For Chandigarh-boy Pranav Vashisht, landing a role in Border 2 wasn't just another project - it was dream come true. "When you grow up watching films like Border, you never imagine you'll one day be part of that world," he says.
"The first few days on set, I couldn't even digest that I was actually there."
This actor with roots in theatre will be seen sharing screen space with Sunny Deol in the much-anticipated sequel. It was quick click, a message from Mukesh Chhabra on February 27 and by March 1 he was in Dehradun to shoot, with everything moving at a super swift pace.
In Border 2, Pranav plays Lieutenant Ajit Singh, a character trusted deeply by Sunny Deol's character in the film. "Sunny sir's character believes in Ajit Singh. That dynamic was very special to play," he shares. The preparation time was short, but the learning was immense, he shares.
Calling the experience 'film school on a battlefield', Pranav credits director Anurag Singh for pushing him to deliver his best. "He knows exactly what he wants from a scene. Sharing frames with Sunny Deol in a war film, he adds, is something "you don't even know what else to ask for."
Pranav's journey to this moment has been steady, not sudden. He began his acting career in 2018 with Abhinet Theatre Group, training under the Vijay Kapoor. Theatre instilled in him discipline and taught him craft before he transitioned to the big screen. His early credits include a short role in Shahid Kapoor's Jersey and a couple of Punjabi short films and web series. He got the Best Actor award in 2022 for short Live Camp. He later worked in Amar Singh Chamkila, where Chhabra once again played a key role in supporting him. In fact, for Amar Singh Chamkila, he helped in casting, acted in the film and also worked as Imtiaz Ali's assistant.
It was Amar Singh Chamkila that made Pranav commit fully to acting. An engineer by qualification, he worked in the IT industry before quitting to follow his 'calling'. "It was a tough decision," he admits. "But leaving that job was the right choice." Since then, every set has been a classroom, every project a step closer to clarity.
Coming from an academically inclined family - his mother is a lecturer and his father a retired gazetted officer - acting wasn't an obvious or easy choice. "My parents were initially skeptical. It's an insecure field, and their concern came from love," he says. "Despite their concerns, they have been hugely supportive."
For Pranav, success isn't about stardom alone. "I just want to act well," he says simply. "When people watch my performance and appreciate my work, that's my ultimate happiness."
With Border 2, that moment feels closer than ever. And for an actor who believes in growth over hype, this is only the beginning.