If I’m committing months to something, it can’t just be about money: about money: Paresh Pahuja

Paresh Pahuja (Photo Jignesh Mistry)

There’s a certain old-school romance to Paresh Pahuja, the kind that doesn’t just belong on screen, but seeps into the way he speaks about art, music and the long, unpredictable journey of becoming. From quietly building his acting career to finding a renewed voice through music, Paresh today stands at a fascinating crossroads—one where streaming success meets stage lights. Known to many as the charming Mahi from Bandish Bandits or Major Azaan Akbar from Tiger Zinda Hai , the actor-singer, during his recent Pune visit, spoke about persistence, surrendering to storytelling, and why, in an industry driven by numbers, he still chooses to follow feeling over formula.

Paresh Pahuja in Pune (Photo Jignesh Mistry)

You’ve spoken about how success didn’t come to you overnight. Was there a specific moment when you almost questioned this path entirely?There’s a part of me that has tremendous trust in the universe—that whatever happens, happens for the best—but when things don’t move for a long time, you do start questioning. For me, that year was 2024, when things weren’t working the way I wanted. I hadn’t started performing on stage yet and I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ One day, on a guided walk, I saw a graffiti that simply said ‘Music’ in bold, and something shifted in me. It felt like a clear sign. I went home, called a few friends and said, let’s jam.You often credit Shah Rukh Khan asPersistence. He represents possibility—someone who came from outside and became the king of this industry. That belief that you can make it happen stays with me.You’ve consciously avoided being typecast, even turning down roles. Has saying no ever cost youanything big?It has. But I’ve always respected that choice because being an artiste is also about the experience you’re seeking. If I’m committing months to something, it can’t just be about money, it has to excite me. I want to live that journey fully. Life’s too short to just follow a pattern.

Paresh hangout at Irani Cafe, Koregaon park (Photo Jignesh Mistry)