Pratik Gandhi has revealed that he was rejected for television roles in his early career because casting directors felt his face did not look “rich enough.” The Scam 1992 actor opened up about the experience during a recent conversation with News18, where his Ghamasaan co-star Arshad Warsi reacted sharply to the casting bias. Director Tigmanshu Dhulia also weighed in, linking the demand for “rich-looking” actors to India’s long-standing obsession with fair skin.
The discussion took place while the three were promoting their crime drama Ghamasaan, which premiered on ZEE5 on September 11, 2026. The conversation gained attention amid a wider debate about beauty standards in the film industry, following Salman Khan defending Katrina Kaif against trolls commenting on her postpartum body on Bigg Boss 20.
What Pratik Gandhi Said About Losing Roles
Pratik Gandhi recalled that during his initial years in Mumbai, he would audition for television shows and often come across casting calls that specifically demanded actors with a “rich look.” The Scam 1992 star said the same kind of messages are still being forwarded to aspiring actors today.
“This happened in my initial years when I would audition for television shows. Even today, when I speak to my friends, I realise that the messages that get forwarded to aspiring actors is still the same. There’s a requirement of rich-looking actors and that those who are rich-looking only should apply. What’s this rich look? I don’t know. It’s very weird.”
Pratik also shared a specific audition experience from his early days when he was trying to break into the television industry.
“In one such audition, the guy told me, ‘Everything else is fine, but your face doesn’t look rich. That will be a problem, yaar.’ I thought to myself ‘How do I work on that?’ If the problem is my acting skills, I can work on that. If it is my dialogue delivery, I can work on that. But what do I do with this?”
The actor admitted he laughed it off at the time and realised he was too early in his journey. Theatre became his safe space, and he continued doing it for a long time before finding success on screen.
Pratik had previously spoken about the same experience at The Indian Express’ Expresso event, where he described how television outright rejected him. “TV rejected me outright. All the auditions that I gave… I got completely rejected. Their idea of an actor for a television show was a little different. My appearance didn’t work for them. They were looking for a certain kind of physique, skin colour, and look.”
Arshad Warsi Calls Rich Look Demand the Stupidest Thing Ever
Arshad Warsi did not hold back when reacting to the idea of a “rich look” requirement. The Ghamasaan actor called it “the stupidest thing ever.”
“Tomorrow if I say that I look like Hrithik Roshan, then I’m a fool. One has got to be realistic. I’m not 6’2″. I’ve to be realistic about that. These are simple facts. If a guy thinks he’s outstandingly good-looking, then he’s demented and has lost the plot.”
Arshad also said that nobody ever said such things to an actor like Ajay Devgn. He admitted that he does not fit the physical mould traditionally associated with Bollywood heroes but wants to be practical about the roles he can convincingly play.
“If you ask me to play Thor, I’ll have a problem with that because I’m not that person and that’s not how I look. You’ve to be practical somewhere.”
The actor’s comments highlighted how male actors also face rigid physical expectations, even though beauty standards are usually discussed in the context of actresses.
Tigmanshu Dhulia Links Rich Look Demand to Fair Skin Bias
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, who directed both actors in Ghamasaan, shared his own view on why casting directors ask for “rich-looking” actors. He believes it is connected to India’s obsession with fair skin.
According to Dhulia, casting directors often assume that rich people are fair-skinned. While that is the wrong way to look at actors, they look for fair-complexioned, tall men or women to play wealthy characters. His comments pointed to a deeper issue in the casting process where appearance becomes a shorthand for class and status on screen, often narrowing opportunities before an actor even gets to audition.
Pratik Gandhi’s Journey from Rejection to Recognition
Pratik Gandhi moved to Mumbai from Surat in 2004 with a diploma in Production Engineering. He had done some theatre work in his hometown and thought Mumbai would be the place where he could pursue both engineering and acting. During his early years in the city, he worked as a part-time mechanical engineer installing cellphone towers while auditioning for roles on the side.
The rejection based on his appearance affected his self-esteem, but he chose to focus on what he could control. Theatre gave him comfort and he continued doing it for the longest time. His breakthrough came with SonyLIV’s Scam 1992, where he played Harshad Mehta. The role earned him nationwide recognition and changed how filmmakers saw him.
Pratik has since spoken about how the industry’s perception of him has shifted. In an earlier interview, he said, “I could see that filmmakers were hesitant to cast me in lead roles. People did approach me, but for supporting characters. Producers and directors here thought that yes I was a good actor, but they were not sure if I could carry a film.”
That has changed after Scam 1992. He has since taken on lead roles in films and series, including Do Aur Do Pyaar, Phule, Dedh Bigha Zameen, and the upcoming Gandhi, where he plays Mahatma Gandhi.
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What Pratik Gandhi and Arshad Warsi Are Working On Now
Ghamasaan premiered on ZEE5 on September 11, 2026, in Hindi. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the crime drama features Arshad Warsi as Maharaj, an outlaw with a strong grip over villages in Bundelkhand, and Pratik Gandhi as IPS officer Aditya Singh, who relies on strategy over swagger. The film also stars Rajpal Yadav and Ishita Dutta in supporting roles.
Arshad Warsi will next be seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s King. Pratik Gandhi has Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan? and Hum Hindustani in the pipeline. Hum Hindustani pairs him with Saif Ali Khan and is directed by Rahul Dholakia. Pratik is also set to lead Mess, a project backed by Hrithik Roshan, according to Variety India. He is also hosting a new season of Ideabaaz and has a film with director Sumit Purohit, who co-wrote Scam 1992.
Also Read: Tigmanshu Dhulia Says Love Stories Are Not Worth Making, Reveals Why He Skips the Genre
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