There is a certain old-school romance to Paresh Pahuja, the kind that does not just belong on screen, but seeps into the way he speaks about art, music and the long, unpredictable journey of becoming. From quietly building his acting career to finding a renewed voice through music, Paresh today stands at a fascinating crossroads—one where streaming success meets stage lights. Known to many as the charming Mahi from Bandish Bandits or Major Azaan Akbar from Tiger Zinda Hai, the actor-singer, during his recent Pune visit, spoke about persistence, surrendering to storytelling, and why, in an industry driven by numbers, he still chooses to follow feeling over formula.
Questioning the Path
When asked if there was a specific moment when he almost questioned this path entirely, Paresh shared, 'There is a part of me that has tremendous trust in the universe—that whatever happens, happens for the best—but when things do not move for a long time, you do start questioning. For me, that year was 2024, when things were not working the way I wanted. I had not started performing on stage yet and I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ One day, on a guided walk, I saw a graffiti that simply said ‘Music’ in bold, and something shifted in me. It felt like a clear sign. I went home, called a few friends and said, let’s jam.'
Inspiration from Shah Rukh Khan
Paresh often credits Shah Rukh Khan as a source of persistence. 'He represents possibility—someone who came from outside and became the king of this industry. That belief that you can make it happen stays with me,' he said.
Avoiding Typecasting
Regarding consciously avoiding being typecast, even turning down roles, Paresh admitted, 'It has cost me, but I have always respected that choice because being an artiste is also about the experience you are seeking. If I am committing months to something, it cannot just be about money, it has to excite me. I want to live that journey fully. Life is too short to just follow a pattern.'
