajaram and you are playing the character of
Ravan what's that like intentional you know to play between this thing?
Yeah, it is intentional in the sense that for the world also in these days no we are
living in a world which is run by the perception so whenever we see mob lynching happening
or once if the group of people have decided something about you then the onus is on you to
prove yourself here otherwise
If someone says you are bad it’s your responsibility to prove that you are not and that is a
weird situation, we are in. It’s the same here. His name is Ram, he plays Ravan on stage and
then the entire confusion of who exactly you are that you have never thought about yourself
that you will be like, this is a character I am performing but the world will see you like that.
And it’s the first-time Ram Leela is happening in that village. So, people identified Ram as
Ram and Ravan as Ravan. They are worshipping Sita ma
And Pratik ever since Scam has released you know there has been this conversation that has
started about the concept of OTT stardom I believe you were amongst the first who were
termed to be the OTT star with one series. How do you view the concept of OTT stardom as
such which runs parallel with the stardom which conventionally existed?
I guess the OTT has done one beautiful thing that it has opened up doors for a lot of new
talent be it writer, director, actors, everybody and I guess I am one of those first few people
who got that opportunity to perform and that it happened in such a time that you know the
most of the audience they were watching a lot of OTT shows in last one and a half two years
and that's how it gave me a huge platform I would say international platform and that helped
me so I don't know about the stardom but yes one thing is for sure that OTT has changed the
way content is working with audience and the makers both so I would say it is a perfect time
for actors to be around because there is a lot of
exciting things happening, a lot of exciting things are happening
And you know like you wouldn't comment on of course about your stardom and
fame on OTT but how do you view the concept of OTT stardom generally do you think it is if it exists
in first place or stardom which is parallel to the theatrical
stardom which has conventionally been there?
So, there are a lot of actors from OTT world who could
create excitement in the audience about their upcoming projects
Now we want to see them in different characters so I guess that is there for sure where
audience has accepted you coming from nowhere with some interesting work that touched
their heart so and then there is excitement so I guess a lot of actors like me who are getting
good projects, good offers now be it Bollywood films, be it OTT projects so yeah it is there and it is working.
And Pratik, you have been in the industry for so long I have seen so many of your Gujarati
films and so long and you know now when there is so much fame recognition coming your
way how do you view your journey and how are you dealing with this change?
See it's the way I look at my journey is that I feel very satisfied and confident at the same
time that whatever I had been doing all this while was on the right track and now I guess
because I am able to touch so many people in their lives so audience could relate to in that
character also see for an actor I guess the biggest challenge is that whatever I feel should get
translated in whatever I do whenever I perform all my feelings should get translated and
that is the always this question that we have to ask ourselves is it happening or not? So, when
you know such wide audience, they applaud you or they appreciate your
work you feel confident that the way I am thinking maybe it working so it is very satisfying.
And last couple of questions, you have Six Suspects which Ajay Devgn and I think Applause
is producing, there is Dedh Bigha Zameen that you are shooting for it could you tell us
something about the two worlds that there for you after Ravan Leela?
Six Suspects is being produced by RLE and Ajay Devgn Productions so Priti Sinha and
Ajay Devgn are producing it. And Tigmanshu Dhulia is the director. Very interesting subject, the
character that i had never done before is what I’m exploring here and Vikas Swarup’s book on which it is based so it's a thriller
It's a crime thriller drama so I’m looking forward to that it is coming on Hot Star it should
come soon and the other film is this Dedh Bigha Zameen which is produced by T-Series and
Karma Media and Hansal Mehta is also co-producer to this
Yeah
Pulkit is directing this film it’s a I guess this is another film after Ravan Leela I would say
which is so close to the current social life that we are living it reflects our lives, it reflects the
world that we are in and it's a journey of a common man who is fighting for his right
Okay, okay.
for his own thing which is his but he still has to fight for it
Okay
And one last question any last words on Ravan Leela and you
want to share your excitement because this is your big Bollywood debut?
I'm super-duper excited about it me and Hardik and I’m super excited for Hardik also because
we have waited a lot for this film to come out and Hardik always wanted this film to you
know to come to theatre because the whole stage where Ram Leela was shot and there are a
lot of things the music is also very, very touchy
Okay.
We performed all of Ram Leela by singing that way there is a little grandeur and I expect the
audience to receive it well I am really hopeful that audience will love this, audience will like it
and just looking forward for the release where I’m waiting to see audiences’ reaction.