Image was shared on Twitter. (courtesy: theshivdwivedii )

Mumbai:

For the technology of viewers rising up within the late Eighties, Gufi Paintal was a well-recognized face because of his function because the conniving Shakuni mama in BR Chopra’s epic TV serial Mahabharat. Not many know that the veteran actor, who died on Monday following age-related points, additionally performed an vital function in casting lots of the key characters of the sequence. He was 79.

It was Gufi Paintal, mentioned actor Mukesh Khanna, who referred to as him to audition for what would go on to grow to be his career-defining function of Bhishma in Mahabharat. Their affiliation which began with the traditional Doordarshan serial additionally led to Khanna casting his co-star within the 2013 TV movie Hamara Hero Shaktimaan within the former’s Shaktimaan franchise.

“I had a long relationship with him since ‘Mahabharat’ and I cast him in Hamara Hero Shaktimaan, in which he played Dr Jackal. In Mahabharat, we had long confrontational scenes together, which were beautifully written by Rahi Masoom Raza. One of the most popular characters of ‘Mahabharat’ was Shakuni and he portrayed it so well,” Khanna informed PTI.

According to the actor, Gufi Paintal did not need to be an actor, despite the fact that his youthful brother Paintal was in the identical occupation.

Gufi Paintal was shocked when BR Chopra requested him to take up the function of Shakuni, the king of Gandhara and an skilled within the recreation of cube.

“He had joined BR Chopra’s office and was casting for Mahabharat. Everyone was cast for Mahabharat except for the part of Shakuni mama and he was confused who Chopra sahab would cast for this role. He was slightly taken aback when Chopra sahab said he should play it. He took on the challenge and performed so well,” Khanna mentioned.

Pankaj Dheer, who essayed the character of Karn in Mahabharat, remembered Gufi Paintal as “a multi-talented boy”.

“He was the casting director of Mahabharat, he was also an assistant. I think he had also directed a few episodes of Mahabharat. I regarded him as a better director than an actor. Later, he directed me in a few series such as Kanoon and Beta for the Chopras on Doordarshan. We also did a series called Akbar and Birbal,” Dheer informed PTI.

The late actor, whose actual identify was Saravjit Singh Paintal, was additionally a lyricist.

“He loved writing songs, and he has recorded a couple of songs as well. He would recite poetry and would tell us about what he is doing. This was one of his hobbies and he was very good at it,” added Dheer.

Gufi Paintal labored intently with Ravi Chopra, who co-directed Mahabharat together with his father BR Chopra.

“He was an assistant to Ravi Chopra and he had a small cabin, where he would have details about the character each actor would play,” Khanna recalled.

He additionally recounted an anecdote when Gufi Paintal was refused a seat within the practice due to his on-screen avatar.

“We got in the first class compartment, but we had bought a second-class compartment ticket. The ticket collector said, ‘Come, Shakuni mama and Bhishma pitamaha’… Once we got in, we were waiting for a seat to be allotted to us. While we were waiting, one of the passengers said, ‘We will accommodate Bhishma Pitamaha but not Shakuni mama’. I had told him this was happening because of his onscreen image,” Khanna mentioned.

Dheer mentioned Gufi Paintal was “a good friend” with whom he and co-star Puneet Issar spent plenty of time collectively on set because the villainous trio of Shakuni, Karn and Duryodhan.

“He was a good friend and we did most of the scenes together in ‘Mahabharat’. As Shakuni, he was very impressive. Till date people try to copy him but they are not able to reach his style of performance. It is a big loss for the industry,” he added.

Gajendra Chauhan, in style because the eldest Pandav brother Yudhishthir in Mahabharat, expressed his gratitude in the direction of the late actor for casting him within the serial.

“We shot for three years together. We became family. He was a close colleague… We would meet often and we did stage shows together up until six months ago when his health started deteriorating. We kept praying for him but God had a different decision. We will pray for him and his soul,” Chauhan informed PTI.

Gufi Paintal is survived by his son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)