Gaurav Manwane on how a rejected audition opened doors for his role in Khel Khel Mein

Gaurav Manwane is making his mark in the film industry with his debut in the Khel Khel Mein. While the excitement of working with a stellar ensemble cast is a significant milestone for him, it's his time spent with Akshay Kumar that stands out as the most memorable aspect of this experience.

In an exclusive conversation with India Forums, Gaurav reflects on one of his fondest memories, recalling the moment he was stunned to see Akshay Kumar working out in the gym. Overcome with excitement, Gaurav approached his idol with a mix of nervousness and admiration. Akshay's casual invitation to join him for a workout, followed by a heartfelt conversation, left Gaurav feeling incredibly grateful. In his green army tee, reminiscent of his iconic roles in Holiday and Baby, Akshay embodied the hero Gaurav had always admired, making the encounter a highlight of his debut journey.

This special encounter gave Gaurav an invaluable opportunity to observe and interact with his idol, making his debut even more memorable.

How did you get on board with Khel Khel Mein?

So, what happened, actually, was that on the 14th of September, 2023, around noon, I received a call from the AD of the film, Ayush. He called me and mentioned that they were casting for a film but didn't reveal the name of the film at that moment. He shared details about the character, the director, and the producer, but I wasn't entirely convinced at first. I asked him to send me the synopsis.

When I received the synopsis, I saw that the title was Khel Khel Mein. It was directed by Mudassir Aziz, and the name of my character was included in the synopsis. At that point, I was intrigued. I recognized the title and did some research. I found out that Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Ammy Virk, Bani J, Pragya Jaiswal, and Aditya Seal were part of the film. I was ecstatic.

I didn't even finish reading the full synopsis after seeing Akshay Kumar's name. I immediately called Ayush and asked him to send me the script right away. Akshay Kumar has always been my childhood hero, and working with him was on my bucket list. I read the script and liked it, so I asked Ayush how soon I needed to send my audition. He said I had a day or two.

I then asked Ayush where he got my number from, as Mudassir Aziz doesn't work with casting directors. Ayush told me that he had seen my performance in Flames Season 3 and 4 and received one of my audition tapes from a person. I was surprised to find out that an audition I was once rejected for had reached Mudassir Aziz.

I decided to give my best for the audition because I desperately wanted the part, regardless of the screen time. I sent in my audition, and two days later, Ayush informed me that I was shortlisted and that my number would be forwarded to the production team. Shortly after, I got a call from the production team, and after discussing the budget and other details, I received the confirmation mail that I was locked for the role.

I was over the moon and couldn't believe how smoothly it had gone, even though it wasn’t that easy. I kept the news to myself initially and felt that I had somehow manifested this opportunity. I truly believe in destiny and feel that this was meant to happen. The production team was looking at known faces for the role, but Mudassir Aziz must have seen something in my audition that matched what he was looking for. That's how I ended up being part of Khel Khel Mein.

I was surprised to find out that an audition I was once rejected for had reached Mudassir Aziz

- Gaurav Manwane

As you just said, you didn't tell anyone about this at that time because you wanted to keep it low-key. But if I have to ask, who was the first person you told about it? From your voice, it seems like you were very excited. After all of this, who was that first person?

The first people to know about it were my dad and my mom. Recently, when the song 'Hauli Hauli' was released, I was in the first 10 seconds of the video. I appeared with Akshay Kumar and my fiancée, played by Diljot. I copied the link of the video and sent it to my dad, who was in Delhi at the time while I was in Bombay.

Within a minute, I received a call from him. He asked, 'What are you doing in this? Is this a music video? What's going on?' I told him, 'Dad, I've made a movie with Akshay Kumar, and we shot it in Udaipur. The movie will be released on the 15th.'

He was thrilled! My dad is a big fan of Akshay Kumar, and my entire family loves him. He was so excited that he started calling everyone and posting about it on social media. It was a huge moment for them to see their son on the big screen. The next day, my mom and dad came to Bombay, and they were overjoyed. They were so excited about everything.

Akshay Kumar has always been my childhood hero, and I've always looked up to him

- Gaurav Manwane

How does it feel to be Akshay Kumar's brother-in-law?

I am not his brother-in-law; I'm sort of a young 'Sadu Bhai'. It feels magical, and I am still pinching myself to see if this is really happening. Akshay Kumar has always been my childhood hero, and I've always looked up to him. I've even adjusted my routine to match his, being a morning person just like him, and I've admired his discipline with fitness and daily habits.

Meeting him for the first time was overwhelming—I was shaking with excitement and didn't know what to say or do. I'm naturally an introvert, but I knew I had to interact with everyone in the industry. So, I made an effort to talk to every single person on the set and build relationships.

It was very fortunate for me to sit next to AK sir and share meals. His presence on set created a positive environment and everyone was energized when he was around. We would finish our shoots on time because Akshay Kumar always wrapped up on schedule.

So, it was enjoyable. Mostly, we had morning shifts—not too early, though. We usually wrapped up by evening. In the evenings, we actors, including Adi and I, would work out together. It was a great experience.

Akshay Kumar responded with encouraging words, telling me I was doing well and not to stress, and that everyone was there to support me

- Gaurav Manwane

Can you share a special memory from your time working on Khel Khel Mein?

One day, I want to share an incident that stands out as a special memory. There was a morning scene where both Akshay Kumar and I were involved. We wrapped up early, and I was called around 10 o'clock, although we finished by 9. During this time, Akshay Kumar and I were sitting together, waiting for the director's cue to start. I was just looking at him, and I couldn't help but think about the fact that he was the same person from Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi, Garam Masala, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Holiday. It was a starstruck moment for me, and I felt teary-eyed as I realized I was right in front of him.

Later, after we packed up and went back to the hotel, I decided to hit the gym around midnight. To my surprise, I saw Akshay Kumar working out alone. I hesitated to approach him because I didn't want to intrude on his private time. However, I gathered the courage and greeted him. To my amazement, he invited me to join him for a workout. We worked out together, and after about 15-20 minutes, as he was leaving, I told him how fortunate I felt to be working so closely with him. I mentioned that standing just a couple of inches away from him felt like a dream come true.

Akshay Kumar responded with encouraging words, telling me I was doing well and not to stress, and that everyone was there to support me. He even agreed to take some pictures with me, which made the memory even more special. That day, he was wearing a green, army-style T-shirt and looked like a soldier straight out of his roles in Holiday or Baby. It was surreal, and I kept pinching myself to make sure it was real.