Ranvir Shorey has built a reputation as a versatile actor by deliberately avoiding repetitive roles, driven by a persistent fear of being typecast. From mainstream blockbusters like 'Ek Tha Tiger' and 'Singh Is Kinng' to independent films such as 'Khosla Ka Ghosla', 'Bheja Fry', 'Mithya', 'A Death in the Gunj', and 'Sonchiriya', and OTT series including 'Metro Park', 'Sunflower', and 'Tabbar', Shorey has consistently sought diverse characters.
Typecast Fear as a Career Driver
"I've tried never to repeat parts because I grew up on the fringes of the filming business. The word 'typecasting' has haunted me from the time I became an actor, and that has influenced a lot of the choices that I've made," Shorey told PTI in an interview. "So, each time, I try to do something new and completely different. That's what the endeavour is."
Shorey currently stars in the Prime Video series 'Pyramid Scheme', which explores ambition, greed, and the risky world of quick money set against the culturally rich backdrop of Haridwar. The series follows Goldy, played by Paramvir Cheema, a charming young man chasing a better life who gets pulled into pyramid marketing.
Cheema's Struggle Against Stereotypes
Paramvir Cheema echoed similar concerns about being slotted into same roles. "The fear of repeating myself would haunt me. I would mostly be offered Punjabi characters, silent parts. For instance, in case of 'Border 2', I had to convince the director (Anurag Singh) to don't give me a character where I've to wear a pagri (turban), and that I can speak Haryanvi. I am glad he trusted me," Cheema said.
Cheema, known for 'Border 2', 'Black Warrant', and 'Chamak', added, "I had done 'Sapne vs Everyone', which was on YouTube, in which I played a boy from Delhi. When 'The Pyramid Scheme' came to me, I was like, 'This will be a breakthrough role,' and I knew I had to give my best, and I did."
From Film to Series: Evolution of 'Pyramid Scheme'
The series was initially conceived as a feature film but evolved into a series format due to its extensive material. "It was better for me to make this a show because we had 300 pages written. As a film, it was difficult to sell it. Wherever we went, we got a lot of 'gyaan', but no one made it; everyone told us, 'This should be made, this shouldn't be made,'" said director Ashish R Shukla.
"Until Sherry (Shreyansh) came on board and there was TVF that could support this -- because the kind of subjects TVF was doing, in the entire industry, no one was doing that -- it was very easy for them to believe in this," Shukla added. The team rewrote the script from scratch and added numerous subplots.
Creator Shreynash Pandey, who has backed shows like 'Panchayat' and 'Aspirants', said they instantly connected with the idea. "…If something creates a memory so deep and so strong in you, then you feel that this is a story worth telling. That's why we said, 'Let's make this.'"
Human Cost of Scams
Despite being centred on scams, the series focuses on the human cost, including strained relationships, shattered aspirations, and the sense of shame experienced by victims. "Though it was also a satire or dark comedy, the attempt was to make it humane. Also, we wanted it to be people's story rather than the characters just becoming black and white," Shukla said.
Shorey noted that the show delves into human nature. "A lot of times, people, even after they have been conned, will not tell anyone. It's like a personal shame that you carry. And like he (Shukla) said, that one thing -- which every human being, no matter how desperate the situation life may have put them in, has -- is a small flame of hope. When that is snuffed out, that is the violation."
'Pyramid Scheme' also stars Shekhar Suman, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, Ashish Raghava, Akhilendra Mishra, Smita Bansal, Vijay Kumar, Indresh Malik, Ravi Bhel, Sushant Singh, Sonal Jha, and Sadanand Patil. It is produced by The Viral Fever.
