How ‘Dangal’ boy Ritvik Sahore got his big Bollywood break: 'It was never my plan'

As a newcomer in the Indian film industry, there are very few opportunities as glamorous as getting to work with biggies like Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi. 24-year-old Ritvik Sahore, whose journey as an actor has been nothing short of unconventional, had the fortune of starring alongside both the stars.

At the age of 12, he tip-toed into the hearts of the audience as young Kayo in the sports drama Ferrari Ki Sawaari, starring opposite Sharman’s memorable portrayal of a devoted father, Rustam Deboo aka ‘Rusy’. He was next seen in – what might very well be the biggest blockbuster of 2016 – Amir Khan-starrer Dangal. In the role of young Omkar, Geeta and Babita’s cousin, Ritvik was spontaneous and charming in equal measure.

While he has since been in a few more big-name projects, it is most certainly, his latest show – Flames, a web series currently streaming on TVF – that has brought him back in conversation. As a teenager, navigating the complications of romance at the Sunshine Tuition Centre of West Delhi, Rajat (Ritvik’s character) is both relatable and reminiscent of the 90s nostalgia.

But things are just about to get a little more serious. In the words of Ritvik, season 2 picks up on the momentum built around the budding romance of Rajat and Ishita, only to delve deeper and showcase the different shades to their relationship.

“The innocent jealousy, possessiveness, and everything that comes into play after one gets into a relationship, are some of the things that we have explored in this season,” the TVF actor tells YS Weekender in an exclusive interview.

ALSO READ

“Bollywood wasn’t on my radar”: Anshula Kapoor gets real about acting and entrepreneurship

Enters the new chocolate boy of the web?

Complicated or not, Rajat and Ishita’s teenage romance has for sure got us, fans of new-age shows like Flames, hooked. And so, has Ritvik, with his easy-on-the-eye charm and his effortless portrayal of Rajat on screen. So much so, that fans of the actor have even pegged him as the new chocolate boy of the B-town.

“I don't know if I can be called the chocolate boy or not, but I am definitely enjoying and thankful for all the attention that I have been receiving,” quips the actor.

The truth is Ritvik, unlike many of his contemporaries, had never actually chalked out his Bollywood career. It wasn’t even a part of his plan, and had it not been for a chance encounter with Rohan Mapuskar, who was at the time assisting for Ferrari Ki Sawaari, it might have been a different course altogether for the actor.

“One day, randomly, I was at this mall, waiting for our car in the parking lot and Rohan Mapuskar spotted and approached me. He asked me to come for a few workshops, which I did, and eventually got selected for the film,” he recalls.

From a child actor to the series lead

Ritvik’s career trajectory, debuting in the industry as a child actor with Ferrari Ki Sawaari and then bagging the lead role in the TVF series, has been unexpected and untraditional, to say the least. But then again, in a space crowded with both talent and star power, un-following the rules seems to be the new mantra.

As a child actor, Ritvik not only got the opportunity to master his craft at a young age, but also, learn the delicate art of balancing between the personal and the public side of an actor’s life. He says that after Ferrari Ki Saawari, he made a deliberate attempt to take up less work.

“Not with an intention to take a break, but because I wanted to enjoy my time in school and enjoy that phase of life, my childhood,” he adds.

His decision couldn’t have been more apt. As, soon after his big break into Bollywood, the actor was roped in for the wrestling drama based loosely on the life of the Phogat sisters. “Dangal happened when I was in junior college,” he tells us. “There were some challenges of course, considering my projects and exams being due, however I managed it somehow.”

The biographical drama, as one would expect, turned out to be a cornerstone for Ritvik’s career. Not only did it propel him into the spotlight but also brought to attention his acting chops. Especially, his chemistry with young Geeta and Babita (played by actors Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar) stood out, against the backdrop of the efforts put in by Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) to get his daughters to wrestle. At a time, when the idea was still frowned upon.

“Working with Aamir Khan was like a dream come true as he is an institution in himself and I got to learn so much from him,” Ritvik shares adding, that it could also be a tad bit daunting to work alongside an artist like him, with his body of work.

“But he made it quite easy for us. It was, as if, he was just a friend on set. He used to play pranks on us and guide us through everything. He's been the perfect mentor on Dangal for all of us,” he adds.

Mainstream Vs OTT – bridging the gap

Having worked in both mainstream films and shows for the OTT space, Ritvik says, overall there isn’t much of difference. Both the mediums, he adds, are in fact at par with each other as far as the filming style and production quality are concerned.

“The experience of shooting at the end of the day,” he continues, “depends totally on every project and the budget involved in it. Small-budget movies have different ways of filming and so does every web show, but still being quite similar.”

Perhaps, it is this mindset that helped him fit in with ease, even as he switched platforms and experimented with the genres of work. But Ritvik, who also takes an active interest in football, is quick to add that he is just getting started in this business.

“I have just completed shooting for another show with TVF. There's another interesting web show, which I am not sure if I can talk about right now,” he says adding that he is reading a few more scripts and will “hopefully sign something soon”.