Amritsar lad Gaurav Sareen, who will soon be seen in the film Dashmi, says taking a break from television shows proved a boon for him

Gurnaaz Kaur

Embarking on a cinematic journey is no small feat, and Gaurav Sareen has successfully made the transition from television to the big screen. But it wasn’t all that easy. He had to take a two-year-long break from TV and go through many auditions before he got his dream project, Dashmi, in which he stars as the lead. “We started shooting for Dashmi in October 2022 and that’s how I returned to the entertainment industry. The break was a conscious decision, as I hadjoined the industry to be a part of films in the first place.”

It wasn’t alone his dream, even Gaurav’s grandmother wished to see him in movies, so when he got a call from casting director Vicky Sidana for a film, he was elated. “I got a call from Vicky asking me if I wanted to act in a film. The very next day I was in Mumbai.”

Director Shantanu Anant Tambe’s interest in him was piqued by a YouTube clip from Krishna Chali London, which showcased Gaurav’s acting prowess. The subsequent meeting led to the narration of the film’s climax and an offer he couldn’t refuse. “The preparation for Dashmi involved intensive acting workshops in Goa, finalising costumes and setting the stage for a year-long shooting schedule in Lucknow, among other things, as part of pre-production.”

Good going

As Gaurav passionately shares details about his upcoming projects, he beams with joy that he has another film in his kitty. “My next film is with Sunil Kumar Reddy, where I play the lead alongside Arbaaz Khan, who essays my onscreen father.” This project also marks Reddy’s foray into Hindi cinema after an extensive portfolio in South Indian industry.

Reflecting on the stark differences between TV and films, Gaurav, who has led three TV shows in the past, highlights the rigorous preparation involved in the latter. “From costume fittings to chemistry tests with co-actors, the intricate process of filmmaking stands in contrast to the repetitive nature of television. It’s a long and evolving process. TV, on the other hand, can get monotonous as you play the same character for months and sometimes even a year or more.”

Back to where it all began, it was an unpleasant experience while shooting for a show that made Gaurav think about a break. “I was hospitalised due to typhoid while shooting for Mahesh Pandey’s Lovepanti and was being pressurised to shoot even when they had a bank of 20 episodes! I didn’t get paid and the maker replaced me without even telling me. I was disappointed, so my family convinced me to go back to Amritsar for a while.”

But all is well that ends well. The break from television paved the way for self-improvement. It allowed him to explore his interests, including martial arts.

Fruitful time

About the personal transformation he underwent during that time, he says, “From literature, biographies, and diverse series on Netflix, I devoured them all. I also worked on my fashion sense, dialect, and confidence.”

Hailing from a small village Ajnala in Amritsar, Gaurav, who at one point in life was hesitant to speak in front of a few people, has evolved into a poised individual. As he eagerly awaits the completion of the second schedule for his ongoing project, he anticipates the release of Dashmi on January 19 will mark a significant milestone in his career.