Preeti Atulkar (BOMBAY TIMES; December 22, 2024)

A well-known name in the list of Marathi actors, Swwapnil Joshi is now set to make a foray into the Gujarati film industry, with the first Gujarati film of his career - Shubhchintak. Excited to begin this journey, the actor speaks to us about exploring a new industry, and the importance of staying relevant with time. Excerpts:

‘Everyone needs to be very thorough today, as a professional’
Swwapnil, who has earlier played a Gujarati character in the 2010 TV show, 'Papad Pol- Shahabuddin Rathod Ki Rangeen Duniya', says that he sees no difference in the way Marathi and Gujarati industries operate.

“This is my first Gujarati film, but I see the same level of professionalism, dedication, and passion. As a professional, I believe everyone needs to be thorough today. The competition is tough, and if you’re not good, you won’t last. It’s important to stay up to date professionally, and I see that here,” shares the Vaalvi actor.

‘I have done an extensive workshop for the film’
Quiz him if he is working on mastering the Gujarati language and he says, “I understand and speak fluent Gujarati. In fact, many people think I am Gujarati because of that. Having said that, mouthing dialogues for a film is a whole different ball game. For that, we have a dialect coach. In fact, we have been through an extensive workshop before the film went on floors.”

‘Entertainment is a serious business’
Emphasizing the importance of a formal prep prior to shoots, Swwapnil says, “Nowadays, most of the filmmakers plan a 15-day workshop before shooting kicks off. Entertainment is a serious business. With every film, you are entering a new world. You need to be well-prepared before you start portraying the characters. There are diction coaches even for Marathi films. When I did 'Mi Pan Sachin', I worked on the Kolhapuri dialect with the help of an expert.”

‘I never juggle two projects simultaneously’
Describing his style of working, the 'Duniyadari' actor says that he focuses on one project at a time. “If you see my track record, I’ve done only 20 to 22 films in my entire career in the Marathi film industry. Most of my films have done well at the box office, which is why people think that I’ve done a lot of work. But I haven’t. I never juggle two projects simultaneously. It’s not right, nor wrong. It’s my style of working,” adds Swwapnil.