OTT Is The Safest Way To Reach The Masses Today, Dhirendra Thakur

DHIRENDRA THAKUR who plays the lead protagonist in the film Vanrakshak streaming on the OTT platform Shemaroo Me tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive e mail interview for MAYAPURI & bollyy.com

Is the film Van Rakshak - The Forest Guard just a fictional tale of ‘Chiranjilal Chouhan’ from Himachal Pradesh, or is it the reality of today, a reality check which all of us, the human race badly needs at this point of time?

Vanrakshak is inspired by a true story. It's a film based on Environment Conservation and Global Warming.

I am playing the role of a forest guard, named Chiranjilal Chouhan who always wants to serve his nation.

At the age of 30, Chiranjilal joins the forest department because he hears the news of deforestation, global warming, greenhouse effect, climate change, etc everyday by the means of newspaper, radio and television.

He decides to become a forest guard and wants to make people aware about benefits of plantation, forest, environment, green land, it's conservation, etc.

During his service, he catches many Jungle Mafias and therefore, he is on their radar. One day, he is killed by them but his dream to protect our environment is laid by their team and department.

So, you can say that it's the reality check of present time where you need to think seriously and we have tried to awake the people to save their nature, to save themselves.

Is it true that the film is based on Environment Conservation, Global Warming and Climate Change?

Yes, as the name says itself. VANRAKSHAK means Saviour of Nature. It's is based on environment conservation and global warming where we have tried to tell people about present scenario .

As we are watching in present time that everyone is busy in developing themselves but they forget that they are doing this at the cost of nature which is really harmful for whole humankind.

Tell me about your role as a poor village boy Chiranjilal who serves as a child labor as his family couldn't complete his graduation which was his burning desire and ends up becoming a shopkeeper?

I am playing the role of a forest guard whose upbringing is done in such a manner that he loves his nature, he love to do plantation and his parents always motivate him for the same.

But, his father is suffering from some illness and is compelled to work outside to serve his family.

But, he is an intelligent boy who wants to be a government official. But, destiny wants something else and during his college days , he becomes a part of conspiracy and he is rusticated from the college. To serve his mother and himself, he starts a shop and becomes a shopkeeper.

What is your role in Vanrakshak?

I am playing the role of a forest guard, named 'Chiranjilal Chouhan' who always wants to serve his nation.

At the age of 30, Chiranjilal joins the forest department because he hears the news of deforestation, global warming, greenhouse effect, climate change, etc everyday by the means of newspaper, radio and television.

He is determined to become a forest guard and wants to make people aware of benefits of plantation, forest, environment, greenland, it's conservation, etc. During his service, he catches many Jungle Mafias and therefore, he is on their radar.

Why does your character of Chiranjilal join forest department as forest guard at the age of thirty leaving a lucrative business behind with a determination to protect wildlife?

He loves his nature, his motherland and wanted to protect it, so, he joined forest department and become a forest guard. He told about this to his mother and she supported him in his decision.

Why did you want to become an actor in the first place?

My mother sang for All India Radio and she always wanted that one of her child will go into the field of Art.

So, I decided to become an actor and for this, I came to Delhi at the age of 20 and joined theatres and accordingly, I prepare myself for mainstream cinema.

How did you prepare for the part of the forest ranger, who fights his battle like a brave soldier against uneducated villagers cutting trees, dangerous wood smugglers mafia and with the system itself failing to understand that development cannot happen at the cost of destroying nature?

During my studies, I have read about 'Mahatma Gandhi'. Once, he quoted - If you want to change the world, be that change. I truly mean it.

Since my childhood, I have been told about values of plant, their benefits. I belong to an agricultural family, my father is a proud farmer and me too.

I love nature and want to do all the possible things to save it. I have read the script many times , talked to many people who is into this field, discussed with my writer and director, watched many documentaries, videos related to this topic and finally, I become able to do this character.

In real life, how do you manage to wake up people around you and ignite a huge debate on the biggest issue, development v/s nature conservation?

Look, you don't get such chances to do this unless and until , something bad happens. I have got a chance to ignite people for forest conservation by this film and from its start, whenever I talk to anyone, I tell them to plantation.

I am talking to many NGOs , government departments to initiate plantation by showing this film to various schools, colleges, departments, etc. This is the way through which we can encourage people to conserve the nation.

Do you think it is high time that we the human race decided to make a choice to find possibilities of life on other planets or protect the planet earth which has everything we need?

Yes, of course, we are busy in finding lives on another planet but we don't care to save our lives in existing one.

In the present time, we all know what's happening, everywhere its shortage of Oxygen, whole nation is disturbed but do we ever realize why this happened, who is responsible for this ?

Actually, in reality, we all are responsible, we the human being are responsible for this. There are many plants that provide Oxygen like Peepal tree, etc but we are busy in destroying them to make multi stores, apartments, big buildings, etc.

But, in this pandemic time, this development won't save your lives but tree does. So, I request you all to plant trees as much as you can to save yourselves, your family, your people and of course, your nation.

I really want to showcase my film to mass so that, they will understand the importance of nature and environment. It's a high time to think about this seriously.

How did you bag a break to play the protagonist in Vanrakshak?

I give this credit to Sweta Dutta who is executive producer and chief assistant director in this film.

She is the bridge between producer and director. She told my director to consider me for this role.

My director met me and we discussed about this character and since, I belong to a farmer family and my roots are from village, so he found me perfect for this character.

Aise samay mein is film ke kya maayna hain aap ke liye, as a person as well as actor?

During this pandemic time, I found this film as a remedy that needs to be seen by everyone across our country to understand our fault and to change our habits.

Is it true that you continued to act even after you were grievously injured while shooting?

Yes, I fall from a height during a chasing seen and got injured but we are in entertainment industry and we know , 'the show must go on' , so, I continued to perform after my first aid .

In how many films have you acted till date?

This is my first feature film. Apart from this, I have after in more than 15 short films, many videos, some documentaries, etc.

Where did you learn acting? In what way did your learning acting as a craft help you while playing the role of Chiranjilal in Vanrakshak?

I did not join any acting classes or institution. I joined theatre just to improve my speech and body language. My upbringing and education helped me a lot to grasp this character of forest guard.

How did you tackle your role psychologically as well as physically as an actor?

This is me. This character is not different from the real Dhirendra Thakur. As I told you, I love doing plantation, framing and the same I did in this film.16.

I feel myself lucky to work with Pawan Sharma who raises such subjects. He helped me a lot in understanding this character.

As he is from Himachal Pradesh and this story is also from Himachal Pradesh, so, its easy for me to understand their lives, their language, their activities.

Were there workshops conducted in advance before the shoot commenced to prepare you for the part?

Yes, prior to its shooting, 15 days workshop has been conducted where we learnt about the subject, character and other stuffs.

Name five filmmakers who are in your wish list as an actor?

I want to work with all directors who wants to make meaning full cinema. As far as, my choice is concerned, its my dream to work with Rajkumar Hirani, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sriram Raghavan, Imtiaz Ali, Christopher Nolan .

How was the experience of rubbing shoulders as an actor with both Yashpal Sharma and Aditya Shrivastav?

I am happy to share screen with Yashpal Sharma and Aditya Srivastava. They are well-known artist and good actors.

They helped me while performing scenes with them. Every newcomer will be happy to work with such actors in his debut film.

Name the actors whom have inspired you as far as acting is concerned? Who are your idols?

There are many actors whose performance is well-appreciated . I love Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar and many Hollywood actors.

Your film has been premiered on ShemarooMe OTT. How do you feel an OTT release helps as against a theatrical release for an experimental independent film like Vanrakshak?

Nowadays, OTT release is safe game for new producers and newcomers. I think that it's a easy way to reach mass.

In which locations was Vanrakshak shot and in how many days was the film completed?

Van Rakshak was shot in Janjheli Valley, Thunag, kutah village in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Whole film is shooted in 40days.

Does the film set out to drive home the pertinent message that human beings are busy exploring life on other planets whereas ignore the one they live in?

Yes, it's message is very strong and loud. If you watch the film, you will agree with me. We have tried to aware people as far as possible

What is your contribution to conserve and preserve nature as well as global warming today?

Whenever, I go to my home, I do plantation and farming. In my every birthday, I plant a tree and tells people to do the same. I am trying my best to conserve my nature.

Which are your forthcoming assignments as far as films, TV shows and web series are concerned?

I am doing a feature film based on a novel soon. Besides that, I am doing 2 web-series and both are based on different themes and I am sure that public will like it.

As far as short films and videos are concerned, I will keep doing the same as much as possible because it helps me to improve my acting skills.