Viraj Ghelani opens up about disheartening experience on Jawan set - Rude treatment and disorganization

Viraj Ghelani, who played a minor role in the blockbuster film Jawan, has described his time on set as his worst experience. The film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, had a significant impact on its audience.

During a recent podcast on The Having Said That Show, Viraj opened up about his negative experience while working on the Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara starrer. He revealed that he found the work environment challenging and was treated rudely. “Don’t talk. F**k. Why did I do it?” Viraj recalled his frustration. Despite the positive feedback from viewers who appreciated his part, he felt that the experience was far from enjoyable.

Viraj continued, “The thing is… they don’t consider you because they have Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan, and all those big names.” He detailed how the work culture on set was impersonal and disorganized. “There was this scene where in the close-ups, I have a gun because I am a cop and then they go for a wide shot. I said that prop guy has taken my gun. They said gun will come to you, stand here. I was like okay. But the gun never came.” His frustration was evident as he added, “They were like, f**k that. I came and I went. I am just a blurred image in the background.”

He further explained, “I had proper dialogues and shot for 10 days in the heat of May in Madh Island. But then, I saw that whatever we had worked on for 15 days was not used. Only the footage from the first 30 minutes of the first day made it into the final cut.” Viraj felt that creators are cast based on their clout rather than their contribution.

Jawan featured not only Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara but also Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone, Priyamani, Sunil Grover, Sanya Malhotra, and Riddhi Dogra in significant roles. Sanjay Dutt also made a special appearance. The film showcased Shah Rukh Khan in a double role, a rarity in his career.