Nandish Sandhu on His Role in Taskaree: “In a Story, It’s the Character That Speaks, Not the Star”

Actor Nandish Sandhu is currently making waves in the OTT space. His performance as Ravindra Gujjar in the Netflix series ‘Taskaree: The Smugglers Web’ has received widespread appreciation from audiences. Active in the industry for nearly two decades, Nandish has carved a distinct identity for himself, moving seamlessly from television to films and now OTT. Recently, he spoke about his character’s journey, working with a big star like Emraan Hashmi, the influence of OTT platforms, and aspects of his personal life. Here’s what he had to say…

Your web series ‘Taskaree’ is getting a tremendous response. How does it feel to receive praise in a multi-starrer project?

It feels absolutely wonderful. When you become part of a story that audiences love and that is trending at number one on Netflix, there can’t be a better feeling than that. Working with Neeraj Pandey, his team, and director Raghav M. Jairath was a big experience in itself.

Ravindra Gujjar’s character was beautifully written and layered, but his ending was quite emotional for the audience. What was your first reaction when you read the script?

When I first received the brief for Ravindra Gujjar’s character, I had no idea that his arc would be so beautiful. While reading the complete script, I was truly surprised. On screen, it turned out even better, and the credit for that goes entirely to the direction, editing, and background music.

Also read:‘Taskaree’: Emraan Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Zoya and Nandish Sandhu Share Their Experiences

While working with a big star like Emraan Hashmi, did you ever feel that your character might get overshadowed?

Never. I truly believe that in a story, it’s the character that speaks, not the star. When you work with a maker like Neeraj Pandey, you trust that he will never compromise with the story, no matter who is in front of the camera.

Did you ever have a moment like, “on one side Bollywood, on the other Emraan Hashmi”?

Emraan is a very sweet and grounded person. His film songs are a part of almost everyone’s playlist. On set, he never overpowers a scene; instead, he gives space to every actor. Working with him was a wonderful experience.

Also read:Taskaree: Emraan Hashmi’s performance earns praise from audiences

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Your filmography is quite diverse. Have there been times when you didn’t care about screen time?

Absolutely. In ‘Jubilee’, my screen time was limited, but the impact of the character was very strong. For me, what matters is the impact a character leaves on the story.

Do you aspire to play lead roles?

Who doesn’t? Of course, I want to. But for that, you need to earn the trust of makers, and that comes through consistently good work.

Also read:Taskaree trailer launch: Emraan Hashmi and Amruta Khanvilkar Enter a High-Stakes War Against Smuggling

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How was your experience working with director, writer, actor, and producer Hansal Mehta? Did you have to unlearn anything?

With every project, there is unlearning involved. You have to let go of the body language, mindset, and rhythm of the previous character and adapt to a new one. That’s what makes acting exciting.

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What differences do you see between the audition process earlier and now?

There has been a huge change. Earlier, there weren’t proper casting directors. Now, auditions are conducted professionally, scripts are shared, and actors are given proper space to perform.

Do big stars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, or Emraan bring their stardom to the set?

No. Every actor leaves their stardom outside the set. Otherwise, acting wouldn’t be possible.

Has OTT reduced the gap between television and films?

Yes, to a great extent. Today, an actor is just an actor. If you’re good, you’ll get work. Earlier, moving from television to films was very difficult; now the system has become much fairer.

On a personal note, when can we expect wedding news?

Whenever it happens, I’ll inform everyone myself. You do not have enough Humanizer words left. Upgrade your Surfer plan.

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