From making waves on the international stage with a Hollywood release to captivating audiences through his latest web series, Mahir Pandhi is steadily carving a distinctive space for himself in the entertainment industry. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, the actor opens up about his struggles, TV industry exploitation, Takht getting shelved and much more.
Mahir Pandhi on Vimal Khanna
Reflecting on his experience working on Vimal Khanna, Mahir Pandhi credits the creative freedom he enjoyed on set for helping him fully immerse himself in the character. He adds, “When you have a good actor in front of you as well, referring to Sunny Hinduja, the give-and-take becomes effortless, and the outcome of every scene turns out much better.”
When asked if he resonated with his character Bosco, Mahir disagreed, stating that he is very different from his on-screen persona, especially when it comes to love.
Mahir on television being regressive
Mahir reflects on his journey in television and admits that the medium can be regressive, as it often relies on dated storytelling tropes, particularly in its portrayal of women. He explains, “One thing we need to understand is that even today, on television, a female protagonist is shown helpless. Later, she somehow wins because God is with her and everyone eventually supports her. But we haven`t really moved away from this whole concept of the helpless woman.”
He also spoke about how long working hours took a toll on him, especially during his debut show. “When you`re new to television, you`re often exploited because you don`t know how the system works. Things take a toll on you because you`re overworked and constantly pushed. I definitely faced that a lot during my first television show. So much so that by the time I did my next show, I was well prepared and knew exactly where to draw the line,” he says.
Mahir Pandhi on Takht getting shelved
Karan Johar announced the magnum opus Takht with a star-studded cast in August 2019. The film starred Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Janhvi Kapoor. It was set to be made on a staggering budget of Rs 250 crore. Mahir was also a part of the project.
Revealing the real reason behind Takht getting shelved, Mahir said, “Takht was not a normal film. It was Mr. Yash Johar’s last dream project and had a historic connection to it. When you write a script based on history, you can’t change the facts. Once COVID happened, it became extremely difficult to bring together so many actors and align their dates.”
He added that the budget eventually crossed Rs 200 crore, making it difficult for the makers to secure funding. He further asserted, “Even if you wanted to plan it two years later, it would have been impossible to get the entire cast together. And if you make Takht today, you would have to rewrite the script from scratch because the audience has changed.”
The film getting shelved deeply affected the actor, as being a part of a Dharma Productions magnum opus was a dream come true for him. Not only that, but the industry had also started looking at him differently.
“I was almost living that dream. I was being invited to parties, and they made me feel welcome. I was made to feel like a part of the film. If I look back, only I know how difficult it was to accept the fact that a Dharma film was not going to happen for me,” he shared.
Reflecting on his initial days in the industry, the actor also revealed how he was typecast and often rejected for being too fair and looking a certain way. “Initially, it was a major factor. Because of my eyes, face, and facial features, I was often considered only for the typical Kashmiri character or a terrorist. Those were the categories I was usually being slotted into,” he said.