Characters go waste in short films, feels Pavan Malhotra
Despite being in the industry for almost three decades now, actor Pavan Malhotra prefers to call himself a “learner”, and not an industry veteran. “I can never do that. I will forever call myself a learner, because there’s just so much to learn, and 35 years are a little too less for that,” he says.
Pavan, who recently wrapped up the shooting for the upcoming film, Abhi To Party Shuru Hui Hai, adds, “When you look at someone like Amitabh Bachchan, you see them with the same passion and the same dedication that they had when they started [acting in films]. I believe that the kind of work Bachchan sir is doing right now, is phenomenal, and we are seeing the best of him as an actor. That’s why, I call myself a learner. I will be a fool if I start thinking that I’m the best, or I don’t need to learn anything.”
The 59-year-old says that he only focusses on the character he is portraying onscreen and not the ‘kind’ of film he signs for. “I know a lot of people say, ‘Pavan sir, aap yeh Judwaa 2 (2017) jaisi film kyu kar rahe ho? I understand that emotion, but I am never going to say a no to a film, just because it comes under the tag of a commercial film. I love playing characters. They can be part of a film, which is commercial, and they can be from an indie film as well,” says Pavan, who has been a part of films such as Jab We Met (2007), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Rustom (2016), Mubarakan (2017) and Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe (Punjabi, 2015).
Citing example of mainstream actors, he adds, “You look at Alia (Bhatt). She is such an amazing actor. Her role in Kapoor and Sons (2016) was so small yet the character detailing she did, was amazing. You like such actors. They are not differentiating on the basis of commercial or indie films.”
Strangely though, Pavan never wants to be a part of short films, and for the time being, not even web series. “Short films don’t get you anywhere. Yes, if it’s good, people will talk about it on social media, but that’s about it. Even that appreciation lasts for a short while. Then, what? You have wasted an entire character and almost no one will even notice it. Even for web-series, everyone is saying it’s the future, but right now, they don’t have the impact that movies still have in our country. I have received a lot of offers for web-series, but as of now, I don’t think it’s worth it to invest your time and energy into them,” he concludes.
Short films don’t get you anywhere. Yes, if it’s good, people will talk about it on social media, but that’s about it. Even that appreciation lasts for a short while. PAVAN MALHOTRA ACTOR