Curious to find out audience’s reaction to my Gujarati film debut: Swwapnil Joshi

Marathi superstar Swwapnil Joshi is all set to make his debut in Gujarati films with Shubhchintak, which also stars Manasi Parekh and Viraf Patell. Swwapnil, who was in Ahmedabad for an event, says, “I am really excited to work in Gujarati films. I have seen the kind of content being explored here and the growth this industry has seen in the last decade. It is a great time to enter a progressive regional industry like Gujarati.”
Talking about his debut D-Town project, the Papad Pol – Shahabuddin Rathod Ki Rangeen Duniya actor adds, “For me, it’s important to share a comfort level with the team. Manasi (Parekh) and Parthiv (Gohil) are friends, and I love the kind of cinema they bring to the audience. Most importantly, I loved the script and the role.”
‘Subtitles have come as a blessing for regional cinema’
While he has done his fair share of Hindi TV shows and a couple of Bollywood films, the actor-producer says working primarily in Marathi films has been “a conscious choice.” He shares, “Now, the lines are blurring when it comes to films. They are no longer viewed as Hindi films, Marathi films or Gujarati films; they are just films. My focus has always been to do films that take me forward as an actor and storyteller. Today, some of my Marathi films are being viewed all over the country. Duniyadari has been remade in seven languages in India. The idea is to bring out good content for everyone, and not to just tick a box by working solely in Bollywood.”
He adds, “The subtitles have come as a blessing for regional cinema. While the nuances can be understood better if you know the language, the story is reaching everyone and everywhere.”
‘Feel blessed that audiences accepted me beyond the role of Krishna’
Swwapnil’s role of a young Krishna in the show Krishna (1993) made him a household name. Was it tough for him to get other roles? Swwapnil says, “On many occasions, actors who have played mythological characters try to break out of their image and do something different, but not everyone is successful. I feel blessed that audiences accepted me beyond my mythological characters. The credit goes to them; they have accepted me as a villain, hero, and even as a beggar in my Marathi film Bhikari.”
He adds, “Now that I am entering a new industry (Gujarati) with a role I haven’t done before, I am excited. The child in me is very curious and thrilled to see the audience reaction after watching me in a Gujarati film (smiles).”
‘Marathi films are successful as good stories are being told consistently’
Asked about why Marathi films have been successful for such a long time, he says, “Primarily, it is because good stories are being told consistently. Thankfully, our business model is not governed by corporates per se, so we can tell the stories that we want to tell and make the kind of content we want. Also, similar to Gujarat, Maharashtra has a rich legacy of theatre and literature. Natak (drama) ka bahut contribution hai Marathi industry ke success mein. Marathi plays don’t just entertain, they enrich us too. Since there are dramas belonging to different genres, the audience is accepting of all kinds of topics in films too.”
He says, "If the story is good, I am open to working in any industry, whether it’s a Bengali film or any OTT show. For me, script and subject are important, irrespective of the language or streaming platform."
Talking about working in Gujarat, Swwapnil says, "I studied in a Parsi school, so I had a lot of Gujarati friends and knew the language. But I had to brush up on it a bit. I have realised that Gujarat is about food. Jo thoda bahut weight badha hai mera is because of all the food I have relished here (laughs). I have always had a connect with the Gujarati audience due to my shows like Papad Pol... So, I am excited about how they accept me after watching my debut Gujarati film."