“I’m a chill but shy guy!”
That’s the first thing Gurfateh Singh Pirzada says when we start the conversation. Obviously, I think he’s messing with everyone on the set. But isn’t that what you want? Pop culture’s new charming czar firing on all cylinders, while displaying his magnetism that made him likeable as Neeraj, an ex-convict who voices his anger against classism, in Class and loveable as Neel, a media honcho with a conscience, in Call Me Bae. “I think everybody can agree I have the personality of someone arrogant,” later he’ll deadpan. “I have a constant internal dialogue in my head, so I always default a ‘thinking face’. But once you get to know me, you’ll know otherwise,” he adds about the most common misconception people have about him.
Perhaps some of his roles, whether as VJ, the musician accused of rape in Guilty or the young politician he’s about to essay in the upcoming political drama Dynasty, add to the impediment. But beneath that serious demeanour belies the best part about him as a person—the introverted, funny and witty parts. Dressed in a nonchalant tee and trainers, Gurfateh is at Late Checkout, the location of our cover shoot and a newly opened restaurant with high ceilings, exposed textures and a quiet grandeur that exudes the vibe of a cosy mountain chalet. It isn’t long before he transforms into a 70s superstar, clad in gorgeous printed shirts, open jackets and even velvet pants. In between shots, he talks about settling into fame, struggles with self-doubt and straightforwardness on nepotism.
Nupur Sarvaiya: You made waves with Guilty, but Bollywood is known for typecasting actors. Have you ever felt boxed into a certain kind of role?
Gurfateh Singh Pirzada: There was a moment where I could have got boxed, but I consciously decided against all those parts that were being offered to me post Guilty. I didn’t want to take on roles just to fill the blanks and be busy. I would have probably damaged my career. I have no idea if those projects took off or not. However, I feel grateful to have had the foresight to make the right choices for me. Today, those choices has allowed me to be a part of varied projects and play diverse roles, each a different genre and each character from a different socio-economic and cultural background. I would love to make my filmography more diverse, but this has been a good start.
NS: There’s a lot of chatter about star kids versus outsiders. As someone who doesn’t come from a film dynasty, have you ever felt disadvantaged or overlooked?
GSP: I would be lying if I said no, but nepotism exists in every industry. That’s just the reality of life. I have realised that either I can brood over the fact that my starting point was farther than someone else’s or make the most of this opportunity and be thankful that there are multiple people looking at my journey and hoping they could start where I did. That said, I have worked with several star kids and it’s been a mixed bag. Most of them are super nice, talented and kind, but there have been times when I have felt that I could give my two cents to some of them. But as an outsider, the blessing in disguise for me is that I don’t come with the pressure of trying to live up to someone else’s name or a baggage of Dos and Don’ts that they might have cultivated from their surroundings.
NS: Actors often talk about the “one big break” that changes everything. Do you think you’ve had yours yet, or is it still ahead of you?
GSP: Personally, I would like that to be Class, but Call Me Bae is definitely my most significant role yet. People not only binge-watched the series, but also massively liked it. I also received a lot of appreciation for playing a rather positive role, which was so stark from some of the bad characters I have essayed on screen. Call Me Bae also gave me a little bit of an extra push because I had a lull period because a couple of my projects got shelved. There was a notion that ‘Iska kuch hoga ki nahi hoga’, but luckily, ‘Ho gaya!’
NS: In a sea of actors trying to make a mark, what do you think makes Gurfateh Singh Pirzada stand out?
GSP: I am a director’s actor. Above all, I am a ‘everything is figureoutable’ kinda guy. I can compartmentalise my life for the love of my craft and never have any hang ups for experimenting with different roles or pushing myself to my limits. There are times when some projects get stuck or shelved, but I have always strived to salvage a situation that’s possibly in my control. For instance, this one time I reached out to the director to try and work something out for a project that was on standstill. He requested for a meeting with my gym trainer. I remember telling my trainer that regardless of what the role demands, just say yes. If it means I need to become Hulk in a short amount of time, I am ready to work extremely hard. And that’s exactly how the meeting panned out. The role had certain physical requirement and all I said was ‘Yes, yes, yes’. I am doing that project now. I genuinely believe I am like water and just like to flow, and that’s my USP as an artist.
NS: Streaming platforms have opened doors for newer talent. Do you think you’d have had the same opportunities if OTT hadn’t taken off?
GSP: Yes, absolutely! During the lockdown, several big names weren’t okay to be part of OTT platforms, which opened a lot of avenues for newer talent. Today, every A-lister is doing it, so silver and smart screens are the same. And I genuinely believe, with OTT, there’s better content and writing. But I’d love to be part of commercial films too. My only thumb rule is: Whether big screen or smart, I would like to be a part of any project if I would like to watch it myself.
NS: You’ve spoken about your struggles with self-doubt. Does that feeling intensify when you see contemporaries getting bigger projects?
GSP: Yes, of course! But I also respect that at the end of the day this is a business. It’s why, sometimes, talent goes at the end of the casting list. That is not to say that these artists aren’t talented, but I am very realistic in the way to know that at this point I don’t have the kind of pull for a blockbuster theatrical release. So, I don’t beat myself over ‘Why not me’, and just focus on doing good work. Today, I am in a happy place, knowing that I am doing pretty well especially from where I started and that there’s an ocean of goodness in the industry too.
NS: There’s a lot of pressure on actors today to maintain a social media persona. Do you ever feel like your digital presence matters more than your talent?
GSP: My digital presence is not that much. But I also understand that the right amount of social media presence and marketing is just as important.
NS: If you had the power to change one thing about the film industry, what would it be?
GSP: The corporatization of it all. A lot of films that get made here are not stimulating and it’s easy to see that they weren’t made purely on creativity. We are in 2025 and we are dumbing our content, where we should be evolving and pushing the boundaries. Take Iranian content for instance. As a country, they are shackled by so many boundaries, but are using their films as a platform to churn great content and use it as a voice to revolt against their issues.
NS: Is there a particular role or genre that intimidates you?
GSP: I haven’t thought about it, but any role or genre that might intimate me, I am likely to do it for sure.
NS: Do you ever worry about being overshadowed by bigger names in ensemble casts?
GSP: I think ensemble casts are only bad for bad actors. Be it Class or Call Me Bae, the beauty of ensemble casts is that everyone gets some screentime, without the entire pressure of the project doing well or not on your shoulders.
Editor-in-chief: Sonia Ullah
Photography: Gourab Ganguli
Creative Director: Manni Sahota
Fashion Editor: Vikas Sattu
Jr. Fashion Editor & styling: Tanishq Malhotra
Interview by: Nupur Sarvaiya
Wardrobe: Mishru
On Gurfateh: House of Shikha
On Eugeniya: Shri Paramani Jewels
Makeup: MAC Cosmetics, Saikat Chakraborty
Gurfateh’s Hair: Swapnil Diwakar Hair
Eugeniya’s Hair: Daksh Nidhi
Sunglasses: Essilor Luxottica
Video: Gary Dean Taylor
Styling Assistant: Bhavya, Neha Rathi and Mugdha Bhave
Location courtesy: Late Checkout Bombay and Chrome Hospitality
Artist publicist: Phoenix Media Solutions
