Paresh Pahuja (Photo Jignesh Mistry)

There’s some old fashioned romance in there Paresh PahujaThe kind that isn’t just on screen, but is reflected in the way he speaks about art, music and the long, unpredictable journey of becoming. From quietly building his acting career to finding a new voice through music, Paresh today stands at a fascinating intersection – where streaming success meets the stage lights. Known to many as the charming Mahi of Bandish Bandits or Major Azaan Akbar of Tiger Zinda Hai, the actor-singer during his recent visit to Pune talked about perseverance, dedication to storytelling, and why, in a numbers-driven industry, he still prefers to follow emotion rather than formula.

Paresh Pahuja in Pune (Photo Jignesh Mistry)

You mentioned how success didn’t come to you overnight. Was there a particular moment when you almost completely questioned this path?There’s a part of me that has tremendous faith in the universe – that whatever happens, happens for the good – but when things don’t work out for a long time, you start to question. For me, that was the year 2024, when things were not working the way I wanted. I hadn’t started performing on stage yet and I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ One day, during a guided walk, I saw a mural with ‘Music’ written in bold letters, and something changed inside me. It felt like a clear sign. I went home, called some friends and said, let’s have a jam.you often give credit Shahrukh Khan AsPersistence. He represents potential – someone who came from outside and became the king of this industry. The belief that you can do this stays with me.You have deliberately avoided being typecast, even turning down roles. Saying it will never cost you anythinganything big?it is. But I’ve always respected that choice because being an artist is also about the experience you’re looking for. If I’m devoting months to something, it can’t just be about the money, it has to be something I’m excited about. I want to live that journey to the fullest. Life is too short to follow any patterns.

Paresh Irani Café, hangout in Koregaon Park (Photo Jignesh Mistry)