EXCLUSIVE: Gurfateh Pirzada feels ‘demotivated’ with the delay on Bedhadak: It will happen in better times

Last month, Gurfateh Pirzada appeared amidst 11 raw talents in the Netflix show Class. The official Indian adaptation of the Spanish show Elite, emerged a surprising success. Gurfateh Pirzada received appreciation for his portrayal of the complicated character of Neeru as well.

Recently, the actor got into an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble. He opened up on his experience on Class, his favourite character from the show and season 2. He also spoke about the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer Brahmastra and its affect on his career. Gurfateh Pirzada will next be seen in Shashank Khaitan’s Bedhadak and the actor opened up on the delay on that film as well. Excerpts from the interview:

How was the experience of working amidst a bunch of raw talent?

“I think it was very interesting. Obviously I didn’t get to work with all of them, but whoever I worked with, it was like we were all students there. It was a very different filming experience. The set up of the shoot was such that we had to do 30-40 takes for every shot. So, we had to keep doing something so as to keep it interesting for each other. With raw talent, it’s always exciting as everyone is always exploring. If there is a season 2, I am really looking forward to be a part of it.”

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As a viewer, which character were you rooting for apart from yours?

“Personally, I love Saba the most and I feel Madhyama Segal has done a brilliant job at it. Her character, her lehja (dialect),everything was incredible. She was my favourite and then came everybody else.“

Before Class released, people didn’t have much expectations from it considering it is an adaptation…

“100 percent and people accepting it still is rare because it has all new people. No one is watching it for someone, because they know a face. Everyone is watching it because it is interesting, it is talked about and is different. It is the interesting factor that it has worked irrespective of not having a known face.”

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Did having a theatrical release last year with Brahmastra influenced your career in any way?

“Not really. It was a blessing in disguise that Guilty came before Brahmastra, even though the latter was shot before. Of course, it was wonderful to see myself on screen and do those kind of things. But the picture is always bigger. I am looking for bigger and better work and Brahmastra was a start. I am looking forward to a second part in that if it happens and also to doing more work in that genre.“

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Were you happy with whatever was shown of you in Brahmastra?

“Of course I was happy but also I wanted to see more of myself on screen. I did shot for more but a lot of things got chopped off, and not just for my character, as the film was too long. I dealt with that problem for the first time in my life. My scenes had never been chopped off before. Apart from that, I was really happy. If Brahmastra hadn’t happened, nothing else would have either.”

In Guilty you played a molester and now in Class again you play a shady guy who cheats his brother. Do you think these shady characters follow you now?

“(Laughs) No man, I make those choices. But these are roles that established actors won’t do so they come to newer people like us. So, that’s just part and parcel of the game. Of course, I will do nicer characters also. In my next, I play a nice, simple, good boy. I hope that will change the narrative.

After Guilty though, I got 10-12 offers on the same line and I had to say no to them. I had played it already. Surprisingly, actually people liked it. I guess women like toxic guys. They like dark, brooding and complicated characters. I used to get a lot of messages after Guilty and I would be like why? But they were like women are just attracted to such characters. I guess that works.”

Being under the mentorship of Karan Johar, how has that helped you navigate your path in the industry?

“It’s been a blessing. When I was 18, I came to Mumbai without any support or contacts. It has been 9 years now in the city and it can get hard to navigate and decide what is right and wrong. So, of course, Karan sir has always been helpful and the dream is to work with him eventually. The biggest blessing is I can call him anytime and ask for his opinion. To have someone like him help your career is great. I just hope that relationship remains.”

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Your next big theatrical release is Bedhadak with Shanaya Kapoor and Lakshya Lalwani. But there have been many delays for it…

“It got pushed because of the lockdown and so many other things that have happened. The idea is to work and build an audience. It’s not just to wait for a launch to come around. We all believe that if we get good work, we’ll do that. Bedhadak is always there, it will happen in better times. We don’t want to rush into a decision because at the end of the day, we want to make a good film. The timing has to be right for it, and hopefully we’ll begin it soon.”

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But did those delay reports ever deter you?

“Of course, you don’t expect delays and stuff, especially when you’ve had a 9 year journey in the industry. So, it gets hard but it’s a part and parcel of the job. And it’s nobody’s fault. A lot has happened over the last two years, especially after Covid. lockdowns and uncertain film business. So, it has been a very challenging time and no one really knew how to navigate it all, and what to do and what not to do.

It was obviously demotivating and deterring for me. But there were A-listers who have done 10-15 films as well who were worried about their next film working. So, who am I to be like to say it didn’t affect me. Bedhadak is a great story and I am excited for eventually whenever it happens. But I am also excited for other interesting things in the pipeline.”

Also Read: Karan Johar confirms Shanaya Kapoor, Lakshya and Gurfateh Pirzada starrer Bedhadak shoot to commence next year