Nukkad actor Pavan Malhotra gets anxious before the start of a new project even after four decades. The 66-year-old actor who started off with the cult TV serial Nukkad, and then acted in Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s National Film Award-winning Bagh Bahadur and Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro right at the beginning of his career, is currently seen as the menacing Brahma Gill in the web series Pill. Pavan’s Brahma Gill represents the corruption in the country’s pharmaceutical business and is pitted against Riteish Deshmukh’s Prakash Chauhan, a whistleblower, in the series directed by Raj Kumar Gupta (the maker of Aamir, No One Killed Jessica, Raid) and streaming on JioCinema Premium. The Telegraph Online chatted with Pavan Malhotra about Pill, why he’s drawn to socially relevant themes and his learnings.

Having worked with Raj Kumar Gupta before, what was your thought when you were offered a socially relevant film like Pill?

Pavan Malhotra: I was thrilled when producer Ronnie Screwvala and director Raj Kumar Gupta contacted me. I had worked with Raj Kumar on Black Friday, where he was an associate. Later he became an independent director, so I was thrilled. I was even more happy because the subject of Pill is very different. This is my fourth web series after Ghahan, Tabbar and Shiksha Mandal, and people will see me in a different role. I have another good web show coming up, Court Kacheri.

Pill throws light on the unethical side of the pharmaceutical business. Is it a conscious effort to take up socially relevant themes?

Pavan Malhotra: I have been lucky to have started with Nukkad, which was then followed back-to-back by so many significant stories. Socially relevant subjects do not always offer a solution but they raise an alarm and make people think. It draws people’s attention to the subject. In a democracy, one should be aware of the things happening around them even if one is not actively involved.

Tell us about your knack for making bad boys look good on screen.

Pavan Malhotra: When I played Tiger Memon in Black Friday, I didn’t want to go to every corner to collect information about him. I read the book (the film is based on Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts by Hussain Zaidi) to get the backstory. After that, I met so many people who told me that I was exactly like him. I took things from here and there and combined it all to create him. I am always very nervous before I start a project because everything is new. It’s a new story, script and character.

While working on Pill, what kind of discussions did you have with director Raj Kumar?

Pavan Malhotra: The reference was the script. Raj Kumar and his team briefed me about things such as what had happened. They told me that my character is that of a business-minded and authoritative man.

And what about your co-star Riteish Deshmukh?

Pavan Malhotra: We didn’t discuss much but we read the scenes during rehearsals. He is one of the finest actors. He can do a variety of roles. He has no airs and is very decent.

From Nukkad to Pill, what have been your learnings from your long career?

Pavan Malhotra: Believe in your work and when you have work, do it with all honesty. I am lucky that I could pursue my hobby. I didn’t know that I would get into theatre and later into films and it would become my bread and butter.

Your fans are waiting for the Sony LIV series Tabbar Season 2...

Pavan Malhotra: Let’s see and wait till it happens. The producer, Ajay Rai, told me that there might be a Season 2.

As a viewer, what do you watch on OTT?

Pavan Malhotra: I watch everything. Recently, I watched Panchayat at a stretch, then Sapne Vs Everyone, then the beautiful film Laapataa Ladies, which I watched twice on the same day. Then, I watched Mast Mein Rehne Ka, directed by Vijay Maurya and wonderfully performed by Jackie Shroff. I also watched Kota Factory, which is based on the lives of IIT aspirants.