From Jamshedpur to Hollywood: Adarsh Gourav's Journey Shaped by Mumbai's Melting Pot

Adarsh Gourav feels that although moving from a small town to a megacity like Mumbai was difficult, the experience helped him become a better actor by allowing him to interact with people from all walks of life.

The Jamshedpur-born actor first appeared on screen as a child star in "My Name is Khan." He then appeared in the Sridevi film "Mom" before becoming well-known worldwide for his leading role in "The White Tiger."

He is currently starring in the film "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan," which tells the tale of three friends navigating romance and life in the social media era.

"My life was rather uncomplicated. Then, without warning, I had to relocate to Mumbai over night. I had to get used to a whole new city, learn about its customs, and adopt its way of life. In an interview with PTI, Gourav said, "I think it gave me a wide perspective of life in general, like what it is to come from a small town and experience big city life."

The actor, who has also starred in the Netflix series "Guns and Gulaabs" and TVF's teen comedy series "Hostel Daze," looks back with fondness on his journey from small town India to big city America.

"I consider myself fortunate to have met people from a variety of backgrounds, and I think my inherent empathy comes through. I can therefore relate to a diverse range of individuals. For example, whether I'm portraying an Indian-American in "Alien," Balram in "A White Tiger," or Neil Pereira from Bandra in "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan," these characters are all different from me, but I can still identify with them. It doesn't seem unachievable," he remarked.

You can watch "Kho Gaye Hum Kahan" on Netflix, which also stars Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi.

The film, which is directed by rookie Arjun Varain Singh and stars Gourav as a callisthenics instructor, is produced by Excel Entertainment's Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar as well as Tiger Baby's Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar.

The 29-year-old actor said he enjoyed working with people in similar age groups.

"Working on my body was my main motivation for doing the film; it felt great to work on something I had never done before. I got to work with Tiger Baby, Arjun, who was very clear about his vision and how he wanted to carry it out, and I felt really sexy. I've never worked with people my age or who are my contemporaries, aside from "Hostel Daze," Gourav remarked.

In the movie, he plays Neil Pereira, a social media influencer who uses his fitness journey to connect with his fans and followers.

When asked if social media is crucial for aspiring actors, Gourav responded that it can be a tool for initial self-promotion.

"You have to market yourself to some extent when you are just starting out and nobody knows where you are from.

"The only way you can market yourself is through social media. For example, you can use Twitter and Instagram to share with the world your interests and who you are. The "Alien" prequel series, which is produced by seasoned Hollywood director Ridley Scott, is Gourav's upcoming endeavor. Sydney Chandler, Kit Young, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, and Essie Davis co-star with the Indian actor.

"In January, I will begin filming. I will spend six months in Bangkok. This sci-fi project is exciting. I feel really lucky to be cast in such wonderful roles there," he continued.

Gourav will appear in the comedy-drama "Superman of Malegaon" directed by Reema Kagti in India. The film explores the underappreciated realm of Bollywood parodies.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.