Actor Naveen Kasturia, who plays a spy in the newly released OTT series Salakaar, says one of his biggest joys during the shoot was working alongside veteran actor Mukesh Rishi. Produced by Sunjoy Waddhwa under the banner Sphereorigins, the show brings together a powerful cast and a gripping storyline.
Calling Mukesh a “gentle giant,” Naveen shared, “I’ve seen him perform for so many years that on set, I often found myself lost in his performance, sometimes even forgetting my lines because I was enjoying it so much. When we first met, his presence felt intimidating — if I hug him, my head rests below his chest — but off-camera, he’s extremely warm, sweet, and soft-spoken.”
In Salakaar, Mukesh Rishi essays the role of Pakistani military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, a figure seen as the root of many of India’s troubles. Zia, the second Pakistani dictator after General Ayub Khan, shaped Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s “Bleed India by a thousand cuts” strategy — a prolonged campaign aimed at weakening India.
Speaking about his own craft, Naveen revealed that he doesn’t believe in following a fixed process. “I don’t have a school of thought. Every time I take up a project, I start from scratch because you’re working on a new voice and trying to understand it. There’s no formula. Sometimes you go through the entire script, sometimes you don’t even touch it — it depends on what the maker expects,” he said.
For Naveen, adapting to each project’s unique demands is what keeps his performances fresh. “When different personalities come together on screen, something interesting always happens. Co-actors don’t have to follow the same process — that difference often brings magic,” he added.
