Anshumaan Pushkar On His Success, ‘Maalik’, And The Film That Changed His Life- ‘12th Fail Was My Turning Point’

Anshumaan Pushkar became a household name by playing Gauri Bhaiya in ’12th Fail’, with many people wanting a friend like him in their lives. After this newfound success, he recently appeared in Rajkummar Rao-starrer ‘Maalik’ and portrayed an intense character. In an exclusive interview with News24, Anshumaan talks about how his life changed after ’12th Fail’, his new film ‘Maalik’ and much more.

The actor reveals that the success of ’12th Fail’ was truly a blessing for him, and he is happy that he received so much love for his character. “I was not expecting such an amazing response for 12th Fail. For me, playing a role like Gauri Bhaiya was truly a turning point. It gave me the confidence I needed. The love I received for my performance made me more committed to my work,” he shares.

Anshumaan’s journey in the film industry was not easy, as he faced many rejections in his early days. When asked if he sees his earlier acting roles or auditions, he reveals that he does not like watching them. However, he appreciates the roles he was offered and the opportunities he received during his struggling time. He says, “In those days, it was all about my inner strength. Even a little compliment from a stranger for any of my roles meant a lot to me.”

After ’12th Fail’, Anshumaan starred in ‘Maalik’ with Rajkummar Rao and received praise for his intense acting. Expressing gratitude for getting new opportunities, he shares, “When I first came to Mumbai, I was initially looking at how I could work in the cinema. I was very nervous at that time. When I started to go in for auditions, I was trying to understand how things work.”

Praising Rajkummar Rao and the cast of ‘Maalik’, he adds, “I was always inspired by everyone. I was truly in awe of Rajkummar, his work ethic and his talent. It was rewarding to work with such an amazing cast. From Manushi (Chhillar) to Prosenjit Chatterjee, everyone was so down to earth.”

Before ’12th Fail’ and ‘Maalik’, Anshumaan worked in some television shows and OTT projects, including ‘Chandrashekhar’, ‘Jamtara’, ‘Gandii Baat’, ‘Grahan’ and ‘Kathmandu Connection’.