The video call comes through, and Pavail Gulati appears on screen, resting in a hoodie. His is a relaxed but contented vibe — the sort that comes after weeks of high-energy promotions and the release of a hit film. His new film, Deva, has finally been released in the cinemas, and the audience gets to experience him in a whole new way.
“It’s a bit strange, I suppose,” he laughs. “Deva is my first action film, and everybody’s been fantastic about it. I wasn’t sure how they’d react to seeing me hit people up rather than having big deep emotional debates.”
The role, a hard-boiled detective in an action movie, required more than acting ability — it required physical transformation too. “The preparation started months before we shot. I had to get stronger, leaner. I was working out like a beast, combat training, and a strict diet. And yeah, I did a lot of my own stunts. That was half fear and half exhilaration.”
For an actor accustomed to sensitive, nuanced work in films like Thappad, venturing into action would be a drastic change. But for Pavail, it was a change that was long overdue.
“I’ve always been fascinated by sports — there’s discipline in movement, in timing. Action sequences are choreographed a lot like dance, you know? They’re rehearsed and very expressive. It’s not just about the brawn. There’s a feeling in the punches too.”
It’s a long distance from the casting table to center stage. Pavail started behind the scenes, as an assistant casting director on My Name Is Khan.
“That job gave me front-row seats to see how much work actors put in — before they even get the role,” he says. “It taught me patience. I knew this wasn’t going to be simple, but I also knew this is what I wanted.”
Asked if Thappad has been replaced by Deva as his watershed opinion, he doesn’t blink. “Thappad turned everything around. People didn’t know how to see me afterwards — even if they didn’t accept my role,” he laughs. “But Deva proved to them that I could be the man who leads into harm rather than creates it.”
The fan response has definitely shifted too. “After Thappad, I would be getting messages that would start with, ‘I hated you in that film…’ Now it’s, ‘Hello, when are you making the next action film?’ And yeah, the lady fans have gotten a little more outspoken — but thank you!”
He’s been lucky enough to work with some fine directors, Anubhav Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, and now Roshan Andrews, and each experience has left its mark. “Each of them, in their own way, taught me to respect the craft. The advice I cherish most? Remain grounded. Keep your eyes on the work, not the noise.”
Where does he head now — more action, or romance again?
“I love mixing it up. Romance is a different kind of intensity, and I’ll never get tired of that. But today? Action has my focus. It’s pushing me to grow in ways I wasn’t. And honestly, I’m kind of enjoying having more fun getting beat up on set than I expected,” he laughs.
As we conclude, Pavail leans back in his chair, already mulling the next challenge. The screen goes black, but one thing’s for sure — he’s no longer the guy behind the scenes nor simply the emotionally conflicted dude on screen. Pavail Gulati is officially in hero mode.
[Contributed By Anushka Gaikwad]