Actor Mahadev Singh Lakhawat plays a complex and grey character in Netflix’s 'Kaala Paani'. He was earlier part of shows like 'Bambai Meri Jaan', 'The Family Man', 'A Simple Murder', 'Rangbaaz Phir Se' and 'Duranga'. Created by Sameer Saxena and co-directed by Amit Golani, it stars Mona Singh, Ashutosh Gowariker, Arushi Sharma, and Sukant Goel among others.
Mahadev has opened up about his character in the show, how he prepped and his experience shooting in Andaman.
He said, "Pundi, a complex and grey character, is not from Andaman but works there with his partner in crime, Chiru, running a tourism business. He is quite silent, going through his own inner conflicts and challenges but changes the course of the narrative to an extent. Pundi has a character arc, as does every other character in the show, each with their own journey and well-edged personality."
On how he prepped for the character, Mahadev shared, "We had readings and workshops with the makers and co-actors. I had to work on the dialect because Pundi isn't an Andaman local but has also stayed there for a while. So I had to keep these minute details and nuances in mind. It's difficult to establish a character who is silent in nature, but still, his presence is felt as he is one of the catalysts to the story. He bottles down his emotions until he bursts into them. Impulse is the key for me to portray a character like this without overdoing the preparation."
Describing his experience working with coactors and shooting in Andaman, he tells, "Firstly, the cast is really amazing. There are different tracks going on in the show at the same time. So, most of my scenes are with Sukant Goel, who played Chiru, and Vikas Kumar, who played Santosh. Yes, it was a wonderful experience to work with such talented actors who come prepared on set. Off-screen, we all shared a great camaraderie with Mona ji and others. Also, sometimes due to cyclones, we were stuck on the island and ended up spending a lot of time together. That feeling of being stuck in real life also helped on-screen."
Talking about the show and the kind of responses he's receiving, he says, "I believe the writing is the USP of this show. The narrative is really brave and gripping, I feel. It's a survival drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat, though it's in a long format. It's a heart-wrenching portrayal of the realities of a public health crisis. The responses so far have been really amazing from all over. It feels good when your work gets acknowledged and appreciated. I'm grateful for the positive responses."
