Guilty Minds: Pranay Pachauri says his role felt almost like following in his family’s footsteps

Guilty Minds is touted to be the first Amazon Originals legal drama which will make its way onto the platform this month. Pranay Pachauri essays a pivotal role in the show as a lawyer, and the actor recently opened up about his character.

In a statement, Pachauri recalled he got the call about the audition for the role of Shubhrat Khanna and had only a few hours to prepare for it. But despite the ‘spontaneous’ nature of the audition, he got the role very quick.

The actor revealed that he came from a family of lawyers, with both his maternal and grandparents being advocates. So playing one on screen felt ‘close to home’ for the actor, who said he felt that law seems to be in his genes. “It was equally challenging yet fun to play this character on screen. I did to some extent grow up in a family surrounded by lawyers, so I was well acquainted with the mannerisms," said the actor.

Pachauri also talked in length about the experience of working with the show’s directors, Shefali Bhsuhan and Jayant Digambar. Referring to them as his ‘mentors’, the actor said that the two were able to ‘effortlessly’ bring out what he had in him and helped him channel his abilities into the role. Calling his time on the show a ‘learning experience’, Pachauri said that essaying the character felt like he was ‘following in his family’s footsteps’. He said that perhaps, his family might have had a desire to see him as a lawyer, and the show was the universe’s way of manifesting that desire.

He also believes that the role helped him ‘grow’ as both an actor and as a person. “Actors I believe are given many more opportunities to grow because you draw and internalise so much from your characters. It's a unique profession in more ways than you can imagine,” added the star.

Guilty Minds will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video from April 22, 2022.