Blessed to play Jyotirao Phule onscreen: Pratik

Mumbai: Pratik Gandhi is looking forward to playing Mahatma Gandhi and Jyotirao Phule in separate projects and believes these important historical figures will allow him to go through a ‘tricky transformation journey’.

‘Phule’, written and directed by Ananth Mahadevan, features Pratik Gandhi in the role of the social activist and reformer Mahatma Phule, opposite Patralekhaa’s educationalist Savitribai Phule. Filming on the movie begins in April.

After he wraps up shooting on ‘Phule’, Pratik will reunite with his ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ director Hansal Mehta for a multi-season series on Mahatma Gandhi.

“Imagine how lucky one can get! The very thought of getting these opportunities gave me such joy. As actors, we are blessed as we can live multiple lives in this one life. All this gives me superlative joy that I am offered these characters and as an actor, I get to live this,” Pratik Gandhi told the top news agency.

Calling Phule a ‘tricky part’, the actor said the upcoming movie is a new challenge for him.

“The language is different; the set is different and it is a period drama. So, the emotions that we feel right now, like the way millennials react to certain situations, are very different. Setting the correct context is a tricky thing. My major concentration as an actor is to create this world and these characters in a real and organic way,” he said.

The 42-year-old actor is excited to don separate looks for both projects.

“Physically, Phule has a strong appearance, which would complement his strong will. Phule has a turban, beard and moustache look," he added.

Pratik, who portrayed the role of a young Mahatma Gandhi in the 2015 Gujarati play ‘Mohan No Masalo (Mohan’s Recipe)’, said he will have to shed a few kilos for Mehta’s series.

“It is about the young Mohandas Gandhi. I have to gain muscles and a little weight to play Jyotirao Phule,” he said.