Bandish Bandits’ Paresh Pahuja: ‘The job of art for me is to make someone feel less lonely’

Actor-musician Paresh Pahuja was angry that he missed out on being part of Bandish Bandits, a musical show. So, when he was approached for Bandish Bandits Season 2, he was eager to do it. In a candid chat with us, Paresh talked about sending his audition from Berlin, his role in the show, his music, and more.

Did your being a singer-songwriter help you get the role of a musician in Bandish Bandits Season 2?

Paresh Pahuja: It did. I mean, that was not the first criterion. I was in Berlin when I got a call from casting director Kashish Arora’s team. I wanted to be a part of it because I was angry when the first season was made. I felt, “I’m a musician and actor. Why am I not a part of a musical show?” So, the minute season 2 came to me, I was ready to send my audition from Berlin.

The casting team got on a video call and gave me cues. That’s how I sent my audition. They liked it. They wanted to see me playing some string instruments. I’m more of a singer-composer. So, I sent them videos of me playing guitar. They saw those and said that I could pull it off. So, that collectively helped me land the part.

But the moment I heard sitar pieces being recorded on the tracks, I told Anand (Tiwari, director), “What I sent you was more like twinkle twinkle little star. This is something else. People who have been playing classical music for many years are recording these pieces. I think you should consider a real sitarist and not me.” Anand said, “Just trust me. You have the eyes of Mahi. I’ll get the rest out of you.”

What was Anand Tiwari’s vision for Mahi’s character and his brief to you?

Paresh Pahuja: When he met me, he looked at me, smiled, and said, “Tu jaisa hai waisa hee karna hai.” I said, “I don’t know how you see me.” He said, “This energy of not trying to draw attention towards you, not trying to please. I want this. I don’t want acting. I want this effortlessness and ease. Just bring that to the person. I’d be happy if you can play all the pieces. But if you can’t I’ll manage it with close-ups and wide shots.” So, if my director is trusting so much, I can’t disappoint him in any way.

Your scenes with Ritwik Bhowmik who plays Radhe have so much energy and conflict. Did you guys rehearse a lot or let it happen organically?

Paresh Pahuja: I want to give a lot of credit to Ritwik. He’s a gem, he’s a darling. He makes you feel comfortable. On the first day, he met me on set with a long hug and said, “Thank you so much for doing this part. I’m excited to be doing this with you.” It felt like I was meeting somebody that I’d met before. We rehearsed it a couple of times. He was a bit vulnerable because lip-syncing those sargams is not easy.

Also, we were shooting in natural light, which changes every ten minutes. We were worried about not causing retakes because of our mistakes. So, we were just like two kids before the exam doing revisions. He’s figuring out his lyrics and I’m figuring out my bits. We used to get the track for the scene a day before the shoot so we would do a cold rehearsal with it.

I saw Ritwik do what he did during the filming but when I watched the show, I saw the small nuances he added. I saw him calculating the rhythm I played. He has nailed it. I think Mahi would not work if Ritwik had not given those reactions. For example, when I change a raga, the way he looks at the entire band, confused, his confidence suddenly comes down, shattering, and he’s still coping with that. So, I think all that added a lot to how you feel about Mahi.

What’s your favourite dialogue from your exchanges with Ritwik?

Paresh Pahuja: First of all, Mahi is an author-backed role. Every line that they’ve given me is powerful. But one of my favourite scenes was very casual. We are on the terrace and Ritwik says, “You are nowhere close to our music.” I respond, “Don’t preach what your gurus have told you. I’ve wasted my life chasing them. They chose an Arjun like you and expected me to be an Eklavya. But guess what, I’m not an Eklavya and I won’t cut my thumb. I will play what I want to play.” That was very powerful. It’s my favourite thing. There are plenty of interesting exchanges in the sixth episode too. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. They must watch it.

If you compare the core and the soul of Mahi and me, it’s music. Our obsession with what we do and the art form is mutual. I think that’s something that helped me channel this part. I would love to do more musicals. I would love to do an A.R. Rahman and Imtiaz Ali musical. I want to play a singer-songwriter in Rockstar or La La Land. More of music and more of acting.

How did your journey with music start? What kind of music did you grow up listening to? How has your taste in music evolved?

Paresh Pahuja: Music is a part of me. I didn’t choose it. It chose me. You are born with certain vocal cords. I haven’t learned classical music. It was happening to me and I ignored it for the longest time. My earliest memories of the music are that while growing up, my brief to all my relatives was, “On my birthdays, don’t give me any other gifts. Just gift me a cassette of the latest film that’s released.”

I grew up hugely on Yash Raj and Dharma music. I get goosebumps when I listen to Veer Zaara’s songs even today. I’m a huge fan of Karan Johar’s music from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. I grew up on a lot of music before that also, which my mom used to play and it was just getting in my subconscious, which was ’90s music.

Then there was this whole phase where Indian pop music was booming. Like, Lucky Ali’s O Sanam and Alisha Chinai’s Made In India. The music from Mahesh Bhatt’s films too. So, I grew up on Bollywood music along with independent pop music. I grew up listening to Pakistani music too – Atif Aslam, Jal, and Junoon were very inspiring.

I spent a lot of time with my Nana-Nani (maternal grandparents). My Nana used to listen to Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, and Mukesh. His favourite song was, and I think that’s my motto in life too, a song from Raj Kapoor’s Anari. ‘Kisiki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar, Kisika dard mil sake to le udhaar, Kisike waaste ho tere dil mein pyaar, Jeena issi ka naam hai.’ My Nana lived by that philosophy and he taught me too.

Your music went viral recently. What has changed for you?

Paresh Pahuja: Actually, it was this month (December 2024) that my music went viral for the first time. Two of my songs, Dooron Dooron and Botalaan, have gone viral with some 6.5,-7 million hits. Suddenly, all the labels I’d approached earlier and didn’t even answer my calls have reached out and want to do songs with me and offer me contracts and deals, which I’m happily doing with them.

This is the year I did my first concert – The Voice Notes Concert. I couldn’t wait for somebody to offer me songs to do a concert. So, I did a family and friends show, which worked wonders. It’s gotten me the love I don’t know how to respond to. I open my phone and see 900 reels made on my songs.

It’s a great feeling but it makes me question a few things. Now, when I sit on the piano and compose, a thought creeps in, “Should I compose something that has worked for me?” Then I tell myself, “No, this is a trap you should never fall into.” People liked that music because I didn’t make it to please them. It was just the truth of what I was going through then. That’s how it should be for the upcoming songs also.

What kind of music do you want to focus on?

Paresh Pahuja: There are two types of songs you make. One is you’re making it for others, and the other is you’re making it for yourself. I think the one you make for yourself is the one that will also connect with others, because the whole point of art is to tell people, “Hey, listen, you’re not alone, and you’re not lonely.” The job of art for me is to make someone feel less lonely, and that can only happen if I share the deepest, most vulnerable part of myself without hesitation.

That’s the feeling I look for in a song. It’s very subjective but you can tell which song has come from the heart and which is a product of a formula. My songs are not Tequila – you have a few shots and get a hangover. No, my songs are like nice wine or whiskey that will slowly grow on you and stay with you. It will make you feel good about yourself. That’s the music I want to focus on.

What are your upcoming releases?

Paresh Pahuja: I finished shooting for a show titled Thirteenth in which I play the lead role. It was interesting and challenging because I played two timelines in it. I’m 18 years old in one timeline and 32 years old in the other. I had to lose weight for the younger part. I had to change my hair, body language, internal conflict, needs, and wants.

Then there’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. The film has done well at film festivals. It opened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Anshuman Jha (director), Arjun Mathur (actor), and I attended the screening. We were a bit skeptical because it’s a very different story and a dark comedy. Very few people understand that genre. But people got the jokes. They hated what we wanted them to hate. They loved what we wanted them to love. They also got the underlying moral conflict of the story, which was very beautiful to see.

Also, I’ll be going on a six-city tour and doing concerts. It has always been my wish and it’s coming true. We are rehearsing and preparing for that.