Mahir Pandhi Interview: Talks About His Dual Role in ‘Veer Hanuman’

Mahir Pandhi Interview: Popular actor Mahir Pandhi, who was recently seen on Sony TV’s show Vanshaj, will now be seen in a dual role in Sony SAB's new show Veer Hanuman. In a recent interview with Maya Purai, journalist Shilpa Patil spoke with Mahir about his characters (Sugreev and Bali), his co-stars, working again with Swastik Productions, and his thoughts on Sanatan Dharma.

Let’s take a look at what Mahir Pandhi had to say.

The show's creator, Siddharth, mentioned that he approached you for this role specifically and didn’t audition anyone else for it. What do you have to say about that?

I have a lot of respect for him. He never explicitly told me that I would play this character. But yes, he gave me the script and said, “Read this and then decide.” When I read the script, I liked it, and how could I say no after that? I’m playing both Sugreev and Bali in this show. He also told me to research Sugreev and Bali on the internet before starting. But the truth is, I couldn’t find much about them. We can find a lot about Lord Hanuman online, but there’s not much available about Sugreev and Bali.

Portraying characters from history and mythology isn’t easy, especially when you are playing two roles. What preparations and challenges did you face?

When we go to a bookstore, we pick up a book, read its summary, and think we know the story. We then put the book back, assuming we’ve understood the entire plot. But we’ve only read the surface of the story, not the whole book. Similarly, when we talk about two characters, we assume that their DNA might be the same, but their personalities are different. There’s a reason for that difference, and portraying that is so interesting. Bali, for me, is my favorite character. I’m really enjoying playing him. There’s a special energy around Bali’s preparation. The moment we start getting ready for Bali, the chanting of mantras continues, and only when everything is ready does Bali truly come to life. You will get to see this in the first episode of Veer Hanuman. As for challenges, I’ve always enjoyed doing things that are different from what I’ve done before. That’s why I said yes to this show.

What do you have to say about Sugreev?

Sugreev is the perfect child that every parent would want. He’s kind, good-hearted, and loves his brother immensely. His character has many layers, and as the show progresses, you will see how Sugreev and Bali’s relationship reaches its breaking point. It’s very intriguing.

And what would you like to say about Lord Hanuman in the show?

The actor playing Hanuman in this show is fantastic. We even play cricket together! I think he’s been cast perfectly for the role. He’s an incredibly smart actor.

What would you like to say about your co-stars?

Arav Chowdhary, who plays Hanuman, has been my old neighbor. I call him "Darling" (you can ask him about it!). He may seem serious, but he’s actually a very calm person. Also, Sayli Salunkhe is a part of this show, and she’s wonderful to work with.

How has the audience’s response been so far?

The response has been great. These days, people watch everything quickly, especially on social media. People are satisfied with 15-second reels, but we come from a time when we used to binge-watch 10 episodes in a single night. If the story is good, people will watch it, no matter how fast-paced the world gets.

What do you think about depicting Indian history and mythology on television and in cinema?

I think it’s very important that we present our mythological stories correctly. Great stories like the Ramayana and Mahabharata have always been fascinating. We need to present them accurately, staying true to the history and cultural context.

What would you like to say about your Sanatan Dharma and values?

I’m proud of my religion. Whatever stories we tell, we should do so with pride. I understand that people can easily get offended nowadays, but our goal is never to hurt anyone. It’s important to stay close to the facts of history when telling these stories. If there’s no proof for something, we should avoid it. For example, words and expressions that were influenced by Urdu weren’t part of that time, so we try to avoid using them wherever possible.

You can catch the show Veer Hanuman, under the banner of Swastik Productions, starting from March 11 at 7:30 PM on Sony SAB.

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