Namit Das on his character Ganesha in Hamara Vinayak: `Connects with all ages`
Whereas researching for this interview, we found that Namit Das shouldn’t be solely an actor but in addition a skilled singer, owing to his musical lineage. So, we requested him to hum a tune — and he did — leaving us pleasantly stunned by the vary of his expertise. This yr has been significantly thrilling for Das. He starred in Aap Jaisa Koi in July, adopted by The Taj Story in October, and now, Hamara Vinayak, during which he performs Lord Ganesha. “November is a turning part for me,” says Das, as he talks about his upcoming work. In dialog with mid-day, he discusses what drew him to the present, the way it appeals to a common viewers, and why he finally selected performing over music.
Excerpts from the interview.
What was your first impression of Hamara Vinayak when it was provided to you?
Once I learn it for the primary time, I realised there’s a lot content material releasing on streaming platforms, tv, and social media. However we would not have a present that’s comfortable, easy, and talks about fundamental values on how human beings ought to exist and dwell happier. And this appeared like one thing that will match into that class and nature. I felt it will be a clutter-breaker, and a problem for me to play this character.
Being the son of ghazal singer Chandan Dass, and having skilled in music since childhood, how did it not turn out to be the main focus of your profession?
I’ve a band and I’ve launched just a few songs right here and there. I feel life surprises you, let’s put it that manner. Usually, when you are planning for all times, life is definitely planning for you. And you need to dwell in keeping with no matter is thrown at you. By some means, singing by no means occurred. Even after I was rising up, I used to go for faculty competitions. [But] singing by no means gave me the precise course [then]. I don’t know what occurred there, however it got here again and it retains coming again into my life by theatre and different codecs.
Was there stress to comply with in your father’s footsteps?
No. My mother and father are very candy. They’ve at all times stood by and supported no matter decisions I made. Actually, a few of my members of the family had been stunned with my selection of topics in school. However my mum stood by me. She mentioned that if he needs to take up arts, then that’s his choice. Actually, my father mentioned one thing very stunning after I informed him that I need to be a singer, actor, and be within the performing arts. He mentioned, ‘Beta, karne ki vidya hai, jitna karoge, utna hello paoge.’ That’s what I’ve lived by.
Whenever you decide roles, do you determine primarily based on how they align together with your ambitions within the trade?
In no way. A variety of my decisions are decided by the conversations I’ve with the makers. On this case, I interacted with director and author duo Ashutosh [Chaturvedi] and Pankaj [Mavchi], Agastya [Jain], who’s the creator and showrunner, and [producer] Siddharth Kumar Tewary. Whenever you begin having enjoyable in these conversations, that’s once you align with the venture.
Did Aap Jaisa Koi and The Taj Story change your trajectory?
You’ll be able to’t plan this stuff. It has all been very natural and instinctive. Whereas I don’t suppose it modified something, the audiences will know higher how my profession is shaping up. You simply hold doing no matter comes your manner, it helps you survive within the metropolis and construct a life.
Most Ganesha tales are meant to attract youngsters to a present. So who’s the target market of Hamara Vinayak?
I feel all people — from youngsters to senior residents. It’s such a cheerful present. It brings in a whole lot of positivity. It’s such a common topic that it’ll join with all age teams. When the primary episode dropped, my nephew related with it and so did my uncle, who’s 15 years older than me.
With a values-driven present, there’s at all times the danger of sounding preachy. How did you preserve the steadiness?
The writers, Ashutosh and Pankaj, really maintained that steadiness. Once I was having a chat with them initially, I expressed the identical concern. Once I learn it, I realised their imaginative and prescient steered away from the preachiness or the traps of a topic like that. It was fully reverse. The viewers learns issues on a subliminal degree. It’s within the mannerisms and little appears; it’s performed in a really subliminal manner.
Moreover moving into the garb of Vinayak, what else did you do to get into the zone for the function?
I feel it was quite simple for me. It needed to be divinity — one thing otherworldly. I broke it all the way down to the innocence and vitality of a kid that each one of us need to maintain on to. I simply tapped into that, actually.
What’s subsequent after this?
I’ve a movie known as Minimal, which is the opening movie for the Jagran Movie Competition. The movie additionally stars Saba Azad, Naseeruddin Shah, and Geetanjali Kulkarni. There’s a present for Applause [Entertainment], which has been ready for a while. There’s one other movie known as Vrindavan, which is able to discover its manner
in some unspecified time in the future.
