‘Panchayat’ Season 3 was recently released on Prime Video.
How much of Prahlad Cha is Faisal Malik and how much of Faisal is in Prahlad?
And it was during the Covid times, so we didn’t even know what was going on in the outside world.
Then, I asked 1-2 people, because it was a very tough scene and its communication needed to be correct.
Actually, for the first scene, I didn't even know that it would become such a big hit.
‘Panchayat’ Season 3 was recently released on Prime Video. And one character that won our hearts was Faisal Malik's Prahlad Cha. In an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, Faisal Malik spoke about the show and what went into his emotional portrayal of his character. He also disclosed that he didn't have the 'confidence' to pull off the pivotal emotional sequence in the second season of the show.
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Excerpts from the conversation:
How has the Panchayat journey been?
The journey was fantastic. I don’t think we all had imagined this much success and love from the audience. I think all this was by the grace of God. I am thankful to him, and the people who have given this much love and affection (to us).
How much of Prahlad Cha is Faisal Malik and how much of Faisal is in Prahlad?
60-40 types ki duniya hai kuch (I would say there is about a 60-40 ratio). A lot of things and mannerisms I have taken from people I know.
Fans love your camaraderie with Vikas, Abhishek and Pradhan ji. How did you approach this?
We have done lots of rehearsals, did lots of reading in Season 1 itself. By knowing each other in a more personal way, that’s how we cracked (the scenes) and now you can see (the results).
Panchayat has been a breakout role for you. How have things changed after the show’s success?
It’s all changed because we didn’t even know in 2020 that this show would turn out like this. And it was during the Covid times, so we didn’t even know what was going on in the outside world. We got all the information from the Internet that people were praising the show. But, when we came out after Covid, we realised that the public knows each one of us, as in our characters. After that, Season 2 came, it doubled everything, and now with Season 3, you can see how well it is being received.
Prahlad's grief was presented in a nuanced way in Panchayat. How did you prepare for it?
It was a very tough thing to do because it needed to be shot for 6-7 days. And, for the entire 6 months, I was reading it, thinking about what to do, when to do it, how I am going to do it. I had a lot of questions, and besides that, I didn't have the confidence that I would be able to pull it off. Then, I asked 1-2 people, because it was a very tough scene and its communication needed to be correct. It couldn't be too much or too little, it had to be just right. Only one line was given. Taking that emotion to that point was a little tough, but with hard work, I managed to do it somehow.
Your two scenes that really touched a chord with the audience were - one with Neena Gupta where you say 'samay se pehle koi nahi jayega' and the other with Abha Sharma where you explain how living in an empty house feels. What was your favourite moment from the show?
Actually, for the first scene, I didn't even know that it would become such a big hit. We did it, and I don't know how...sometimes on the set, just in 2-3 takes, everything turns out well. And for the other one (with Damyanti Devi), it required a lot of effort, using the right words for communication to convey that emotion and that thought. And, she is a very senior actor with whom I shot this scene. So, the scene where I took her to my home, that I really like.
Any funny memory from the set?
Every day used to be fun. You ask one incident, I'll tell you 200. The set is a fun set, something or the other is always happening. And if you sit for 10 minutes, you'll leave laughing. We used to keep doing something or the other.
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If you had to exchange characters from 'Panchayat' with someone else, who would you prefer?
No, I don't think there's anything to exchange in that space for me.
You started your career with 'Gangs of Wasseypur' and you have done three seasons of 'Panchayat'. What's next?
My next is 'Dedh Bigha Zameen.' Another film, 'Sab First Class Hai' by Balli Bhai (Balwinder Singh Janjua), and Jo Tera Hai Woh Mera Hai,' will be on JioCinema. And, there is Prime Video series 'Dating Shating'. Additionally, there's a Netflix series in the pipeline, and I have done two more shows, but their names are not finalised yet.
Published By: shweta keshri Published On: Jun 6, 2024
