Gangajal, Apaharan gave me room in Bollywood: Chetan Pandit 2014

If you’ve watched Raajneeti, there’s no mistaking the presence of an actor who doesn’t get ignored by the likes of heayweights Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpai, Ajay Devgan and glamorous stars Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor. We are talking of the guy who plays Ranbir Kapoor’s father, or was it Pandu from Mahabharata… Chetan Pandit.

A graduate from National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi 1994-1997 batch, Chetan Pandit hails from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh and was the only student selected from Madhya Pradesh in the year 1994 out of total 20 students nationwide.

He began with amateur theatre in 1988 at his native place and while doing BSc from Holkar Science College, Indore and subsequently PG Diploma in Photography and Videography from DAVV Indore. Throughout, he continued active theatre with professionals.

He has interacted and worked with many eminent theatre personalities and also had the opportunity of working with Polish director Peter Cheslak and British director Sir John Russel Brown.

He toured Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar during various plays and workshops and also represented India in Colombo Theatre Festival Srilanka in 1997. He also had the opportunity of directing music in NSD’s repertory company’s production “DHRUV SWAMINI”.

Later , he formed a theatre group called “DEVASTHALI” in Dewas and acted, designed and directed mega production “UTTAR JO PRASHN BAN GAYE” based on noble prize winner Herman Hess’s “SIDDARTH” in December 1999.

His most memorable phase in Mumbai started when he got associated with multiple national awards winning director Prakash Jha. Firstly with the role of Inspector Bholanath Pandey in Gangajal and then widely appreciated role of Home Minister Dinker Pandey in Apaharan. He played the lead role of Jay Prakash Narayan portraying his life span from 20 years till his demise in Prakash Jha’s docu-drama Loknayak produced by Prasar Bharti-Doordarshan (2003-2004) and also did a major role of Baba in his serial Bahubali (2007) which was the come back of producer-director Prakash Jha on television after producing the side-splitting comedy “Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapney”.

He has played pivotal roles in many films and some of them are Risk, Bas Ek Pal, A Wednesday, Vikalp and mainly national award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail (played the role of Jailor). Currently, his on air serial is Ekta Kapoor’s Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajna on Star Plus. His most recent success story has been Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti. He will again be seen in Rajpal Yadav’s first production – ATA PATA LAAPATA.

Mandeep Puri of Buzzintown caught the actor and gathered some more secrets of his life.

About NSD & on being an ‘educated’ actor: “I did my graduation from National School of drama (NSD) in the year of 1994-1997 and was the only one who was selected from Madhya Pardesh. I started amateur theatre in 1988 at native place in Dewas and while doing BSC from Holkar Science College, Indore and subsequently P.G. Diploma in Photography and Videography from D.A.V.V. Indore”.

Direction Desires: When asked about his plan of directing Bollywood movie, Chetan says, “Though, I have a good experience of directing plays and theater but as of now there no plans of directing Bollywood movies.”

The Bollywood moment: Chetan was well appreciated by the audience first in his role of inspector Bholanath Pandey in Gangajal and then in the role of Home Minister Dinker Pandey in Apaharan. “I feel the role in apaharan has given me identification in Bollywood.”

Present ventures: “I am working in Raajneeti and also doing a comedy movie with Rajpal Yadav. In Raajneeti, as you must have seen, I am playing a role of a powerful politician.”