Why does Amol Parashar seamlessly blend with Dr Prabhat, his character from Gram Chikitsalay? Because they both seem grounded and refreshingly honest. He is deeply connected to his roots, and finding joy in the little things is another reason why they seem similar. As the Prime Video series returns with its second season, the actor talks to mid-day about finding the show’s own identity beyond inevitable comparisons with Panchayat, why stories about good people still matter, and stepping out of Chitvan’s long shadow.
Excerpts from the interview.
Your character, Dr Prabhat, experiences a culture shock moving to a rural set-up. Was it a culture shock for you as an actor?
Not as much. For the sake of the storytelling, we’ve shown him as someone who has never stepped inside a village. But that’s not the case with me in real life. I have relatives who live in rural areas. My grandmother used to live in a village and we would often go there during the summer holidays. My uncle still lives in a village on the Jaipur highway. While I am unable to go there as often now, I was there recently for a wedding.
Jitendra Kumar (in blue) in ‘Panchayat’
The show tackles corruption, poor medical infrastructure, and systemic inefficiencies. How much of that was new information for you?
None of these things are industry-specific. We all know the inefficiencies of our system. Some of us choose to look at it and call it for what it is. Some choose to look away and pretend that everything is perfect. But deep down, we all know it is not. I also believe there is a lot of scope for improvement. That’s why people relate to the story. I don’t think anyone in the audience will ask, ‘Ghoos kya hota hai?’
The rural setting invites comparisons with Panchayat. How did you ensure Dr Prabhat felt like a different character?
This is something we were aware might happen, more for the show than for us as actors because everyone has their own style and personality. I believe there is a difference at the character level. While both stories begin with a city boy arriving in a village, their motivations are different. Dr Prabhat has chosen to be there, while Jeetu’s [Jitendra Kumar’s] character wants to leave. So I wasn’t worried about comparisons. By season two, we have found our own standing.
Amol Prashar as Chitvan (left) in ‘Tripling’
After the first season, several medical professionals reached out to you. Did any of those conversations influence the performance in season two?
No, I don’t remember that. What made me happy was receiving messages from people facing the choice between bending to the system or sticking to their values, who were inspired by the story. Everybody knows it’s a fictional character. But it gives you a lens of what is possible. [Besides entertainment], stories are also supposed to imbibe values in society. Over time, we have stopped telling stories of just plain good people because it was considered boring. Gram Chikitsalay is an example that a story about an aspirational protagonist can still be entertaining.
For years, people associated you with Chitvan from Tripling. Has that changed now?
I think some people, not many, are probably discovering Chitvan through Prabhat. Most people know Tripling or Chitvan, or at least know the song even if they haven’t seen the show. Some people are saying they like Prabhat more, while others still prefer Chitvan. But the perception is shifting. As a character, and as a show, there is no longer the shadow of a previous role. There is also a niche audience that remembers me as Bhagat Singh from Sardar Udham (2021).
Amol Parashar as Dr Prabhat in ‘Gram Chikitsalay’
10
Number of years since ‘Tripling’ first released
Back to the stage
After nearly a decade away from theatre, Amol Parashar returned to it with the play, ‘Besharam Aadmi’. “It had been around eight to nine years. The whole story started from the stage, after I left my job. I used to miss it. I just didn’t know how to make it happen. With film and series schedules making ensemble theatre difficult, the only way to do it is to create a one-man show. I feel your instinct gets trained by direct and unfiltered feedback. It is a nice way to connect and have conversations with people after the show”
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