Actor
Gurmeet
Chowdhary,
who
has
recently
signed
a
three-film
deal
with
Vishesh
Films,
believes
Mukesh
Bhatt
is
like
a
godfather
to
him.
He
says
the
producer
is
guiding
him
through
his
new
movie
career.
In
an
interview,
Gurmeet
has
shared
how
he
landed
up
with
the
film
deal
and
his
transition
from
TV
to
movies.
Excerpts:
Q.
How
did
you
land
up
with
a
three-film
deal
with
the
Bhatts?
A.
I
often
used
to
bump
into
Mukesh
Bhatt
Saab
at
film
award
functions.
I
would
greet
him
as
a
senior.
I
felt
he
was
observing
me.
Then,
at
an
awards
function
in
South
Africa,
Ranbir
Kapoor
got
the
best
actor
award
for
films
and
I
got
the
best
actor
award
for
television.
Then
Mukeshji
told
me
he
wants
to
work
with
me.
I
got
a
call
from
his
office.
And
the
rest
I
hope
would
be
history.
Q.
Do
you
have
an
exclusive
movie
contact
with
Mukesh
Bhatt?
A.
No,
I
can
work
in
others'
films
as
well.
Mukeshji
treats
me
like
his
own
child.
He
is
guiding
me
through
my
new
movie
career.
I
consider
him
my
godfather.
My
first
film
with
Mukeshji
starts
in
May.I've
started
preparing.
Q.
What
kind
of
preparation?
A.
Gymming,
stunts
and
acting
workshops...
the
works.
I
feel
I
am
starting
a
new
career.
Q.
From
playing
Ram
in
"Ramayan" on
television
to
the
Bhatts'
hero
-
how
did
this
journey
happen?
A.
I
chose
to
start
with
the
home
medium.
I'll
tell
you
something
about
myself
which
no
one
knows.
Nine
years
ago
when
I
left
my
home
in
Bihar
at
the
age
of
19
to
come
to
Mumbai,
I
somehow
got
Mr.
Yash
Chopra's
number.
My
dad,
who
was
an
army
officer,
accompanied
me.
We
both
went
to
meet
Yashji
to
seek
his
advice
and
blessings.
Yashji
told
me
to
start
my
acting
career
on
television.
He
told
me
that's
where
Shah
Rukh
Khan
started.
'And
look
where
he
is
today'
-
Yashji's
words
still
ring
in
my
ears.
Q.
For
a
19-year
old
from
Bhagalpur
in
Bihar,
it
couldn't
have
been
easy
to
get
roles?
A.
It
was
very
difficult.
So
many
starry-eyed
small-towners
come
to
Mumbai
to
become
a
hero.
Now
I'm
finally
ready
to
be
launched
as
a
leading
man.
But
let
me
tell
you,
I
never
took
television
lightly.
I
worked
as
hard
on
television
as
I
will
in
cinema.
A
lot
of
actors
take
television
for
granted.
Q.
Your
family
in
Bihar
didn't
object
to
your
choice
of
career?
A.
They
did
initially.
But
then
they
gave
up
when
they
realized
that
this
boy
will
do
everything
it
takes
to
become
an
actor.
They
made
the
biggest
mistake
by
naming
me
'Shashi
Kapoor'.
Yes,
that
was
my
nickname
among
family
and
friends
-
Shashi
Kapoor.
Eventually,
they
supported
me
wholeheartedly.
Today
when
I
see
my
father's
pride
in
my
achievement,
I
feel
fulfilled.
He
hardly
ever
smiles.
But
when
I
see
him
smile
about
my
career,
I
am
the
happiest
son
in
the
world.
My
father
too
started
with
a
small
role
in
the
army
and
then
worked
his
way
to
becoming
an
officer.
He
is
my
hero
and
role
model.
Q.
You
started
your
career
playing
Ram
in
"Ramayan".
Wasn't
it
a
risk?
A.
That
was
considered
a
big
risk.
They
said
any
actor
who
plays
a
mythological
character
gets
typecast.
Everyone
advised
me
against
doing
"Ramayan" at
a
time
when
all
others
were
doing
saas-bahu
serials.
But
I
thought,
why
not
do
something
different
from
others?
Then
after
doing
two
soaps
,
I
moved
into
reality
shows.
So
I
was
paving
my
way
for
a
movie
career.
Q.
Your
colleagues
from
television
like
Sushant
Singh
Rajput
and
Ayushmann
Khurrana
have
also
given
embarked
on
a
movie
career?
A.
Nowadays
television
is
as
important
cinema.
Even
film
producers
have
realized
television
stars
are
popular
not
just
in
India
but
abroad.