Pratik Gandhi: I can direct soon, if I get a great script

Direction is next on the mind of Scam 1992 actor Pratik Gandhi. He has been shooting back-to-back films and just wrapped up a film in Lucknow, and now has two biopics lined-up up to shoot besides the second season of The Great Indian Murder.

“I am looking forward to directing a project. It’s surely on my mind. I have done direction in theatre. I direct my play Saat Teri Ekvees (7×3=21). I act in the play Mohan No Masalo, and now, I will be acting in a series on Mahatma Gandhi so it (direction) can be done.”

But, with multiple acting projects happening will direction take a back seat? “It depends! It could be done simultaneously. I have done direction before, though it was theatre, and this is a different medium. But if some good script or story comes my way then it can happen very soon. Also, writing, editing, direction and acting, all these things are very closely linked to each other. The more you know about it and learn it complements the others.”

Gandhi adds, “I feel, for an actor, it’s very important to know about editing, camera and direction. It helps in creating a high point and taking emotion to the peak. Trust me, magic happens after the director says cut in the follow-through. And that can happen only if you know all the facets of the craft.”

The actor gives the example of actor-turned-director Kunal Khemu. “I did a film with him and I am so impressed with the way he was handling everything. He has been acting since childhood and seen things so closely and that’s the reason he was very sorted. I too look forward to it.”

“I have completed film Dedh Bigha Zameen, Woh Ladki Hai Kahan with Taapsee (Pannu), an untitled film with Vidya Balan, an anthology with Hansal (Mehta) sir and now this Tigmanshu (Dhulia) sir project. In July, I will start the Gandhi series and another biopic (social reformers Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule).”

The actor agrees that the audience has become very brutal. “It is no longer about money, it’s about time. So, the audience has become unforgiving and won’t tolerate anything substandard. There is so much content so one has to be one notch up! So, I am just trying to select good projects and deliver new experimental projects. Rest, nothing is in my control as it’s teamwork. It’s only when all departments excel that we get a masterpiece like Scam.”

‘Bhasha yahan zinda hai’

On his Lucknow visit, he says, “I have been here before during my corporate career; we were setting up a cement plant at Kundanganj so I used to come literally every month. I have seen where all we have shot and since I am an eggetarian so have less choices. Thankfully, we have a lot of vegetarian choices.

“Nowadays, all cities have similar buildings, brands, hotels and restaurants. But here, we still have a different vibe. Also, here language is excellent. What we read in books here people speak as well – bhasha yahan zinda hai. Here, I have heard some words after ages!”