Sudhanshu Pandey, a familiar face on Indian television, has been in the entertainment world for decades. Known for his powerful portrayal of Vanraj Shah in the hit serial Anupamaa, the actor has explored many spaces like films, web series, television, and music. He is currently participating in the reality show The Traitors, but it’s his recent candid confession that has caught everyone’s attention.
In a conversation with Gallata India, Sudhanshu opened up about a dark experience from his early days in the industry. Speaking without hesitation, he revealed that he too had faced the casting couch.
Sudhanshu recalled, “Yes, I have faced the casting couch. I have been offered work as a barter by a very renowned filmmaker who is now no more. God bless his soul, he was one of the greatest filmmakers. I was offered the role against a compromise.”
The actor shared that he harboured no resentment toward the filmmaker. In his view, every individual has the right to make a choice in such situations. He said that when faced with such offers, he always made his boundaries known. There was no space in his life for feeding someone’s ego. If it didn’t sit right with him, he declined respectfully.
Sudhanshu added that he firmly believed in standing up for what was right. If someone ever crossed the line, he would not hesitate to react strongly. He expressed, “If anyone misbehaves, I might slap them.”He also felt that every person had a right to live the way they chose, and he wouldn’t criticise anyone’s nature unless it directly affected him. But the moment things turned forceful or disrespectful, his patience would end.
The actor has often voiced his opinions about the changing culture in the entertainment business. He admitted that he is old fashioned and he does not like Bigg Boss at all. He explained that he had gone to an army school where discipline, respect and values take most superior position in his lfe. There’s always a boundary how one treat people. He can’t stand such shows where outrageous and disrespectful activities are welcomed just because of the viewership and popularity. He stated, “Ye chize jis tarike se khatam hote jaa rahi hai wo scarry hai.” And he believes these reality shows are demolishing these traits.
On the professional front, Sudhanshu continues to stay active in the entertainment world. Although no new acting projects are lined up for now, he has an exciting release on the way. His upcoming music video, a collaboration with the iconic Asha Bhosale and his music band Band of Boys, is set to launch soon. Fans of his music side are looking forward to this release, as it marks a return to his musical roots.
