After making a mark with his role in Zee Marathi’s Lakhata Ek Aamcha Dada, veteran actor Girish Oak is now set to meet audiences through the series Deepjyoti. On this occasion, he spoke candidly about his role and experience working on the show.
“My character’s name is Purushottam Gaikwad. He owns several saree shops and has built his entire business from scratch. He has created this wealth and empire through sheer hard work, and now he hopes his children will take it forward. Purushottam is a principled, kind-hearted man who never engages in wrongdoing. He earns through hard work, lives honestly, helps others, and has a sensitive nature. His wife is no longer alive, but he still loves her deeply.”
Speaking about how he was selected for the role, he said, “At an event in Mumbai, the programming head of Zee Marathi told me about this new show and mentioned that they had a role in mind for me—a positive one. Earlier, I was working on Lakhata Ek Aamcha Dada, where I played a negative role. We had readings and a look test, but I had already sensed that I was being considered for this role even before that. My previous role was extremely negative—ruthless, someone who exploited the poor, mistreated women, looted money, and behaved badly with his own family. Compared to that, this role is completely different. In Deepjyoti, Purushottam is generous, helpful, honest in both his personal and professional life, and someone who always chooses the right path.”
He added, “Interestingly, I feel like I’ve been given roles that match their names—a good character like ‘Purushottam’, and a villain like ‘Kardan Kaal Jalindhar’ earlier. The response to the promo has been encouraging. When people meet me, they ask about the new show, when it’s releasing, and what my role is. Their curiosity is clearly visible.I hope the audience will like this show and shower it with love, not just for the story but for all our characters as well.”
Sharing a light-hearted moment from the shoot, he said, “During filming, our makeup artist told me that someone on set had asked if I was wearing lipstick because my lips looked very red. When I heard this, I jokingly called her up, and she got caught in my playful humour. I enjoy working in a cheerful and friendly environment. I believe there should be no ego or negativity on set—everyone should work together harmoniously.”
