A versatile actor, Pavan Malhotra lives the characters that he essays. From “Bagh Bahadur” and “Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro” to “Black Friday” and “Road To Sangam”, Pavan is remembered for his body of work rather than his style or mannerism. He will now be seen as the face of education mafia in Ashwini Chaudhary’s “Setters”.
Excerpts:
What was your approach to play an Uttar Pradesh-based character of an education mafia?
I only got to know about such organised mafia through this film and most of my knowledge about such people comes from the narration of the script. It was easy for me to understand the roughness of a pahalwan (wrestler), which my character is in the film because I have seen many in my life. The combination of imagination and experiences helped me in shaping the character. I was born in Delhi and most of my experiences are from that city only but as an actor, you do your homework to reach to a level where you seem belonging to that place and that happens at a subconscious level. You don't need to take notes for that. It is an entertaining film with a strong message about the state of education system in the country.
Issue-based films, which were treated differently earlier, have taken a mainstream look. How do you see the trend?
When I say an entertaining film, it doesn't mean it does not give proper attention to the issues tackled in film. For example, you also give a message through “Anand” but you give it in an entertaining way. “Chupke Chupke”, for instance, talks about how language creates two different societies but you never feel it in the film as you are totally engrossed in the story. Why should we create something boring in the name of realistic cinema?
All my characters come from real life even when I am buffoonish like I was in “Judwaa 2”. There is no structure to how one kind of film should look like.
Do you think a film is meant to give a message?
I don’t think so. If I am only laughing after watching a film, it has served its purpose . It's like watching a cricket match which is purely entertainment based and if I am happy because of a film, that is its win. Cinema should be like a bouquet of flowers which should have different varieties. If a film achieves both entertainment and content, that is a perfect combination. If it is rich in passion, it will have a shelf life such as “Mughal-e-Azam”, “Sholay”, “Padosan” which can be watched whenever you feel and they are still relevant.
Salim's character is still remembered as one of the most powerful characters in Hindi cinema...
You have to understand Salim's vulnerability and innocence before you know him. It had to be very simple in approach. His body language is very different from other gangsters when he walks on the road as he is not someone who is controlling everything on the road. He is a small-time pickpocket who wants the biggies to pick him. You can see his admiration for other big gangsters in his eyes because for him it is the way to be successful. It is like someone who is born in Bangalore and wants to become an IT engineer because he has seen many in his locality. The film is about how Muslims are trapped in the ghettos after Partition and the importance of education in Muslims so that they can come out of this.
How was approach different for Tiger Memon in “Black Friday”?
Tiger Memon had venom in his eyes. He was very much controlled in his manners because of his authority and connections. When he was not in control, his impotent anger surfaced.
“Jab We Met”, “Children of War”, “Mubarakaan”, being short-tempered seems to be a common trait in your characters. How do you bring a difference in situations like this?
The anger in “Mubarakan” and “Jab We Met” come from different frames of mind. Both are nearly the same but they are different persons. Both become mad and shout out whatever is inside. If you don't make back stories and traits in your character, you can't bring magic in your performances.
Do you believe in bankability of characters if you become famous for one role?
If you repeat yourself again and again, you become master of what you do but I don't want to do that. I want to try different things and be good at different things.
I should not be known by individual performances but I should be known for my entire body of work. There are many newcomers but Vicky Kaushal has played various shades. That stays in mind. Amjad Khan was great because after “Sholay” he did Wajid Ali Khan in “Shatranj Ke Khiladi”. Amrish Puri was a doctor (of acting). Jo jaisa bimar (director) ata tha use waisi pudiya (performance) dete the. (laughs).
Where is the fine line?
You have to understand that there is a difference between performing and acting. You can be a good performer and repeat it again and again and you become what you say a star. But you can be a good actor only when you deliver a unique performance in each film.
Acting is a great profession. You can live many lives here. You can be different at different points of life and imagine those emotions which other people cannot even think of.
How do you translate your experiences in the craft?
I do that all the time. People ask me why do I live normal and not as a celebrity. I do that to experience more. I live my life, I go to public parks, eat at regular restaurants and I don't want to feel that I am someone of importance. I was fortunate that I had command over language because of my family. I know where to put nukta. Jurab ko zurab nahin kahta (laughs).