Manish Chaudhari: From Struggles in Delhi to Bollywood's Urban Villain

New Delhi, Sep 29 (PTI) - Manish Chaudhari is a name that echoes urban villainy in numerous films and OTT shows. Known for his nuanced portrayals of complex antagonists, the actor recalls his challenging yet transformative journey from Delhi to Bollywood. Thirty years in the industry have seen him evolve into characters like the uncompromising boss in "Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year," the authoritative newspaper editor in “Bombay Velvet,” and now, the shrewd film mogul Freddy Sodawala in "The Ba***ds of Bollywood.”

Chaudhari, now 56, admits that his early years in the industry were fraught with struggle. "The first 15 years were very hard,” he told PTI. “There was a lot of waiting, looking, and hoping, filled with the angst of unfulfilled ambitions. But 'Rocket Singh' was a turning point.” Without connections or a guiding mentor, his journey was one of self-discovery and persistence.

The actor owes his acting instincts to years of watching Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, and Bruce Willis, who have undoubtedly influenced his approach to performing. Post his education at Kirori Mal College and schooling from St. Paul's in Darjeeling, he decided on acting as his sole pursuit. "I had no contacts when I arrived in Bombay, just a cousin,” he confesses. “I was lucky to have realized early that acting is what I wanted to do.”

Chaudhari’s depiction of the cigar-smoking Freddy Sodawala has had an indelible impact on pop culture, spawning memes and creative social media content. He revels in the creativity displayed by fans, who blend scenes from various shows into entertaining reels. "I love how people are creating wonderful stuff with my characters,” he notes, amused by the fusion of scenes from "The Ba***ds of Bollywood" with clips from "Rocket Singh."

The actor praises director Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan, for his clarity of vision despite his young age. "A clear vision is a joy for any actor,” says Chaudhari. Freddy Sodawala, he explains, is an aggregate of people he’s encountered in the industry, highlighting the collaborative efforts of director-writer Aryan Khan and co-writers Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan.

Freddy’s affinity for cigars is another recurring trait in Chaudhari’s roles, a habit first showcased in "Bombay Velvet." It’s a symbol of power that has become integral in roles like the gangster Shekhawat in "Aarya." "The cigars in the show symbolized power,” he mentions, adding how even the expenses on cigars were quite significant, much to his amusement.

Looking at his broader filmography, Chaudhari hopes viewers discover roles like his nuanced portrayal in "Bombay Begums," where he played a senior bank official with a challenging character arc. “It was a difficult role, but such challenges help bring deeper empathy to the performance,” he reflects, grateful for strong scripts and supportive directors.

With continued collaborations on the horizon, notably with directors Vivek Soni and Imtiaz Ali, Chaudhari's cinematic journey is far from over. He remains a potent force as he continues to explore and bring to life captivating and multifaceted characters.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)