EXCLUSIVE! Vinay Pathak On Working With Friends Ranvir, Rajat In Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa: It's Easier...

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa: While everybody might hate his character in ZEE5's murder mystery, I am in love with him in real life. Be it Khosla Ka Ghosla or Bheja Fry, he has wooed the audience with his charm. And now, he is back with a banger titled Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa. There's no prize for guessing that we are talking about Vinay Pathak.

In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Chief Copy Editor Abhishek Ranjit, Vinay Pathak got candid about the audience's response, working with friends in ELSH, Khosla Ka Ghosla and more.

Here are excerpts from the interview.

The way you have enacted in Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, I want to love and hate you at the same time. How pumped up are you after receiving love from all corners?

Of course, that was the idea. I have to tell you the truth. It has been so surprising and pleasant. It was a ferocious, warm reception that we are getting. Whoever is watching the film, they are just reacting very strongly to it.

And that has been so wonderful for the entire team. I can't tell you how wonderful it has been.

I am glad to know. How can I not talk about the star-studded cast. Everybody, every character, every actor is bringing their own aura to the film. Was it like a house on fire? Because every actor, whether it's you, NB, Neel sir, so many good actors.

It was a huge picnic, to be very honest. I wish I could tell you that we worked so hard. We didn't work hard at all. We had a blast while shooting in Lonavala. And I mean, when the work was happening, we used to party together. When it wasn't happening, we were just hanging out.

It was a big party, to be very honest. I didn't want to let the cat out of the bag, but that's exactly what it was. It was a huge party.

Do you think it's also easier to have that kind of chemistry when you are already friends with a person?

Of course, of course, of course. That goes without saying. That goes without saying. That's why, you know, we work. We come back to working with friends because it's more than work. You create so many things together, you know.

And we make friends with the people we work with for the first time. You know, you're friends for life. There were a couple of people with whom we were working for the first time.

Waluscha De Sousa, you know, is one person whom I hadn't known before at all. And now she's part of the gang. We're partying. We're eating together. We're pulling each other's legs. It's so much fun. So much fun. That's amazing.

Last year, you ruled the roost on OTT with Gram Chikitsalaya and Special Ops 2. How do you look back at the journey?

Ruled, you said? Ruled? Strong words you're using, my friend. Who sits and watches their own journey? I don't look back at my work; I simply enjoy the process associated with it.

We will celebrate two decades of Khosla Ka Ghosla in September. Any fond memories that you would like to share?

Khosla Ka Ghosla, such a beautiful film. There were many actors other than Ranvir, with whom I was working for the first time. And we have been friends ever since. That friendship has come to stay. Whether it's Anupamji, Praveen, Kiran ji or Tara. We are still friends.

And what a wonderful thing. That you have remained friends for a film like that.

As an artist, how do you ensure that you are taking things to the next level?

While you are experimenting with roles, you can't do anything. You have to wait for the right script of the next level. It's the script that decides. And the kind of stories we tell.

The kind of films we make. The excitement is in the story itself.

Anything that you want to tick off from your bucket list?

My only greed is to get a good script. The script should be good. Nothing in the script is subservient. Everything in the script is brilliant. For me especially. I look for a wonderfully written script.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is available for streaming on ZEE5.