Best known for his role in the television sitcom F.I.R., Shiv Pandit was recently seen in the Netflix original series Selection Day. The series is based on cricket and Pandit is playing the role of God overseeing a 14-year-old’s journey as an aspiring cricketer. The 34-year old actor is also known for his films Boss (2013) and Shaitan (2011), and hosted the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2009. In conversation with Guardian 20, the actor talks about his recent projects and his journey as an actor.
Q. You started off as a theatre artiste. Does that work as an advantage for you as an actor?
A. Theatre has played a defining role in my life because it helped me acquire the requisite confidence. Since theatre is a live medium, if you make a mistake, you have to cover up without letting the audience in on the goof-up. Theatre helps you polish your skills as an actor and gives you a foundation to be sure of yourself.
Q. You are playing the role of Lord Subramaniyam in Selection Day. How did you prepare for it? And what made you sign the series?
A. In Selection Day Lord Subramaniyam is God to a lot of young cricketers. He is only visible to the character Manju and acts as the kid’s inner voice. It’s interesting to play a character like that because it’s a different take on God. Also, when it comes to playing God, there can’t be any preparation as such because God is a very subjective entity. So for me, the prerequisite of the role was that this character had to be Manju’s friend. So I managed to strike a really good friendship with Samad [the actor who plays Manju] on day one on the set. I knew that if we manage to have a good chemistry, it would reflect on the screen as well.
The show is a Netflix original and Netflix is known for having a certain level of quality and excellence in their shows. It was a win-win for me when I found out that Netflix and Anil Kapoor Films are coming together for this second Netflix original from India. Also, my role was exciting. I always wanted to be versatile as an actor, and be someone who cannot be categorised for doing a particular kind of role. I don’t think anyone could have possibly imagined me playing the part I have in Selection Day.
Q. The sitcom F.I.R. was a big turning point in your career. What did that experience teach you?
A. Yes, F.I.R. has been a turning point in my career because of a few things. Firstly, doing television teaches you a lot of discipline because you shoot every day and get into a certain schedule. So TV actors are very disciplined and hardworking. F.I.R. not only taught me a lot of discipline but also was a foundation for my comedy. I owe it to the show’s director, Shashank Bali, who was very patient and persistent while unearthing my comic side.
Q. You seem to be selective as far as taking up acting projects is concerned. Is that so?
A. I know there is a trend of doing back-to-back films, but for me content matters the most. I don’t take on anything and everything just for the sake of having a release. Nowadays, there is so much content out there that you can keep working on a film, which might get wasted in just one day. So I’m a little picky about the kind of films I want to be a part of, because I want to be proud of the work I do. The projects should define me and bring me into the limelight. I want to do films that I would want to watch, and the stuff that has been offered to me hasn’t been appealing enough. Hence, I decide to explore more avenues and doing a web series like Selection Day is an example of that. For me, content is more important than the platform. But hopefully in 2019, my speed in terms of feature films should pick up.
Q. Do you think the digital space is going to take over Indian entertainment?
A. The digital space is definitely here to stay. But since the number of players in the medium are mushrooming all over the place, if a platform is not belting out good and engaging content, it will run out of money. Platforms like Netflix and Amazon are creating relatable and engaging content. So yes, while the digital trend is here to stay, it would be interesting to see how many players manage to sustain here.
Q. You did work on TV for quite sometime, do you wish to go back or want to stick to web series and Bollywood?
A. I’ve only done a comedy show called F.I.R. and hosted IPL Extra Innings. An actor is a sum of the choices offered to him, and right now, I am busy with Netflix. I also did a feature film with them (Netflix) last year called Loev. I have a feature film coming up this year. It’s an intense relationship drama with Tejaswini Kolhapure. I hope to pick up more steam in terms of reading more feature film scripts in 2019.
Q. Tell us about the ups and downs that came along the way since you entered the entertainment industry?
A. I still consider myself a newcomer. I don’t think I’ve been in this for a while. There are ups and downs in every field but I don’t feel that way because I love what I do. For me the journey is more important than the destination. The ups include the euphoria of being appreciated for your work and learning new things. The downs would be not getting the kind of work you want to do. But I don’t focus so much on the ups and downs. For me it’s more important to hone my skills as an actor during the journey. My aim is to surprise the audience every time I appear on screen.
Q. Is there any specific role that you want to do in future?
A. There are many. I would like to try many different things. That is the beauty of this field because it gives you the opportunity to play diverse parts. I played a funny inspector in F.I.R., a drug dealer in Shaitan, a closeted homosexual man in Loev to now playing God in Selection Day, I’ve done different kinds of roles to surprise the audience.
Q.What else is keeping you busy these days?
A. I have a film coming up. There is another project that I am working on and I’ll be able to talk about it in February.