A life less than ordinary

Manpriya Singh

Even though he clinched the third audition itself, which finally landed him an apple drink commercial, young actor Gaurav Pandey recalls his never-ending initial stint with auditions.

“During initial four to five years, I must have given at least 200 auditions for television commercials,” he takes on from how it all went after shifting base to Mumbai in 2009. But several rounds of auditions also meant that he landed commercials for brands like Colgate Plax, OLX, KFC and Volkswagon. It was just the beginning and he was at a good place.

“It was while pursuing business studies in America in 2008 that I realised that I wanted to be in a creative field,” he explains the mismatch between his academic background and what he finally pursued. “Even in school itself, I was into plays, school programmes and performing arts,” shares the Delhi boy, hailing from a business family (his family is into seating and upholstery business). “But my parents were very supportive.”

Bollywood beginnings

Recently seen in web series by Y Films, A Man’s World, his first Bollywood break came as Shaunty in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. A role he immediately grabbed without any apprehensions of being stereotyped by Bollywood.

Once a supporting actor, always a supporting actor. He adds, “I had to enter the industry somehow, I liked the character, it was a real role and I was convinced.”

For all the aspirants...

A fair share of struggle, several rounds of auditions sufficiently qualify him to dole out the much needed words of wisdom to those bitten by the acting bug. “I would like to tell all the aspirants to first believe in yourself and then just hang in there. Keep working and really hard, while at it.” Need we add, keep a Plan B in mind?

The Flying Jatt’s brother

While there is still time before the superhero roles come his way, meanwhile he plays the superhero’s brother. Coming up is Remo D’Souza’s A Flying Jatt. “I play Tiger Shroff’s brother. We are a close-knit and a great family. Although my character is very simple but it is still under wraps and I would not like to reveal much about it. All I can say is it’s a significant role and there’s a lot to the character that I play,” he is keeping his fingers crossed.

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