- By Akshat Sundrani
- Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:41 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Stepping beyond the realm of television, actor Gaurav Chopra embarks on a dynamic journey, venturing into OTT platforms and films. Amidst the ebbs and flows of his career, he fearlessly embraces new roles, showcasing his versatility and growth as an artist. As he prepares for the eagerly awaited release of 'Gadar 2,' where he shares the screen with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, Gaurav Chopra undertakes the role of Colonel Devendra Rawat. The film is set to captivate audiences on August 11, 2023.
In an exclusive interview with Jagran English, Gaurav Chopra delves into the intricacies of his character in Anil Sharma's directorial venture. He candidly shares the initial hesitations he encountered in accepting the role, his experiences collaborating with Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, and more insights into his journey.
How was your experience shooting for the film?
This came to me at a point where I had made a very strong creative decision for myself. It was a conscious decision that I made around lockdown time – that I would now do different things, shock myself, and challenge myself. So the three roles I said yes to after lockdown were Bachchan Pandey as the main antagonist opposite Akshay (Kumar), Rana Naidu as Prince Reddy, and Gadar 2. I put on weight, I lost weight, I grew my beard, I cut my beard. It took us 20 days just to define the moustache for Gadar because I wanted it to be different. So yes, this is a very exciting phase in which Gadar has come to me.
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Initially, you were hesitant about the role; how did that change?
Hesitant because the number of scenes was not many, and in this whole experimental phase, I didn't want the audience or the industry to misinterpret my experimentation. Sometimes people misconstrue, and because you will look good and do a good job, they will start offering you similar smaller parts. It's a fear that we actors have to live with when we experiment. But Anil ji (Anil Sharma) said no, I want to narrate this to you, and once he narrated Colonel Devendra Rawat, I knew, "Acha, this is why he wants me." Because it needs that aura, an actor can bring on-screen.
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How do you define the trajectory of your role in the film?
I play Colonel Devendra Rawat. He is the soldier because of whom we feel safe. He is the guy standing there, commanding forces because of whom everything is okay. He is the savior who comes at the right moment every time in the film. There are not many scenes, but every time Colonel Rawat is there, he brings with him this sense of India. He is nice, responsible, and most importantly, that strongly-willed, strong-built soldier. When you see him, you feel like we will be okay with this guy taking care of everything.
Did you ever felt intimidated, while shooting with Sunny Deol or Ameesha Patel?
He is very warm; he will greet you with such warmth that you will melt, and you become his. Then you see him performing in front of the camera, and he is as explosive as Tara Singh is; it is as believable in real life. With a hammer in hand, he becomes like Thor. He picks up that hammer, and you think, "Acha, abhi to gaye." Because he is like that, he transforms.
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On the other hand, Ameesha, when I saw her for the first time, I was just completely blown away by how beautiful she looked. I was like, "Did she sit in some time capsule or something?" Because it looked like age hasn't affected her at all.
Ameesha Patel accused director Anil Sharma of mismanagement on set. Did that issue actually happen on set?
I wouldn't know about that, but I heard what she said at the trailer launch: "We get into a fight, then we patch up, then we block each other, then we hug it out." Everything seems beautiful right now; that's all I can say.