Gaurav Sareen expresses his admiration for Dev Anand and Shah Rukh Khan: 'They have earned global acclaim for their performances' - Exclusive

In a chat with ETimes, Gaurav Sareen talked about his new movie 'Dashmi,' calling it an exciting and emotional tale of good winning over evil. He also discussed his shift from TV to movies, expressing his belief that today's audience can understand and appreciate well-told stories and characters, and the old stigma is no longer a big concern. Excerpts from the interview...
Tell us something about 'Dashmi'.
Dashmi is about good winning over evil. It is a very thrilling-yet-emotional film. I have played two characters in this film; one is that of a college student and the other is of Lord Ram. I urge people to go and watch this film in the theatres because it is a story worth watching.
Who did you bond the most with on the sets of the film?
I think I had the most bonding with Vardhan Puri and Ankit Khaira. I also gelled well with Ram Naresh Diwakar. Everybody was very sweet both, on and off the set. We are still in touch and often catch up with each other. I am lucky that I got to know so many good people from the sets of 'Dashmi'.

Can you share any interesting anecdotes from your shooting days?
We had a lot of fun on the set while shooting. Our director used to play us a song from this film, which hasn't been released yet. It's a beautiful song. We are very emotionally connected to this song. That song was played before shooting any of the scenes in this film. I believe that the song is the backbone of the film.
We worked in a different way. We had various workshops where our producers and directors took us out of the city, to remote areas where our phones didn't work. Our workshop ran from 6 to 11 in the morning. After that, we had breakfast, followed by some rest. Our workshops resumed in the evening with readings. In the process of making this film, we had many diverse experiences, especially for me, as this is my first film. So, it was a unique and different experience for me.

With 'Adipurush' receiving a lot of backlash from the audience and the critics, were you sceptical before being a part of the film of this genre?
I wasn't sceptical at all because every story is different. I believe that each one has its own destiny. I am sure everyone gives their best while working on a movie, rest is up to the audience whether they like it or not.
You have worked extensively in the television industry. How do you think TV actors perceive when they make a transition to the silver screen?
If someone had posed this question a few years ago, my response would have been quite different. However, today, I can affirm that the audience is very discerning. They grasp the storyline of a good film very well. If an actor can do justice to a character, the audience accepts them. I believe that the stigma of transitioning from TV no longer exists today, especially when it comes to this film. I didn't feel any disparity. I sensed that perhaps this was meant for me, and this is what I have to do. This felt right to me.

Do you have actors you look upto in the film industry?
There are two actors who I look up to in the film industry. One is Mr Dev Anand and the other one is Mr Shah Rukh Khan. These people have earned global acclaim for their performances. I want to be one of those greatest actors.
What does 2024 have in store for Gaurav Sareen?
My first film 'Dashmi' is releasing in 2024. There is another film of Sunil Kumar Reddy. He has done many films in the South. I am also doing another film with my Dashmi director.