Hemant Pandey, best known for his character Pandeyji in the popular television show Office Office, was in the city on Tuesday to promote his upcoming Hindi movie, Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai. While talking to The Pioneer, he was all praise for the scenic beauty of Bhopal.
Pandey said, "Bhopal is a beautiful and peaceful city. I have visited this place several times for some of my projects. And whenever I get the opportunity, after winding up the shoot in the evening, I sit by the lakeside. It resembles Mumbai's Marine Drive. It's an amazing feeling. Bhopal has very relaxed atmosphere, locations too are very good here that is why so many film directors are choosing Bhopal for their films shooting."
Pandey further said that in the beginning of his career he has played many roles in compulsion as he did not like them but it was the need of the hour for earning and registering presence in the industry.
Hailing from Uttarakhand, Pandey stayed there till 18 years of his life. "In Uttarkhand, we have a ritual of sending gifts to the married daughter of the family in the month of March. So I went to Delhi to meet my sister. When I was leaving home for Delhi, I said to my mother - Perhaps I would not return home," he added.
The popular television and film actor said it was an opportunity for me to move out of home and pursue my dreams. "I was selected for the National School of Drama Repertory and worked there for almost two-and-a-half years. After doing small roles in TV shows, I moved to Mumbai, where I got my first big break from Tigmanshu Dhulia.
He offered Pandey a role in his TV show Hum Bambai Nahi Jayenge. Then, there was a long queue of film offers. He has done a lot of work, but only a few ones, like his roles in Office Office and Krrish, satisfied him. There were many roles that were not liked by him, but did for survival in Mumbai. "Because in this industry there is guarantee for failures but there are very less chances of getting success. It's all about luck and the labour that you put in," he added.