A simple and an ordinary man” is how actor Vinay Pathak describes real-life freedom fighter Gour Hari Das, whom he portrays in the recently released film Gour Hari Dastaan. Calling it an emotional and a different experience, he says it is something that one needs to go through themselves. “You learn a lesson best when you see it for yourself or you experience it personally. I learnt the values of patience and humility during my interactions with Das. Not only did it reflect beautifully in the film but I have noticed the change the values have brought in my life. Here we see a freedom fighter fighting for his personal freedom way after the independence,” the actor best-known for his role in Bheja Fry, Khosla Ka Ghosla shared.
Ask him what appealed to him after his time spent with Das and he tells us, “Simple and ordinary man to say the least which is inspiring because he does not aspire to be anyone else. He is diligent and that is how he has lived his life”.
The story of unsung hero Das’ struggle of three decades to gain the status of a freedom fighter is the “story of today.” “It is very relevant. It’s the story of somebody like him who had to struggle and he moved from court to court but never lost patience. He is not sour at all; he is a pleasant man. I won’t mind possessing qualities like he does,” says Pathak. In order to go though a reel-life struggle by getting into Das’ character, Pathak had to shave his head everyday and a “little bit of make-up to show the wrinkles”. Director Mahadevan also made the actor learn how to weave cloth and that, too, from Odia freedom fighter Gour Hari Das himself.
Working with Mahadevan “was nice”, shares Pathak. “He has been an actor himself. He gives us the space which is like a playground where we actors need to play. He gave us that freedom,” he tells us.
