Home » Interview » Charlie Chopra actor Priyanshu Painyuli on working with Vishal Bhardwaj: I like the way he writes, directs, composes and sings | Exclusive
Charlie Chopra actor Priyanshu Painyuli on working with Vishal Bhardwaj: I like the way he writes, directs, composes and sings | Exclusive
Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley releases on September 27 on SonyLIV.
Oct 01, 2023
Vishal Bhardwaj, Priyanshu Painyuli (PC: Instagram)
Priyanshu Painyuli is one of the most versatile actors in the country, and he received a huge reception from viewers all over the country with his character Robin in Mirzapur 2. He has also been seen in films like Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, Rashmi Rocket, Extraction, and more. Now, the talented artist is gearing up for the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial, Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley.
In a recent chat with OTTplay, Painyuli unveiled his interesting character in the mystery thriller series and also shared his experience working with Bhardwaj. Excerpts.
Talking about his character, the actor shared, "I'm playing a local journalist called Sitaram Bisht who is part of the murder investigation. What is he doing? He's got his own agenda as well, and he's running his own parallel investigation. Of course, as a reporter, he has his own stuff going on. But he's also involved and very interested in this detective who comes to this town to investigate this case. So for me, I think in any detective story, apart from the detective the most interesting characters are the journalists and the cops. My character is funny, very outspoken, and he says anything at any time, but there is something happening inside his head, and he's got his agenda and secrets. He even plays Charlie, and they have a huge banter in the show as well."
His character in Mirzapur 2 invited a whole meme fest. When asked if his character in Charlie Chopra also has that kind of quirk or not, Painyuli replied, "So my character in Charlie Chopra doesn't have a signature pillow talk like Robin in Mirzapur 2 had. Robin also had this mysterious thing in him aside from looking innocent, as he used to do money laundering. Meanwhile, with Sitaram, I have tried to achieve a very local journalistic feel, especially with the language and the dialect. The way I'm talking is completely different from anybody in the series. I hope all of you journalists, especially me, like my character as well."
Talking about his experience working with Vishal Bhardwaj, the talented artist mentioned, "He (Bhardwaj) has got only qualities and qualities, and it just separates him from others and makes him unique in his own kind. For me, he is a whole industry in himself. I have liked him since I started watching movies. I like the way he writes and directs, as well as the way he composes and sings songs."
"Everything he puts together is so beautiful and so different. It's experimental, but it's also contemporary. It's something dramatic, but there is some dark humour in it. So, if you've watched, from Haider to Kaminey to any of these subjects, the way he treats his character and the way he treats his story is so beautiful—every scene and every moment. Ask any actor; every scene in the show has importance to the story. It's not placed there; the character is seeing it for a reason. And that's all because it knows how to handle these characters. And why are they saying whatever they are saying?" he added.
Breaking down Bhardwaj's way of filmmaking, Painyuli revealed, "Also, the idea that you can do so much with small movements—you can create a small movement by just, you know, picking up the glass bottle and the way you placed it on the table. So I've learned a lot from him. I think the kind of quality he has is very different, but as with many other directors, he allows the actors to do what they want to do. But also he'll add his input slowly. And he changes you, and you'll just start blending in with him. And once you start getting the rhythm with him, it is so beautiful. It's not necessary; it is just a written script. We do; what is it? We can explore so much more. So I've learned every day with him on set. And I have also told him that I feel jealous. I told him also that the way he thinks is different from others."
Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley, which also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Dutta, Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulshan Grover, and Paoli Dam, releases on September 27 on SonyLIV.
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