Exclusive: Pavan Malhotra on working with Riteish Deshmukh in Pill, says 'I really admire him as an actor; he surprises you'

Pavan Malhotra has many hits to his credit, like Bagh Bahadur (1989), Salim Langde Par Mat Ro (1989), Brothers in Trouble, Rustom, and many more.

Veteran actor Pavan Malhotra is a known face and has played many versatile roles in his four-decade-long film and TV career.

The actor, who is seen as the main antagonist in the recently released series Pill, which has Riteish Deshmukh in the lead, spoke exclusively with MoneyControl about working with Riteish and how cinema has changed over the years.

He was all praise for Riteish Deshmukh, who is his co-star in Pill. The actor also spoke about other young actors, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Ranveer Singh, and said they surprise the audience with their performances each time.

Pavan Malhotra in Rustom

Also read: Pill review: Riteish Deshmukh shines in this riveting yet slow paced medical drama

Pavan Malhotra has many hits to his credit, like Bagh Bahadur (1989), Salim Langde Par Mat Ro (1989), Brothers in Trouble, Rustom, and many more. He started his career with the hit show Nukkad in 1986, where he played the role of Hari. The entire cast of Nukkad is remembered to date.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Working with Riteish

I am working for the second time with Riteish, and honestly, I really admire him as an actor. If you see, there's a very good range. Somebody once asked me something, and I said, Think of Riteish for this character. The person said, 'Nahi yaar woh toh comedy hi karta hai' then I said, 'nahi woh comedy bhi karta hai.' Then Ek Villain comes, and you can see how good he is. Otherwise, he is also a very good actor. In fact, I didn't have too many scenes with him; whatever scenes I had with him, I really enjoyed working with him."

Praises Vicky Kaushal's performances

You see Vicky Kaushal in Sanju, and if you see him in Sam Bahadur, you can see his body language and the way he has performed. I have seen him in his first film, and he has never disappointed. He is so good.

Also read: Pill actor Riteish Deshmukh shares his thoughts on Covid times, ‘The human spirit to fight and revive was there’

Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh are so good.

Ranbir Kapoor is so good. Ranveer Singh—if you see him in Padmavat or Gully Boy, there is a contrast. That's what acting is all about. The fact is that star wo hi banta hai jiski mimicry hoti hai.

Antagonist in Pill: What makes his character stand out?

Once you watch it, you can only know what will make my character stand out. I don't see it like that; I just liked the script and the briefing that came to me from my director. How far I am able to do that. If you play something right, it doesn't have to be very hysterical, and you don't need to add some masala to it. It's there in the script, and if you play it right and see how your director has visioned it, then you stand out. I always feel that the project has to stand out. Each person has to perform for it to work.

How did you prepare for the role?

If you see it, he is more of a businessman; he hires people to work because he is the money guy, and he orders them according to his own convenience. It is the work done right or wrong.

Also read: Ritesh Deshmukh’s debut series, ‘PILL’ showcases the dark underbelly of the Pharma Industry, watch trailer

Changes in Cinema

Cinema kept changing with time; if you see it from the silent era, it kept changing. The kind of films that were made in the 1960s, then changed in the 70s, 80s, and 90s slowly, if you see the films that are now being made, are different. Even the approach of film makers, the way they tell the story, and the people who perform the story have changed. Technically, the moviemaking process has changed. Change is important, and our job is to tell different kinds of stories. You can't be telling the same story. Change is always interesting.

Working with Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihlani

When I started in the 80s, suddenly action movies were being made. At the same time, Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihlani, and Syed Mirza were making different kinds of cinema. There was an audience for them too. They created their own stars: Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and Smita Patil. Then there was a lull in that kind of cinema. Somebody told me when I did Salim Langde Pe Matt Ro, Baagh Bahadur back to back ki jab tu aya toh movement khatam ho gayi. But still, Salim Langda was a big hit, and Bagh Bahadur was received very well. I said there is an audience.

Then, in the early 2000s and late 1990s, filmmakers emerged who were telling different kinds of stories. They were doing something that was not usually done. And even work-wise, the discipline was different. There was a time when actors were doing 4-5 films, giving two hours for 4 films a day. There were no scripts written, and it took 4-5 years for one film to be completed.

Also read: Naseeruddin Shah writes about ‘Manthan’, ‘Three cheers for Shyam and Govind Nihalani will be far from enough'

But most of the time I worked with a bound script from Salim Langde Par Mat Maro, Brothers in Trouble, Road to Sangam, Bagh Bahadur, and Black Friday. Those filmmakers are still continuing. Road to Sangam director who made OMG 2; they are working with us.

Rustom, we would get a bound script. It was like, in two months, three months, you would shoot. I could afford to wear wigs and net beards as much as possible.

On working with Akshay

There is discipline, things have changed, and people come on time. They are there for the shoot. It is not that they come for one shot and vanish, and people have to look for them. At least I have not experienced that kind of thing. Every actor has a different approach. As far as I am concerned, it has never ever mattered to me ki mere saamne kaun hai, ya saaht kaun hai, as long as the person is playing his or her character. We all work as a team, and with all the names that you took, I have never felt that people have not worked as a team. Otherwise, they wouldn't have worked.

Also read: Naseeruddin Shah at Cannes for 'Manthan' screening, says 'never realised the importance of the film’ during shooting days

Being in the industry for four decades

When I look back, I am thankful to God. I am content. When you live, apko lagta hai kuch. Kisi ne poocha ki aapko career ke liye kaisa lagta hai—I said ki bhai ho sakta hai ki film industry ke montage mein meri bahut badi photo na ho lekin uss collage ke aik kone mein aik dot lagaya hai aur woh kona mera kona hai. I am really thankful to God that such interesting scripts and such interesting characters with very good teams and directors came into my lap.

Pavan Malhotra was seen in Pill, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta. Riteish Deshmukh played the lead role in the series, which is about whistleblowers who expose a corrupt nexus of pharma giants, middlemen, and doctors responsible for unethical drug proliferation in India.