Interview: “Alia Bhatt is one of the finest actors we have” – Jaideep Ahlawat; Read On –

Interview: “Alia Bhatt is one of the finest actors we have” – Jaideep Ahlawat:

During an exclusive interview during the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025, Jaideep Ahlawat drew light on his iconic character of Hathi Ram Chaudhary from Pataal Lok, and spoke about his experience working on the show. While Pataal Lok is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian shows of all time, Jaideep’s iconic role as the police inspector is arguably one of the most loved characters of all time. The veteran actor also stated that a few scenes from the show were so funny that the whole crew started laughing during the shoot.

“Yeah it’s a very well-written character and show. Sudeep Sharma is the man behind it. He wrote it very well and the whole team took a lot of efforts to make it. I’m just a part of that amazing amazing team. So yeah, the experience was superb. It was my first time doing something in such a big scale, I mean series’ back then weren’t made so frequently as they’re made now. It was just the start back then, and it was my first in terms of that kind of a bigger role. So, it was very interesting, and it was also tiring at times, but it was very happy-happy tiring because you keep working on it, and thanks to Pataal Lok people are talking to me. Also yeah, there were a lot of incidents that made everyone on the set laugh, there were a lot. Including all those auto sequences where he goes to hit someone....In the tea stall, in a lot of places. When we were doing it also people used to laugh on the set only like Aray ye bahut funny jaa raha hai and all. But it was not funny for Hathi Ram! Most of the times it was very tragic for him (laughs),” said Jaideep.

Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor's Electrifying Pair Brings Bollywood Glamour Back to the Dance Floor with Bijuria –

Further on, he also spoke about about his experience while working with Shah Rukh Khan in Raees. While mentioning that he’s currently working on SRK’s next film “King”, Jaideep had a lot of good things to say about the global star. “Definitely when I did Raees it was a very small role.....I mean, it happened all of a sudden. I hadn’t even thought about it. I mean things became final on the first night, and something was finalised, and then the shoot started from the next day, but it was amazing. 3-4 days of shoot. I’m already working with him. The film that’s currently in works, the name is King. So I’m working with SRK sir again. Yeah, working with him is amazing. Working with him is like you’re in a very different zone altogether. He’s so lovely. He’s just simply amazing that’s it!”

Jaideep then drew light on his experience working on Raazi. He considered himself fortunate to be a part of that film. When asked to rate Alia Bhatt’s acting skills, he exclaimed that he’s just an actor, and nobody to rate anyone’s skills. Having said that, he did feel that Alia is one of the best actors of the current era.

“I’m nobody to rate anybody’s skills, actually, first of all. I’m just an actor who’s trying to fit into the roles nicely written by people. But as far as Raazi is concerned, then again, brilliant story. Brilliantly written, and the captain of the ship Meghna Gulzaar. She’s so amazing. Amazing, amazing storyteller. So I think again I was very lucky to be a part of that script and as far as Alia is concerned, she’s one of the finest actors we have right now, and it was an amazing experience working with her, and then Meghna of course! She’s the force behind it. Yeah, it was amazing. Being part of Raazi, I mean I am really lucky,” he continued.

Lastly, Jaideep also spoke about working on both critically acclaimed films and commercial blockbusters and how he wants people to remember him. “Well, I’ve never actually thought from this angle to be honest. Like even before also very rarely I used to get this thought, and that too only when you’re doing nothing. Like when you start thinking ‘yaar mujhe bhi aisa acha kaam karna hai ki log bole ki I’m inspired.’ Like how we say for good actors. But to be honest, I don’t think like that anymore. It’s ok if people want to remember me..... And even if they don’t want to remember me, then too it’s not an issue. But until work is there and until I’m working, I just want to be happy doing it, and be surprised also, because if I only don’t enjoy doing it anymore then there will be an issue. So if I take joy in this art and in this filmmaking, be it commercial films, critically acclaimed films, art films, or whatever you want to call it, but until I enjoy doing it then there’s no issues with any format. But I should get good stories, I’ll keep looking for stories, stories will keep looking for me, that journey is good,” Jaideep concluded.

Hrithik Roshan and Hombale's Pan India Flick To Have Hindu Mythology Connection –

Stay tuned to Movie Talkies’ website and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), along with our YouTube channel, for latest updates, breaking news, box office reports, movie reviews, celebrity spotting, and interviews from Bollywood, television, OTT, Hollywood, and regional cinema, including South Indian films.