In the entertainment industry, it’s widely believed that your first project chooses you, and you choose thereafter. If that is indeed true, what happens to an actor whose first series is a huge hit? That’s what we begin our conversation with, when we get on a call with Ritwik Bhowmik. The actor, who burst on the scene last year with the delightful Bandish Bandits, will soon be seen in Sony LIV’s upcoming show, Whistleblower. “During the one-year gap, [I was oscillating] between being confused and excited at the same time. It took me some time to find a role I’d fall in love with. The last one year taught me to be patient,” says the actor.

The show was an easy choice for Bhowmik. The series is told from the eyes of his character Dr Sanket, a bratty final year medical student who turns into a whistleblower of the flawed system that has turned education bodies into money-making machines. “Bandish released in August [2020], and I signed this in January 2021. I kept getting told you must be feeling the pressure [of landing the second project]. I had to ask myself, ‘Yaar, tu pressure kyun nahi le raha hai?’ But what people don’t realise is that as actors, we can only go with our instincts. We aren’t writers and creators who make projects happen. Whistleblower landed from nowhere. It was a powerful script, and in one read, I knew I had to do it. It is poles apart from Bandish Bandits. People who meet me call me Radhe because they know my character. With this series, I have to break the image of Radhe.”

However, a vital concern about the Manoj Pillai-created series is its timing. Over the past one-and-a-half years of the pandemic, doctors all around the world have displayed their unfailing commitment and sense of duty. Isn’t a story that discusses the corruption of the medical system ill-timed in the present day? 

“The series is set in 2012-13. Also, it doesn’t bring down the importance of the community in any way. The pandemic showed us how we need to give them strength. Our show delves into the period when people in the fraternity realised that there are hindrances that prevent [deserving] people from getting into medical colleges. We’re trying to tackle the issue of fake doctors, and how it affected the medical community at large. We’re discussing the malpractices and corruption of the past.”

We can’t help but sneak in a question about the next season of Bandish Bandits. Bhowmik’s voice chokes, as he says, “The loss of Ajay sir [Sharma, editor] and Amit sir [Mistry, actor] hit us hard. I can’t think of the show without them; they were irreplaceable for the series. Earlier, I wouldn’t understand the term, ‘The show must go on’. But now I do. I know we will make another season [soon].”

“When the lockdown ends, we have to be as careful as we are today. People shouldn’t start going out or behaving as if nothing happened,” says Dilip Joshi, talking about the spike in Coronavirus cases across the country. He adds, “People should be responsible and have to cooperate, instead of just blaming just the government. We have to be careful and follow guidelines, or else, this will never end. We have to maintain social distance, wear masks and get vaccinated at the earliest.” He suggests everyone take steam regularly to stay healthy and maintain all protocols, even when the cases reduce and not get lax.

As some TV shoots are on in other states, Joshi’s sitcom isn’t being shot for now and he agrees with the production house’s decision to not shoot. “Work will go on but people’s lives are more important. That’s the priority right now. The other productions who are shooting in different cities must be taking utmost care. I believe in God and his will. Saari hekdi is pandemic ne utaar di hai. All development, technology, money - you name it, sab dhara ka dhara reh gaya. Everyone is at home, nothing else matters right now more than family and your health. We took nature by granted and I hope we have learnt the lesson. We have to understand ki aur dhairya aur saiyam rakho. Nothing is permanent and this too shall pass. Have faith,” he philosophises.

His good friend, actor Amit Mistry, passed away recently and Joshi admits it was shocking. “He was well, didn’t have any issues, so it was shocking. It was unfortunate and I don’t know what really happened. I heard he had a cardiac arrest, which was surprising as he would work out and was fit.”

Mumbai: Multi-faceted actor Amit Mistry, 47, who made a mark with the web series Bandish Bandits and films like Shor In The City, died of a heart attack on Friday. Around 9.30 am, the actor had finished breakfast and a workout at his Andheri residence when he suffered chest pain and collapsed before his parents could summon help.

Mistry was a familiar name on the Gujarati and Hindi theatre circuit. His presence was noticed in films like Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Kya Kehna, Yamla Pagla Deewana and Shor In The City as well as in TV serials Yeh Duniya Hai Rangeen, Tenali Rama, Shubh Mangal Savdhaan and Savdhaan India.

Co-artistes and celebrities like Dilip Joshi, Rajesh Tailang, Swanand Kirkire, Kubbra Sait, Hansal Mehta, Tisca Chopra, Anup Soni, Kavita Kaushik and Sumeet Raghavan were among those who mourned his death. Mistry's manager Maharshi Desai said he had never complained of health problems.

Producer Mahir Khan who collaborated with the actor in Dafa 302 and Savdhaan India said, “I spoke to him around 10 days back and he was healthy and happy. News of his death is shocking and heartbreaking. He was a powerhouse of talent and energy. No matter how many hours we shot, I never saw him complaining.”

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Amit Mistry (47), who worked in TV shows like Tenali Rama, Maddam Sir and has been seen in films like Yamla Pagla Deewana, Shor In The City along with some web shows, died of a heart attack on Friday morning.

His manager Maharshi Desai confirmed the news of his death. “I am in complete shock myself. He was well and was at his home. He didn’t even complain of any health issue. Post breakfast, he felt sudden pain in his chest and it turned out to be a heart attack. His family couldn’t even take him to the hospital. It is a big loss for the entertainment industry to lose an actor like him and I will miss working with him,” shares Maharshi.

His friends and well-wishers started posting on social media about his sudden death and how shocked they are. One of his friends, producer Mahir Khan, who he worked with in shows like Dafa 420 and Savdhaan India, says, “I spoke to him around 10 days ago and he was healthy and happy. He asked me if I am planning to work on something and when are we working together again. The news of his death is shocking and heartbreaking. He was very talented and energetic. No matter for how many hours we would shoot, he never complained. He was very passionate and honest towards his work. He was not just a good actor, but a gem of a person, who was always ready to help others. I will miss him dearly.”