‘My Ultimate Goal, My Ultimate Ambition Is Films’ - Gireesh Kumar Sahedev

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July 2, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Gireesh Sahedev is indeed an actor par excellence. Having started his career with TV Serial ‘Zanjeerein’, his next step was a play called ‘Café 7 O Clock’. He has also worked as a professional voice artiste. Then he entered into the arena of commercials and went on to do more than 50 brands in ad films, the highest an actor has ever done. Once again he dabbled with TV Serials like ‘Hum Ladkiyaan’, ‘Ek Chat Ke Neeche’, ‘Palkon Ki Chaon Mein’ et al. His next stop was films and he was lucky enough to bag a meaty role in Yash Raj Films ‘Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year’ after having done films like ‘Kaafila’, ‘Divorce’ et al. Right now he is busy doing a film called ‘Benny And Bablu’. Shaheen Raaj caught up with the multi faceted actor in Infiniti Mall for a brief chat.

Tell us briefly about your background?

I was born on 6th Sept 1976, in Hastinapur Village,Meerut (UP). My forefathers belonged to Sialkot, officially a part of Pakistan. I migrated to Delhi in 1978 where I finished my education from Delhi School of Arts and Commerce. Later on I got involved in the family business. But soon the acting bug bit me and I became restless. Finally after a long battle with my family I landed up in Tinsel Town in 1998.

Which was the first project you did after landing in Tinsel Town?

Surprisingly after entering Bollywood I got my first break in television. Out here my first project was a tele Serial called ‘Zanjeerein’, produced and directed by Gulshan Sachdeva in which I played the negative role of Chanchal Singh. Then I did a play called ‘Cafe 7 O Clock’ Directed by Prince Paul. These two projects paved my way further into tele serials. So my next project was also a TV Serial’s called ‘Hum Ladkiyan’ in which I played the character of a Pundit who remembers the scriptures and is also a man of his principles, After that I did Endemol’s TV show called ‘Ek Chhat Ke Neeche’ in which I played the character of an NRI who is financially ruined and looking out for love in this fake world. I consider this role as one of the finest performance of my life. Then I did a show called ‘Palkon Ki Chaon Mein’ in which I played an out and out negative role.

But in between you got more prominence as a voice artiste and in the Commercials arena. How come?

I would say that I was destined to be a Voice Artiste. But that proved to be a very beneficial albeit a short career. Then in 2005, once again my destiny changed its course and I was noticed by a prominent ad filmmaker and got into commercials with a big bang. I have done around 50 big brands, the highest an actor has ever done, in ads films like Airtel, Saffola, Videocon, Tata Sky, Natonal Insurance, State Bank Of India, Radio City Baal Baal Bach Gaye, Kelvinator, Itch Guard, Surf Excel, SMC Investment, Castrol, Indian Oil, Metlife, Birla Sunlife Insurance, MTNL, India Bulls, Tang Juice, Motorola, Elf Engine Oil, Big Bazaar with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Parryware, Sukam Battery, Mahindra Alfa Cipla, I Pill, Westside, Shyamrao Vithal Bank, Kellogs Corn Flakes, ibibo.com, Colgate (contract ad), 8pm Whisky, icici.direct.com, monster.com, Dazzle Floor Cleaner, KFC, Samsung TV, Igetit Comics et al. I am still very busy doing ad films.

Which are the films you did in a decade long career?

Since I was extremely busy doing TV serials and commercials I never focused much on films but it was always my ultimate goal, my ultimate ambition. I always wanted to do meaty roles so that was one more reason for doing very few films. So as far as films are concerned, the first film I did was a film called ‘Divorce’ in which I played a lawyer opposite Jackie Shroff. In this film a kid seeks divorce from his parents. Jackie played the kid’s lawyer and I played the parent’s lawyer. Then I did a film called ‘Kaafila’ with Sunny Deol in which I played a negative role. Then it was just by chance that I met Director Shimit Amin who liked my performance in many of my ads and signed me for Yash Raj Films ‘Rocket Singh – Salesman Of The Year’.

You have done TV serials, commercials as well as films, what difference do you find in all the three mediums and which do you find the most stimulating?

To be frank, for me as an actor all the three mediums are stimulating enough. Although all of them have their own excitement, benefits and shortcomings too but as far as exposure is concerned I find the medium of commercials more stimulating and of course it pays rich dividends too. But an actor is an actor so he should not make any differentiation between the three mediums.

How did you find the experience of working with seasoned actors like Jackie Shroff and Sunny Deol?

Although my answer would sound clichéd I would still say that it was wonderful and most of all a great learning experience. Besides both Jackie Sir and Sunny Sir have their own individual qualities which really benefited me as an actor. They are the greatest co-stars that an actor like me can wish for.

Finally tell us about your forthcoming films?

*At present I am doing a film called ‘Benny And Bablu’ with Kay Kay Menon and Rajpal Yadav, who are also seasoned artistes in their own right. This film is being directed by Yunus Sajawal who is again a seasoned director.

– Shaheen Raaj /Sampurn Wire