He belongs to a middle class Punjabi family in Jalandhar, but it’s hard to believe how focussed Gaurav Kakkar was when he landed in Mumbai as a 19-year-old. “I do not belong to a wealthy family and had no connection in Bollywood. So, I knew I wouldn’t become a star overnight. But, unlike most other smalltown guys, I was very clear about what I could and couldn’t do. All you have to do is be true to yourself,” he asserts.
Gaurav started modelling to kickstart his career in the entertainment industry. That is how his stint in the advertisement to launch Motorola Motoflip in 2006 proved to be the youngster’s claim to fame. “That ad was directed by Abhinay Deo, the director of film Delhi Belly. I had to appear for many rounds of auditions for this one-minute ad, but there has been no looking back since,” smiles Gaurav, also called the ‘guru of ads’ by many for featuring in numerous advertisements.
With more than 70 commercials to his credit, Gaurav says he is hooked to the medium.
“Advertisements bring quick money. Thanks to the world of advertising, I have worked with some of Bollywood’s ace film directors such as Pardeep Sarkar and Shaad Ali who have directed some phenomenon ads” he says. Understandably, he looks up to such creative individuals. “Having seen the advertising world closely, I can say that all ad makers are very intellectual people.
Creating a few-seconds-long ad seems like an easy job, but it needs a lot of homework,” says he.
In 2010, Gaurav made his debut as an actor with Punjabi film Chak Jawana that starred Gurdas Maan. “To be honest, I wasn’t too keen to work in the Punjabi film industry. But, the fact that I got to act with Gurdas Maan ji and later won the award for best actor (debut) by PTC Punjabi Film Awards was a big encouragement,” says Gaurav, who has also acted in the video of Punjabi singer Bhinda Aujla’s song, Yaar Glassy.
Creating a few-seconds-long ad seems like an easy job, but it needs a lot of homework,” says he.
In 2010, Gaurav made his debut as an actor with Punjabi film Chak Jawana that starred Gurdas Maan. “To be honest, I wasn’t too keen to work in the Punjabi film industry. But, the fact that I got to act with Gurdas Maan ji and later won the award for best actor (debut) by PTC Punjabi Film Awards was a big encouragement,” says Gaurav, who has also acted in the video of Punjabi singer Bhinda Aujla’s song, Yaar Glassy.
Lately, Gaurav was seen in Punjabi film Saada Haq, that released in April, as well as film Myself Ghaint. “My dream is not to be a star, but to be known for being a good actor. In the Punjabi film industry, there are just three non-singer actors — Karan Kundra, Harish Verma and I.
But, just like people have noticed the acting prowess of Diljit [Dosanjh], they would one day acknowledge my performance too,” promises Gaurav, who would next be seen in Punjabi films Mere Yaar Kaminey and Rang Root.