Dilip Prabhavalkar on playing Gandhi and beyond: I never asked for characters; directors saw them in me- exclusive

Veteran actor Dilip Prabhavalkar, best known for his National Award–winning portrayal of Gandhi in Lage Raho Munnabhai, recently reflected on how he never actively sought roles but rather trusted directors to see characters in him. For preparing Gandhi, he credited a book by Louis Fischer that detailed Gandhi’s mannerisms, which helped him understand the role deeply. He revealed that Gandhi’s part wasn’t originally his, he had first been cast to play an elderly character in Vidya Balan’s old-age home, but when he met director Rajkumar Hirani, Hirani paused and then suggested trying him for Gandhi. Over his career, Prabhavalkar has played a wide array of roles, from Tatya Vinchu in Zapatlela to a mentally challenged man in Chaukat Raja, all of which, he says, were entrusted to him because directors “saw them in me.” His latest film Dashavatar, in which he plays Babuli Mestry, has already crossed ₹20 crore at the box office, adding another milestone to his storied career.
*This news was published by the Times of India on October 1, 2025.*

 

 

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