Meet 32-year old Bhushan Pradhan, a Marathi actor, who is all set to mark his presence in the Bollywood industry soon. Ahead of his latest release Re Raya, the ardent actor talks about his connecting with theatre, modelling and why Marathi television industry is so close to his heart.
Bhushan Pradhan, From television to silver screen, how has been the journey?
It had been a learning journey filled with WAO and low moments. With time I have realized that what we call as ‘struggling period’ in the initial years, it is actually always a prefix of every actor’s life. The entertainment industry is very dynamic and you never know when things will change and someone else will take over your place. It’s a very unpredictable space.
Bhushan Pradhan, How and when acting happen to you?
It started at the age of 8 when I was not even aware that what I love to do is actually called ‘acting’. And ever since I realized my passion for it, all my actions have been in accordance with the motive to achieve my goal. The first school play I did was ‘Vadhadiwasachi Bhet’, which means ‘Birthday Gift’. My school teachers always motivated me to keep the spark alive. And after school, modelling came as an easy way to enter into the world of glamour. After that I entered into the Marathi television industry at the age of 24 and did ‘Ghe Bharari’, but the turning point of my career was ‘Pinjara’. And after that, there was no looking back.
What do you enjoy about your performances?
What I can never imagine to live or feel like a normal human, this profession makes me feel and live those moments. Also, while we all are struggling to understand ourselves, as an actor I get to understand so many iconic lives and then enact them on screen. The sense of satisfaction in doing all this is beyond imagination. I literally feel blessed to be in this space.
What kind of preparations do you go through for your characters?
For me, it is necessary to understand the nuances of the character and then I try to watch and read a lot of the same genre and films that are close to the subject. The idea is to understand the space in which the plot is sketched and it also helps me understand what the audience would expect from such characters. If I don’t feel satisfied with the virtual details, I schedule to visit the place or the person to have a micro view. I guess it all lies in the level of passion and dedication.
Bollywood has been everyone’s dream. Are you also in the league?
(Laughs) Touchwood my hard work has paid off and before I thought of approaching people in Bollywood, they approached me and that was like an authentication to my work in Marathi film industry. As an actor, such incidents give you a push to work harder.
There is too much inspiration game going on? How do you feel about the shift as an actor?
I know people have issues with the inspiration game. As an actor, I think it’s all good. As an audience what people see is just the subject and plot of the film. In reality, it is beyond the plot and it involves an all-new set of emotions and expressions that make it a different project altogether. We need to rise above all controversies and see a film as a standalone project that comes to life after so much hard work.
Are you a director’s actors or you put in your inputs too?
I always put in my efforts and then when the director contradicts and guides me, that is what I really love because it enriches my vision and approach to the character and it also helps me understand where there is a scope for improvement.
Do you also read books on filmmaking and acting techniques?
Of course, I do and they help a lot. If you talk about any other talent, there is a pattern of ‘riyaaz’. But when it comes to acting there is no particular set of riyaaz. So, every actor finds his way of polishing the skills. The two books that have helped me a lot in the recent times include ‘The Power of the Actor’, by Ivana Chubbuck and ‘No Acting Please’ by Eric Morris &Joan Hotchiks.
Is direction or production in the list?
At present, I am enjoying the process of being an actor. Direction and production is a different ball game altogether. I would love to taste the flavour of both, but nothing planned yet.
What is the most memorable project to date and why?
As an actor, every project is memorable because each role calls for a different type of preparation. Things get ugly when projects get delayed and you are stuck. That is when I feel suffocated and the enthusiasm of connecting with a project is lost. But I try to neglect it with my optimism.
Bhushan Pradhan for TMM
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