Mahir Pandhi: I’ve been rejected for positive roles because of my coloured eyes

Although Mahir Pandhi has explored a range of characters in recent years, his early days in the industry were marked by typecasting. Currently seen in Siddharth Kumar Tewary’s Veer Hanuman – Bolo Bajrang Bali Ki Jai, the actor reveals that his distinct features, particularly his green eyes, led to repeated rejections for positive roles early on.

He recalls, “When I first came to Mumbai, people would take one look at my eyes and face and say I should be cast as a terrorist or criminal. I’ve been offered selective types of roles, mostly negative — the toxic guy, the one running a prostitution racket, or other shady characters. I’ve almost always been rejected for the hero’s role because of how I look. Choti Sarrdaarni was a rare exception, and I’m thankful the makers saw me differently.”Determined to break the mould, Mahir actively sought out roles that would challenge him and push the boundaries. He says, “As you grow in the industry, you begin to crave characters that push you creatively. The real concern isn’t just being typecast, but the fear of being boxed in and denied the chance to explore diverse roles. Thankfully, I’ve crossed that phase. When I look at something like Jee Karda, in which I played a gay character and had intimate scenes with both genders, I feel proud of the choices I’ve made.

From the entirely negative role in Vanshaj to doing a rom-com for the Thai industry, I’ve been trying to expand my range.”He also touches upon the limited creative agency actors often have on set. “Unless you’re a big name, you’re expected to simply follow the script. The moment you express a point of view, the label ‘difficult’ or ‘attitude problem’ is thrown around. That’s why I’ve become very selective about the projects I take on and the teams I associate with,” he concludes.