Pavan Malhotra has received the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the Haryanvi film Fouja at the 70th National Film Awards. However, his journey to recognition was anything but easy.
Once upon a time, Pavan was told that his acting skills alone would not be enough to make a living. He knew the struggles of delayed payments, reduced roles, and endless waiting, but giving up was not an option for him.
You may remember him as Geet’s fun-loving uncle in Jab We Met, Shah Rukh Khan’s quiet friend in Pardes, or Farhan Akhtar’s coach in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Each character was a testament to his versatility.
However, his standout performances weren’t limited to light-hearted roles. He also left an indelible mark in hard-hitting films like Black Friday and Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro. His intense and layered performances remain iconic.
Pavan’s career wasn't built overnight. “I can tell you 500 stories of struggle, but I would never like to romanticise my story. If you change your city and don’t have a permanent job, you should be ready for a struggle,” he says.
His journey began in Delhi, where he was the youngest of six siblings. His tryst with acting started during a school play, but it wasn’t until a chance opportunity as a wardrobe assistant in Gandhi that his path became clear.
From there, he worked on Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and Khamosh, slowly inching his way into acting. Small roles like the one in Nukkad started opening doors. His character, originally written for two episodes, became so popular that the makers extended his role.
However, his road to fame was dotted with rejections. Big banners like Yash Raj Films and Subhash Ghai initially turned him down, but Amrish Puri’s words stayed with him: “You have the capacity to be in this field for a long time, so keep trying. One day, your work will be noticed.” And noticed it was.
Despite facing rejection and poverty, Pavan never compromised his integrity. “I’ve done odd jobs like selling leftover bread or feeding cows, but never asked my father for money,” he shares. His father's lessons on humility shaped his resilience. He even made Pavan sweep the floor of his office to teach him to keep his ego aside to rise in his career.
Finally, life came full circle. After years of perseverance, Pavan went on to work with both YRF (Badmaash Company, 2010) and Subhash Ghai (Pardes, 1997), proving that success comes to those who never stop trying.
Pavan’s instincts and research make him a true champion. In Black Friday, he captured the subtle details of Tiger Memon’s personality, “I think one should not overdo it,” he says, about perfecting the character’s signature body language.
He even took a year off to grow his hair for his role as a Sikh coach in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. As Pavan puts it, “Acting is a combination of research, imagination, and instinct.”