Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who recently signed a three-film deal with Vishesh Films, considers Mukesh Bhatt to be his godfather. He says the producer is guiding him through his fledgling movie career.
In an interview, Choudhary discussed how he landed the film deal and his transition from TV to movies. Excerpts:
Q. How did you land a three-film deal with the Bhatts?
A. I often used to bump into Mukesh Bhatt saab [sir] at film award functions. I would greet him as a senior. I felt he was observing me. Then, at an awards function in South Africa, Ranbir Kapoor got the best actor award for films and I got the best actor award for television. Then, Mukeshji said he wants to work with me. I got a call from his office. And the rest, I hope will be history.
Q. Do you have an exclusive movie contract with Bhatt?
A. No, I can work in others’ films as well. Mukeshji treats me like his own child. He is guiding me through my new movie career. I consider him my godfather. My first film with Mukeshji starts in May. I’ve started preparing for it.
Q. What kind of preparations?
A. Gymming, stunts and acting workshops... the works. I feel I am starting a new career.
Q. From playing Ram in Ramayan on television to the Bhatts’ hero — how did this journey happen?
A. I chose to start with the home medium. I’ll tell you something about myself which no one knows. Nine years ago, when I left my home in Bihar at the age of 19 to come to Mumbai, I somehow got Yash Chopra’s number. My dad, who was an army officer, accompanied me. We both went to meet Yashji to seek his advice and blessings. Yashji told me to start my acting career on television. He told me that’s where Shah Rukh Khan started. ‘And look where he is today’ — Yashji’s words still ring in my ears.
Q. For a 19-year-old from Bhagalpur in Bihar, it couldn’t have been easy to get roles?
A. It was very difficult. So many starry-eyed small-towners come to Mumbai to become a hero. Now I’m finally ready to be launched as a leading man. But let me tell you, I never took television lightly. I worked as hard on television as I will in cinema. A lot of actors take television for granted.
Q. Your family in Bihar didn’t object to your choice of career?
A. They did initially. But they gave up when they realised that this boy will do everything it takes to become an actor. They made the biggest mistake by naming me ‘Shashi Kapoor’. Yes, that was my nickname among family and friends. Eventually, they supported me wholeheartedly. Today when I see my father’s pride at my achievement, I feel fulfilled. He hardly ever smiles. But when I see him smile about my career, I am the happiest son in the world. My father too started with a small role in the army and then worked his way to becoming an officer. He is my hero and role model.
Q. You started your career playing Ram in Ramayan. Wasn’t it a risk?
A. That was considered a big risk. They said any actor who plays a mythological character gets typecast. Everyone advised me against doing Ramayan at a time when all others were doing saas-bahu [mother-in-law, daughter-in-law] serials. But I wanted to do something different. After doing two soaps, I moved onto reality shows. So I was paving my way for a movie career.
Q. Your colleagues from television such as Sushant Singh Rajput and Ayushmann Khurrana have also embarked on a movie career?
A. Nowadays television is as important as cinema. Even film producers have realised that television stars are popular not just in India but overseas as well.
