Known for his roles in films like Article 15, Jolly LLB 1 & 2, and Super 30, actor Sushil Pandey talks about his character in the Sony LIV show Maharani, his experience of working with Huma Qureshi and his journey so far.

How has your character Kunwar Singh evolved over the three seasons of Maharani?

Sushil Pandey: For the first time, I was offered a role like this. This was something different from what I had done before. I followed the way my director Subhash Kapoor guided me. In the first season, Kunwar Singh received a very good response from the audience. In the third season, the character has matured. He was very dark in the first season but has changed over the next two seasons. The writing helped me get into the character.

You are from Bihar but you did extensive research to understand the psyche of your character…

Sushil Pandey: Kunwar Singh is quite a challenging character. I am from Bihar but I hadn’t seen my character’s world so closely. When I was offered the role, I thought of going to my native place and meeting these people. I saw that they were very simple people. I met two-three people from whom I was trying to find the swag that I wanted to add to my character. I wanted to identify the signature behaviour of Kunwar Singh.

While I was meeting the people there, I saw a young boy who didn’t talk to me but his eyes were talking to me. He did not care about anything. Everyone was talking to me except him. I liked his angst. This is something I incorporated in Kunwar Singh. I also picked up bits and pieces from other people. Subhashji (Kapoor) also helped me a lot as he was a political journalist and he met a lot of different people.

How was it to work with Huma Qureshi?

Sushil Pandey: I knew Huma from when she was in Delhi. She too comes from a theatre background. She is a very sweet and supportive woman. She is a very good friend. We have great comfort as actors as we have already done three seasons.

You have been a part of most of Subhash Kapoor’s works like Phas Gaye Re Obama, and Jolly LLB 1 and 2. How was it reuniting with him?

Sushil Pandey: Working with Subhash Kapoor is a blessing in disguise. He can take the best out of any actor. I was there in his first film. From Jolly LLB, my life became easier. People started recognising me and it was because of his writing and his direction. I have a great comfort level with him. After he says cut for a scene, I understand by his reaction if he needs a retake or if he has liked the shot. He always helps an actor with his insights on the background of a character. He is one of the best directors I have worked with.

How difficult is it to get into a cycle where you are offered good roles?

Sushil Pandey: As an actor, I want to do different roles. I did a film called Article 15 where I played the role of a rapist. After that, I got flooded with similar kinds of roles. I wanted something that challenged me and gave me a push.

I just had a passion for acting and was doing theatre. As an actor, you have to be adamant about doing good and new roles. At times we do roles for a livelihood but you will have to wait for good things to come. You have to balance it out.

How do you feel when you look back at your journey?

Sushil Pandey: I come from a lower-middle-class family in Bihar, my father was a government worker. I was born in a place where there was no electricity and no roads. Newspapers would arrive one day later at home. We would read literature. I would also take part in Ramleela. I started getting into theatre and then slowly films happened. I also studied hotel management and got a job at the Taj Hotel. I worked there for two-three years. I left the job as I didn’t like it. It wasn’t an easy journey.

What are the few milestones in your acting journey?

Sushil Pandey: After I came here, I understood in one year that it was not going to be an easy journey. Like every aspiring actor, I also thought I wanted to become a star. I loved to act. I started earning from acting, and my passion became my profession. I feel this itself is a milestone.

What is next for you?

Sushil Pandey: I finished shooting for the film Phule, directed by Ananth Mahadevan. I have also done a film with Anubhav Sinha which is yet to be named. And I am doing Subhash Kapoor’s next film.