At a time when even strong films are struggling to pull audiences to theatres, actor Adarsh Gourav acknowledges the reality without sugarcoating it. His last film, Tu Yaa Main, released in Febraury, may not have delivered at the box office, but he refuses to measure its value by numbers alone.

“It’s one of the metrics of success, but it’s not everything. Of course, it feels nice when a film makes money because very few films now make money; it’s a rare thing,” he says, acknowledging the tough theatrical climate.

Gourav believes the bigger shift lies in evolving audience behaviour: “People had lesser options earlier, and now they have many more. There is a huge shift in theatrical viewing. Audience’s relationship with theatres has completely changed.”

With audiences gravitating towards spectacle-driven films like Dhurandhar (2025), Border 2 and Animal (2023), he notes that smaller films face an uphill battle.

“It’s not that audiences have stopped going to theatres, it’s just that they have a lot more options now. You have to give them stronger reasons to step out. Today, some films receive massive screen counts and visibility, making it even more challenging for smaller films. If they aren’t given a chance, makers will stop experimenting.”

Despite the uncertainty, the 31-year-old remains grounded in his choices. “I don’t feel pressured to chase bigger, more commercial films just because of box office numbers. What matters to me is the quality of work and the roles I’m doing,” he says, adding, “Twenty years from now, I want people to go back and watch my films for what they are… because what’s the point if nobody remembers them?”

Actors Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor are all set to begin shooting for Tu Yaa Main, a psychological thriller directed by Bejoy Nambiar. Filming is slated to start in the second week of June. So far, only a teaser — featuring the duo swimming in a lake — has been shot.

Sources reveal that the actors have already kicked off joint reading sessions, which will continue until the end of May. The film will be shot extensively in and around Mumbai, with the schedule expected to wrap by mid-July.

To prep for his role, Adarsh has resumed intense physical training — the same kind he undertook for Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan (2023). Speaking to us about the upcoming shoot, the actor shared, “I’m truly thrilled to start working on this film. It’s a completely different genre from what I’ve done before, and that’s what drew me to the project. Collaborating with Bejoy Nambiar, who has such a distinct cinematic voice, and sharing the screen with Shanaya Kapoor makes this even more special. I can’t wait for audiences to experience what we’re creating.”

In an earlier chat with us, Adarsh also opened up about working with Shanaya for the first time. “She is super chill and fun to work with,” he said, adding, “We’ve only shot the teaser so far, but it has been a good experience.”

While Adarsh Gourav built his career in Hindi and international projects, his heart has always held a quiet connection to Andhra Pradesh, where his family comes from. Now, with his first Telugu film underway, that bond finally finds expression onscreen. As he shoots for his Tollywood debut in Hyderabad, the White Tiger actor opened up to Hyderabad Times what this journey means to him, the joy of rediscovering his Telugu roots, and his desire to become a director.

Born Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula in Jamshedpur, the actor comes from a Telugu-speaking household. “Both my parents have roots in Andhra — my dad is from a village near Srikakulam and my maternal grandfather is from near Vizianagaram. It was a rule to speak in Telugu at home,” he shares. “It’s our mother tongue, and my parents made sure I learned it properly from a young age.”

Despite a tight six-day-a-week shoot schedule, Adarsh says Hyderabad has already left a lasting impression. “There wasn’t much time to explore, but the food instantly made me feel at home,” he smiles. “I love Andhra food — pappus, chutneys, kuras, vankai kura, bendakaya kura. It all reminded me of eating at home.”

But it’s more than just food and familiarity with the language. “What’s unique about Hyderabad is how much people love cinema. You’ll find doctors, architects, people from different walks of life trying their hand at filmmaking. That’s really special.”

Adarsh isn’t one to restrict himself by language or geography. He’s currently learning Malayalam and hopes to work in Tamil cinema too. “Wherever there are authentic stories, I want to be a part of them. Language is secondary as long as the story resonates.”

His Telugu debut, he says, has been a point of pride for his entire family. “Over the years, my father’s family in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam would often ask me when I’d do a Telugu film. I’m finally able to show them something in our own language.”

Adarsh’s portrayal of Jugnu, a trans character, in Guns & Gulaabs was a turning point in his career. “I definitely felt the gaze towards me had shifted,” he reflects.

“It gave me a chance to empathize with what it’s like to transition later in life and the kind of strength it takes.” He adds, “We need to build more sensitivity around the trans community. Live and let live — why would anyone take someone else’s truth as a personal problem?”

In Aanand L Rai’s upcoming Tu Ya Main, Adarsh will be seen in a completely new avatar — as a rapper. “It’s a creature feature, and Shanaya (Kapoor) is my co-actor. It’s a genre I’ve never explored before.” 

He also stars in Alien, a sci-fi show by Noah Hawley. “I was never into sci-fi before, but now I’ve completely switched sides. We shot in Thailand for six months alongside The White Lotus team. It was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had.”

Looking ahead, Adarsh has his sights on directing. “I want to venture into filmmaking in my 30s. My first film might be a satire-drama. I think horror is very difficult to do well, and I’m not ready for that just yet. But I do have many stories in me and I’m excited to tell them.”

Though Adarsh had harboured a desire to work in Telugu films for a while, he wasn’t sure how to break into the industry. A chance conversation with actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu at the Citadel success party changed that. “I told her that I wanted to work in Telugu cinema and she connected me with Himank Reddy, who took me around Hyderabad and introduced me to a few directors and producers. That’s when I met Jahnavi and Baba, and things fell into place.”

The film, a psychological horror thriller, is being helmed by a debutant director. “Baba’s actually an architect who’s been working on the script for nearly 10 years. I found that fascinating. It’s also his first film and mine in Telugu, so it felt like a great alignment,” he says.

Despite completing 15 years in Hindi cinema and earning international acclaim with The White Tiger, actor Adarsh Gourav isn’t interested in chasing the typical Bollywood hustle. As he gears up for his Telugu film debut this year, Adarsh admits he’s perfectly content doing just two or three films annually — as long as they excite him.

“I don’t want to work just for the sake of it,” he says. “If something excites me, sure — but you end up spending months investing in a character, so a lot depends on the headspace you’re in.”

At 30, the actor — who also stars in Bejoy Nambiar’s Tu Yaa Main alongside Shanaya Kapoor — believes in leading life with balance and intention.

“Main agar saal mein 2 filmein bhi kar lun, wo mere liye bahut hai. I’m more invested in living life fully and doing things I genuinely enjoy outside of acting. Acting is one of my passions, and I’m extremely grateful for every opportunity I get. But there are many other things that nourish my soul. Even if I don’t work for two or three months, I don’t panic or lose my mind,” he shares candidly.

So what fuels his spirit beyond cinema? “Music, travelling, spending time with my cat and my girlfriend, meeting my parents, hanging out with my brother... I love all of it,” he smiles.

Interestingly, Adarsh’s Telugu debut also marks a return to his roots — his mother tongue is Telugu. But his cinematic curiosity doesn’t stop there. “I had such a great time working on this Telugu film. I really want to work in Malayalam cinema too. I’ve even started picking up some Malayalam, just so I’m ready if an opportunity arises.”

On working with Shanaya Kapoor, who’s awaiting the release of her first two films, Adarsh is all praise: “She’s very cool and relaxed. We were mostly just joking about how hot the water looked while we were actually freezing during the shoot!”

And was there any sense of hierarchy on set, given Shanaya is relatively new? “Not at all,” Adarsh says firmly. “For me, there’s no senior or junior. I only worked with her during the announcement video shoot, and it was super chill. She was easy to get along with, and I’m genuinely excited to work with her again.”

After making an impression in both Hindi and English cinema, Adarsh Gourav is set to make his Telugu debut with a yet-untitled film.

Talking about the project that he is currently shooting for, he tells us, “Telugu is my mother tongue, so this had been long due.”

While he admits that he “didn’t know how to start” his Telugu career, Adarsh says actor Samantha took him under her wing.

“Actually, I should thank Samantha for this. I was at the after party for [web show] Citadel: Honey Bunny and I was telling her that I wanted to start working in Telugu films. She said, ‘Why don’t you go take some meetings? I’ll help you see them through’,” he explains.

The 30-year-old further reveals that Samantha’s business partner and manager helped him meet several people in the industry, including the makers of his current project.

While he might be a stranger to the industry, Adarsh feels proud that he has remained connected to the language: “It’s strange, because I have never had Telugu friends growing up, but I’m already so comfortable. There’s something magical about working with people who speak the same language as you do. Even though you don’t know them, you feel like they understand you and you understand them,” he ends.

When we last spoke with Adarsh Gourav, the actor had told us that he couldn’t wait to put on a tuxedo and walk the red carpet at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024 (Bring out that tux, July 11). Well, the D-Day has arrived. His film, Superboys Of Malegaon, is set to have its world première at the prestigious festival today, and he is soaking in the festival fever.

“Today is my third day in Canada, and I’m still adjusting to the jet lag,” he tells us, hours before the première.

One’s first festival appearance is always special. What makes it dearer for Gourav is that he is taking a movie rooted in India on the international circuit. “It’s close to my heart as it tells a story of passion, determination, and love for cinema.”

Inspired by the real-life events of Malegaon, a small town in India, Reema Kagti’s directorial venture tells the true story of Nasir Shaikh and his ragtag group of friends who make no-budget spoofs of Bollywood and Hollywood classics. To Gourav, the existence of such a hyper local industry—that has churned out films like Malegaon Ke Sholay and Malegaon Ka Don—told him of people’s love for movies and how cinema holds the promise of transporting them to a world of boundless possibilities. 

“The Malegaon film industry is a world unto itself. Its working reflects the power of human ingenuity, proving that with limited resources and a lot of heart, it’s possible to produce entertaining and profitable films. They often work with shoestring budgets, relying on local talent, improvised sets, and a DIY ethos. The industry has developed a distinct style, often incorporating elements of humour, satire, and social commentary,” marvels the actor.

He is proud that Superboys Of Malegaon, also starring Shashank Arora and Vineet Kumar Singh, is taking the story of this unusual industry to the world.

“It’s high time that the Malegaon film industry received the recognition it deserves. Through the making, I delved into the intricacies of this film industry, which isn’t defined by a specific language or culture but by the place it originates from. They have carved out their own genre. It’s incredible how not a single one of their films ever loses money. Our film is about the love for cinema through their eyes, so I took the time to learn about their distinct ways of working.”

Adarsh Gourav might be getting praise from all quarters for his role in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), but the actor is ready to go behind the camera now.

“I am quite serious about filmmaking and direction. When I was young, I would love telling stories to entertain my friends and entertain my family,” Gourav tells us, adding, “That has been the genesis of my acting career. In the next two or three years, hopefully, I want to make my first feature as a director. I have written a few stories, and I just need to find a good collaborator to help me develop a screenplay. Then I would need to find the right producer. It’s at a very nascent stage, but I’m really excited!”

However, The White Tiger (2021) actor is pretty certain that he won’t quit acting even after turning to direction.

He shares, “I want to act and direct because I can relate to both. I’m capable of doing both at the same time. In fact, I would like to direct myself one day.” 

On the work front, the BAFTA-nominated actor, who’s been a part of projects such as Hostel Daze, an American anthology drama series, Extrapolations, Guns & Gulaabs, is happy about the appreciation he is receiving for playing Neil Pereira in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.

He is glad viewers noticed his hardwork in undergoing a physical transformation for the role. “When you work on a film, sometimes you know you are making a good film. That is the energy we had on set and it was wonderful. But the final output is never in our control, and getting this sort of response feels quite rewarding,” Gourav ends.

Magic that happened at the right time”—that’s how Ananya Panday describes Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023). While Arjun Varain Singh’s directorial venture is winning praise, Panday’s tender performance as Ahana, whose self-worth takes a beating when her boyfriend leaves her, is being particularly talked about. The actor admits the character was close to her real self, and that made it tougher. She reflects, 

“Sometimes, you are open to [a script] because you are feeling similar things in life. Yet, it’s tough to play out those emotions because it’s hurting you. I could strongly relate to Ahana. Now that the film has released, I feel it’s not just my story, but almost every girl has felt the same way. They are strong in front of their friends and families, but if a relationship doesn’t work out, it can affect their self-worth. I’m happy that through this part, I could reach out to many girls.”

The Netflix young adult drama tells the story of three youngsters who find an escape on social media, away from their broken lives. The easy chemistry between the leads—Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—makes the film a breezy watch. How was it working with Chaturvedi, with whom she has a history? In an interview, he had pointed out that Panday had more privileges than outsiders in the nepotistic industry.

“We’ve worked together in Gehraiyaan [2022] too. Now, he and Adarsh will always be Imaad and Neil for me. Kho Gaye… has set a solid base for our friendship. Also, whatever came out in the media [then], people made it bigger than it was. Siddhant and I always had an honest friendship.”

Over the years, Panday hasn’t had an easy relationship with social media. But now, the incessant trolling doesn’t bother her. “My personal relationship with social media has changed so much over time. When I started out, I used to get affected by the trolling. But I’ve realized that in the long run, it’s better to be yourself. Even if a few people like you, they like you for who you are. You have to put yourself and your mental health above everything.”

As an actor who has millions of followers, she is also aware of the influence she exercises. “We have to be careful about what we post; our actions and words will be taken seriously by millions of people who follow us, and are influenced by the way we act, dress and behave. I am driven by the impact that I could possibly have on people. That’s why I strongly believe in myself. With the passage of time, I feel more comfortable in being who I am and being unapologetic about it.”

It all started with casual conversations. While assisting Zoya Akhtar on Gully Boy (2019) and Ghost Stories (2020), Arjun Varain Singh would chat with her about social media, and how it exasperates yet comforts the current generation.

Singh remembers, “At some point, Zoya said, ‘This is a movie.’” That marked the birth of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, which is winning praise since its release last week.

Writing the Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Adarsh Gourav-starrer took time. As the debutant director sat down to pen the story of three friends whose joys, deceptions and frustrations are all influenced by social media, Akhtar and Reema Kagti joined him as co-writers.

“When Zoya and Reema read the first draft, they said, ‘Throw it in the dustbin and start again.’ I’m blessed they came on board as it allowed the story an outsider’s lens and made it cross-generational. But many things remained true, like two boys and one girl, and the core idea of learning to be authentic to yourself,” Singh says.

The Netflix film is a rare young adult drama in Bollywood, which has ignored the genre in the last few years. “If we look at Dil Chahta Hai [2001] or Wake Up Sid [2009], it’s important that these stories are told by people at that age or who have just passed that age. It’s important to trust younger creators and give them the space to explore [such stories].”

Among the film’s many highlights is its depiction of an online troll. Singh shows the transformation of Gourav’s character from a middle-class boy seeking validation to an anonymous troll. The director says his intention was to capture how a person going about his life turns hateful. “We wanted to show that no one is entirely good or bad. Everything we do is a reaction to circumstances. Even in the case of trolls, their hate is coming from a place of hurt or loneliness.”

Another highlight is the seamless performance of Panday, who is often subjected to online hate. “She has been good in other films as well, but unfortunately has got a lot of hate. The work and energy she put into making this role her own is incredible. Despite all of the hate, people have come to love her. That tells you so much about the fighter she is.”

Adarsh Gourav couldn’t have imagined a better end to 2023. Or a better start to this year. The actor has been winning praise for his honest performance in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, which dropped on Netflix in the last week of December. He has little time to bask in the love, as he is set to begin shooting for the television series, Alien, on which Ridley Scott serves as the executive producer. But movies like Kho Gaye Hum Kahan are hard to shake off, and Gourav acknowledges that it has stayed with him.

“When I moved to the city as a 13-year-old, I felt every beat of what my character Neil feels. I saw how materialism hits you in Mumbai. I felt insecure, inadequate and envious at times,” he recalls.

Through his character, director Arjun Varain Singh explores not only this generation’s hustling spirit, but also their silent frustrations. “I love how the character makes class divide a conversation. The scene where Neil is reprimanded for using the gym shower, and the board reads ‘Staff not allowed’, stuck with me. New buildings in Mumbai have dedicated lifts for staff. I find it humiliating. The quiet rebel in me always uses the staff lift in those buildings. It’s my way of saying a silent ‘F*** you’ to people who think this is okay. We have been desensitized and don’t make enough noise about class divide.”

Gourav’s reason to be part of the Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday-starrer went beyond its powerful script. It was the joy of playing a city-bred character after a spate of small-town boy roles in The White Tiger (2021), Guns & Gulaabs (2023) and more.

“People associate me with violent roles, with characters who belong to Tier-2, -3 cities. It was refreshing to get a character that I associate with myself. I want to portray characters that help me transform emotionally and physically.”

Gourav adds, “Despite being a middle-class family, my parents ensured they took us on vacations, and I’ve travelled across the length and breadth of India. I have changed 13 houses in the city, from Dahisar to Amboli, and went to an upscale school like Podar International School. I have observed a lot of the worlds in India, and rarely get a script where I can’t recognize the character. I’ve seen every character and met them, briefly.”

Doing international projects then helps him go out of the realm of familiarity and embrace unknown characters. He is set to join the unit of Alien in Bangkok later this month. “While working in the West, there are so many things that I have absolutely no idea about. I read up on it and practice my accents in my free time. I might not sound exactly like a person from Chicago, but I work so hard that sometimes I surprise myself by getting into the final shortlist,” he laughs.

“[Before I shot the first schedule] in June, I had never worked with people from London, New Zealand, and America. To live, workshop with them and know that these are your people for the next six months can be daunting. But I met some wonderful people and can’t wait to reunite with them.”

In director Arjun Varain Singh’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Anya Singh plays La La, a social media influencer who fakes her experiences more than she lives them. Playing the character was tricky for the actor, who is admittedly not social-media savvy.

“Both Arjun and I created La La from scratch,” starts Anya, recalling how her joy of bagging the film soon gave way to fear.

“I was scared about how I would portray the role because I haven’t done something like this before nor could I refer to myself. I built La La on the [foundation] that she is a hustler. She can come across as materialistic, but she is unapologetic about it.”

Anya plays Adarsh Gourav’s girlfriend in the Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi-starrer. She lights up as she speaks about Gourav.

“My last two rounds of audition were with Adarsh. We did the break-up scene [in one of the rounds]. For one of the takes, he cried to give me something to play off; that’s how much he gives as a co-star.”

The actor might not have the social-media savviness of her character, but she has had experiences where her social-media following affected her career. She admits, “I am aware that I lost two projects because I don’t have a [strong] social-media following. At that point, I thought that I wasn’t suitable for the part. But [in reality], it was because I didn’t have [the desired] following. If someone wants to watch me, they will, irrespective of it. I’m not saying that people with [a strong] social media game are undeserving. But if you are not casting me because of [my lack of] followers, then you’re putting craft second and something else first.”

Adarsh Gourav, Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi star in the upcoming Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, a film that explores the trappings of the digital age. Seen here with Avanti Nagral

We are at the Netflix office. The cast of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan—Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—who play Ahana (an MBA corporate professional in love), Imaad (a stand-up comic) and Neil (a fitness trainer)—are checking their phones and hair in between interviews. “I don’t even have to pretend for this photo,” says Pandey as she poses with her phone, typing away. The movie, which releases on Netflix on December 26, follows the lives of the three friends as they navigate work, love, self-worth—all while living in a world that is slave to social media.

And so, we got creator, influencer and singer Avanti Nagral to sit down and speak to them about some of the major themes in the movie—stalking, comparisons, trolls, and identity. Nagral has a dual degree from Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music, and uses her social network to talk about gender and youth issues. What ensued was a “therapy session” as Chaturvedi put it. 

Siddhant Chaturvedi: Actually, I haven’t felt so found before.

Adarsh Gourav: I feel like I always space out… every 10-15 minutes, I space out.

Ananya Pandey: What? I have been thinking you are such a good listener…

SC: I keep it private. I also feel that I don’t have much to show, I am boring! Everything is through my characters, through cinema. That’s how I would like to be remembered. Otherwise, I am a boy next door, ordinary.

AN: But you do share some thoughts with small snippets as @siddychats on Instagram. 

SC: Yes! More than my pictures, I like to write so I share my thoughts. I validate my thoughts, but I also connect with the [ones in the] world who relate to them.  It’s a conversation through text. That’s the maximum I can go. There was a point when I was doing a lot—after my first film (Gully Boy). I was receiving a lot of love, and so I was like, let’s be out there. But I got done with it soon. I said no, I need to work on myself as an actor, and the more I keep myself private, I can do that. Anyway, we have so much competition from creators like you who are killing it. I can’t do that so well—the way you guys do. I have taken a back seat. I will talk to people through cinema; that’s my thing.

AP: I think the attempt has been to be as real as possible—without giving away too much of my personal life. But when I am on it, I am real. So many young girls come up to me and say they relate to me, and that’s a win. I have always owned up to my mistakes, and not been afraid to mess up, or say something wrong. I am like cool, I said the wrong thing, I will be careful next time.

AP: It was much of the same. Cyber bullying is so rampant but no one was talking about it at that time. Most people didn’t know how to deal with things—numbers you could call if you were being bullied at school or something. It was about starting a conversation.

AN: Kudos to you, Ananya. Adarsh, your first film was 13 years ago. You have been in the limelight… 

AG: I came into the limelight after The White Tiger… I was more interested in being a singer before.

AG: You try to find yourself in every character you play, but I also try to play characters that are different from me. When life gets hectic, you can escape, and adopt another person’s problems. That’s exciting. I need to be constantly stimulated and get bored easily. Being an actor and singer fulfills all my needs.

AP: It’s always easy!

SC: Unless you like someone’s picture as you are stalking…

 

AP: The more we keep our dating lives personal, the more real they feel. That’s one of the only parts of my life that I can protect; everything else is out there. Adarsh is very open about his relationship and comfortable doing that. I am somewhere in the middle—it depends on who you are with. It depends on the day too! Some days you want to scream from the rooftops, and some days you are like, no one can see this.

AG: There is not much to hide! It’s chill only.

SC: All the time! I make sure that I do not. I do express myself on social media, and I do say what I feel bending the front of poetry. There is no name, no picture, and people can connect to it. I channelize my need for expression towards my partner in art so that other people can connect. 

SC: There is an ethical and legal line for sure! 

SC: As an artiste, everything is always a grey zone. There is no black or white—and that’s where the fun is. There is no way to be preachy about it; you can explore as much as you can. Sometimes it may be wrong, but if I need to derive something from my life and out it through a character, I use it. For example, I don’t smoke [in real life], but in this film I do.

AG: (Laughs out loud)

SC: Okay, okay. For Gully Boy and this film, I had to start smoking. So, I did. And it’s hard to let go of that—and I am struggling with that. I am being honest. But whatever is needed for the character, I do it. Even Ananya had to.

AP: Yes. We were all given tasks for the movie—Adarsh had to build his body, Sid had to learn to [do] stand-up [comedy]. I had to smoke. And I couldn’t light a cigarette! 

SC: There were so many bodily changes. Adarsh can speak about those...

AG: I kept farting! I had to eat so many eggs and have so much chicken! But after I stopped working out, I became dysmorphic. Before, I think about my body so much, but now I wonder why I am not as ripped as I was in the film. But I am not playing a trainer in my next movie. However, your mind gets so used to that beautiful image… it’s the best you have ever looked.  

 

AP: Before social media, it was school, where people would say you are too hairy or too thin. My only attempt is to be kinder to myself. When I started out, I was on a very strict diet. I would cheat on Sunday, and I would fall sick because I ate so much. I thought I had to look a certain way and was depriving myself. But I became kinder to myself. When I look at my younger sister, I never want her to feel the way I did, or for that matter, any young person. The only thing I can do is be positive about my body, and hope people get inspired by that.

 

AP: I related with Ahana. If you think I was natural, it was because it wasn’t acting. I miss Ahana. She helped me deal with so much that I was going through in my own personal life. 

SC: For me, it was Adarsh’s character, Neil. The family dynamic he has in the movie, is very close to my own family. When I read the script, I called Arjun (the director) and asked him, how did you crack Neil’s character. He is from London, how could he have know all this? The details are so minute—that’s when I knew he was going to be a great director. My own character was great, but I choose characters that are not close to who I am in real life. I can’t play myself in a movie. 

AG: It’s boring na!

SC: Yes, it’s boring.

AG: By the way, Ahana is not like Ananya at all. I related to Neil and my client in the movie, who never wants to work out.

AP: Just go hug your friends, and don’t let go. Like, in a non-creepy way.

SC: Leave them eventually.

AG: Please celebrate your birthday with your family. Don’t abandon your birth givers. 

SC: Just be yourself, guys. The world is very noisy. Just chill and be yourself. There is so much gyan on Reels anyway. Tum log bas maje karo.

In a career spanning over a decade, Adarsh Gourav has observed a difference between male and female directors in terms of how they approach a character. The actor, who’ll be seen in Reema Kagti’s next directorial Superman Of Malegaon, says, “I can’t really say if a female vision is better for the story, but it definitely brings a certain sense of vulnerability to the character. When men write male characters, they write on the basis of their experiences. It is more like a first-person experience. So, [as a writer] you sometimes tend to overlook certain things or make things pretty heroic.”

The 29-year-old adds that a male character directed by a woman is likely to have a more accurate representation: “When women write characters for men, they see it as an outsider. Also, women are more emotionally intelligent and the quality reflects in the male characters they write. I find their characters interesting and vulnerable, and more complete compared to ones written by men.”

The experience of working with Kagti was amazing, says Gourav. The actor, in fact, stayed in Malegaon (Maharashtra) for a few weeks before the film’s shoot started. “Reema is phenomenal. Her energy is something else. The way she leads the team... each department gets the freedom to voice their opinions,” he ends.

What can you do with Rs 50,000? If you’re Sheikh Nasir of Malegaon, you can mount a spoof film and make a few lakhs off it. Since 2002, Nasir has been a pioneer in creating Malegaon’s own film industry that thrives on making spoofs of classic Hindi films. Such has been the popularity of these spoofs—from Malegaon Ke Sholay to Malegaon Ke Karan Arjun, from Malegaon Ka Don to Malegaon Ka Superman— that they have earned fans in Anurag Kashyap and Zoya Akhtar. The latest admirer is Adarsh Gourav, who brings Nasir’s real-life story to screen with Superman Of Malegaon.

Fronting director Reema Kagti’s movie was a learning experience for the actor as he understood the town’s unique approach to filmmaking. “While the films may be different, they have cracked the code with a solid business model, reaping substantial profits,” says Gourav, referring to how Nasir, in the early 2000s, would make these short films with the locals headlining them and a motley local crew helping him shoot them. They would then be played in the tiny theatres across Malegaon and the surrounding region of Khandesh.

The advent of YouTube in the late 2000s led to a surge in local filmmakers establishing their own channels. Today, Mollywood—as the industry is called—boasts numerous popular channels, producing 10- to 15-minute comedy sketches, garnering millions of views. Gourav adds that these films stand out for their unique brand of humour that reflects the goings-on of the town.

“Each project is a labour of love. Almost all their films make money, and that [is because] the industry has mastered the art of delivering a genre of cinema that is truly their own.”

Adarsh Gourav feels inclined towards original content as it excites him. The actor isn’t a fan of films being remade and hence, he has stayed away from the slew of remakes that have come out. He shares, “I am not stimulated by remaking films, unless it’s extremely relevant. But, most remakes are done purely with the idea of sticking to a similar format and making money.”

The 29-year-old adds, “I’ve always believed in encouraging original storytelling and the uniqueness of an idea or person. That’s the reason I am and will always be more excited about an original story.”

The BAFTA-nominated actor, whose filmography includes projects like The White Tiger (2021), Guns & Gulaabs and the American anthology, Extrapolations, is of the opinion that the OTT space should steer clear of remakes.

“The biggest strength of Indian OTT is its diversity. We live in such a beautiful country, where the landscape, language and culture changes every few kilometers. There’s so much to tap into, in terms of potential stories,” stresses Gourav, who feels the focus should be on “telling stories that are local” as it will make the projects “more successful”.

He adds, “I’m always interested in knowing about a culture when I watch a film from Iran, Australia or Canada. How different is it from India? Similarly, the more local we are, in our stories and music, the more global we can become.”

What did puppy love have to do with the crime-infested world of Guns & Gulaabs? A lot, as the audience witnessed in the show. Writer Suman Kumar admits creator duo Raj-DK’s (Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK) series—starring Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan and Adarsh Gourav—has its roots in teenage romance.

“Raj and I felt we needed to tell a feel-good [story]. He had a premise in mind: there is a small-town 14-year-old boy, who is a topper, until a city girl comes and replaces him. I told Raj-DK that we needed more. While researching, I came across opium smuggling, and thought it would be fun if this world collided with that of adolescence,” recalls Kumar.

That set the ball rolling on the Netflix crime comedy that packs in several themes, from teenage romance to childhood trauma and drug trade. Kumar felt like a child in a candy store because he loves writing romance.

“The theme in my mind was ‘Love hurts’. Arjun Varma [Salmaan] had [feelings for] Yamini [Shreya Dhanwanthary] that came back to hurt him. It was a similar case for other main characters too. I am more of a romantic than Raj-DK. Guns & Gulaabs was the perfect place to unleash my hopeless romantic self,” he smiles.

The writer is also happy that the show enabled him to explore gender fluidity through Gourav’s character, Jugnu, who comes out as a transgender person. Kumar says authenticity was key in the track. “As men who have no idea what it is to be a woman, writing this was a new experience. We spoke to gender experts and consultants. We didn’t want to strike a [false] note.”

You have to give it to Adarsh Gourav for attempting to build an eclectic résumé ever since he broke out with The White Tiger (2021). In the two years since, he has been part of a heartland crime comedy in Guns & Gulaabs, an apocalyptic series in Extrapolations, and a young adult drama in the upcoming Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.

Now, the actor will feature in the series, Alien, which will be a prequel to the 1979 film of the same name. With the 1979 offering, director Ridley Scott kicked off the popular franchise that includes Aliens (1986), Alien vs Predator (2004) and Prometheus (2012).

The sci-fi horror franchise ventures into episodic storytelling with the FX-Hulu series. While Scott will serve as executive producer, it will be helmed by Noah Hawley and feature Essie Davis.

A source reveals, “Adarsh and the cast filmed some portions in July, before shoots came to a standstill because of the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming will resume after the strike ends. It will be shot in Thailand, and Adarsh has two weeks’ work left. The network is planning to stream the series in 2024.”

Over the decades, the Alien franchise has seen renowned filmmakers—from James Cameron to David Fincher—wield the directorial baton. For Gourav, the latest spin-off is another opportunity to make a mark in the international circuit.

The source adds, “After The White Tiger earned him a BAFTA nomination for best actor, Adarsh caught the attention of many in Hollywood. In the series, he plays an Indian character.”

Guns & Gulaabs came as the refreshing change that Adarsh Gourav was looking for. Having mostly played marginalised characters against a grim backdrop, including The White Tiger (2021), the actor relished portraying a flamboyant, affluent man. “It was nice to play a powerful man for a change, to wear beautiful clothes and shoot in gorgeous locations. It’s a rarity for me. So if anyone is listening, I want to go to Europe and shoot a film,” he laughs.

In the Netflix crime dramedy, Gourav plays the son of a local drug smuggler, essayed by the late Satish Kaushik, in the fictional town of Gulaabganj. Raj-DK’s directorial offering also stars Rajkummar Rao, Dulquer Salmaan and Gulshan Devaiah. Lovely as it was to reunite with his The White Tiger co-star Rao, Gourav was equally thrilled to be in the company of established actors. He believes an upcoming actor like him has much to learn from them.

“It’s a privilege to be shooting with such actors. You feel safe. You feel taken care of and assured of what you are getting into, because of how established they are. Their choices have been brave and unpredictable.”

Similarly, collaborating with Raj-DK gave him a ringside view of how the creator duo, known for their ingenious ideas and quirky humour, work. “They are always open to exploring what is bizarre and unbelievable for people till they make you believe it,” he exclaims.

His acting chops may have got him into the limelight, but Adarsh Gourav is equally passionate about music. The trained Hindustani classical singer is now hoping to win hearts with his compositions. “I’m focusing on two songs at the moment. The plan is to record them and have them out by the end of the year,” the Extrapolations actor tells us.

Ask if there are any inhibitions about putting himself out there as a singer, and Gourav says, “Ultimately, it’s about the quality of music and singing. I don’t see any reason why people wouldn’t embrace me as a singer as long as what I’m doing is not pathetic.”

His aim is to make the kind of music that feels “personal” to him. “That is a mixture of music that I’ve grown up listening to — right from A R Rahman and Jagjit Singh (composers) to Pink Floyd (band),” says The White Tiger (2021) actor, who had also sung a track for one his films, Banana, which never got released.

“I sang for a couple of other films, too. One was Subhash Ghai’s Black & White (2008); I sang the chorus with Sukhwinder Singh,” he reveals.

Excited about his musical endeavours, the 28-year-old says he intends to go with the flow. “I’m not looking at it in a way that I have to do 100 stage shows in a year. I want to enjoy it (singing),” he ends.

Colloquially referred to as Malliwood, the Malegaon film industry is touted to be one that makes films on a limited budget, but with immense passion. Fittingly then, when Adarsh Gourav was approached to be part of a movie that takes inspiration from this industry, the actor was intrigued.

“When director Reema [Kagti] told me about Malegaon, I knew I was going to say yes to it. I have heard about the Malegaon industry before and it is interesting to know how they make and finance movies. It is one of the most underrated film industries that churns out fun movies, and sees a 100 per cent return [of investment],” he says, further adding that the industry deserves to receive its due credit.

He doesn’t deny that the opportunity to have a Reema Kagti-film on his resume is one that he wasn’t willing to let slip. “I feel lucky that I got to work with her. She is energetic, witty and fearless, and has a gift. She can write and present characters that come from all walks of life. The people she writes about are confident but vulnerable, and full of flaws. Her desire to find the imperfection in each character makes her special. This film is about a bunch of misfits who admire the movies, and decide to make them in their own way.”

Meanwhile, Gourav dons a look from the ’80s for Guns & Gulaabs, an upcoming comic crime thriller created by Raj and DK. He also has Kho Gaye Hum Kahan in his kitty.