Playing Gandhi role was challenging, but director made it a success: Dilip Prabhavalkar

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Veteran Marathi actor Dilip Prabhavalkar recalled the immense pressure of portraying Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. “I read books on Gandhi, listened to his speeches, and prepared thoroughly. I wondered if people would accept me as Gandhi. But the film became a huge success and sparked a nationwide wave of ‘Gandhigiri.’ The real hero of the film was director Rajkumar Hirani,” Prabhavalkar revealed during an exclusive interview.

The conversation, conducted by director Chandrakant Kulkarni on Friday evening at the Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival(AIFF), explored Prabhavalkar’s journey, struggles, decision-making, acting approach, and writing career. Reflecting on his early days, he said, “School and college were my only horizons. Winning a prize for the one-act play Janawar at Ruia College boosted my confidence in acting. Around the same time, I began writing. I originally wanted to join the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research as a researcher, but could not. Later, I worked at a pharmaceutical company, yet my pull toward acting remained. I decided to become a full-time actor after turning forty.”

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Portraying elderly characters from youth

Prabhavalkar said he started playing elderly roles at a young age, thanks to the trust directors placed in him. On theatre, cinema, and other media, he explained, “Theatre requires strict discipline. Cinema is the director’s medium. I started writing in college; my first book Gugli was followed by 31 others.”

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Acting in his own way

“My multi-faceted personality was recognized by directors, who gave me diverse roles. Memorable characters like Tatya Vinchu in Zapatlela, Gandhi in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and Babuli Mestri in Dashavatar were possible because the directors discovered the actor in me and helped me bring these roles to life. Even today, I act in my own unique way,” he added. At the audience’s request, Prabhavalkar concluded the session by performing the song ‘Ye Mera Prem Patra Padkar’ on the mouth organ, entertaining the large gathering.