Actor Indresh Malik on his role in TVF's The Pyramid Scheme: Character arc felt new
Actor Indresh Malik, known for Heeramandi and Gangubai Kathiawadi, plays a layered scamster in The Pyramid Scheme, a TVF series that explores financial fraud through
Actor Indresh Malik, known for Heeramandi and Gangubai Kathiawadi, plays a layered scamster in The Pyramid Scheme, a TVF series that explores financial fraud through the grounded world of small-town, middle-class life. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Malik opened up about what drew him to the show's authentic setting, finding the many shades of Divya Jyoti, working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filming one of Heeramandi's most-talked-about scenes. Read Full Story Speaking about what drew him to The Pyramid Scheme, the 41-year-old said the show's rooted storytelling and authentic portrayal of small-town life immediately caught his attention. "The script beautifully captures the vulnerabilities, the distinct nuances, and the authentic textures of small-town, middle-class life. Stepping into a completely new character archetype within that grounded world felt incredibly exciting and fresh to me," he said. "For a complex character like Divya Jyoti, the director's comprehensive briefing was my ultimate guide. I was fortunate to have an exceptional creative team that gave me the liberty to improvise and play with different shades," the actor added. Malik also reflected on the growing popularity of character-driven stories on OTT platforms. "I absolutely love this evolutionary shift in storytelling, it is an incredibly exciting time to be an actor. Audiences are no longer satisfied with predictable, template-driven content. They want to see real, multi-dimensional human behaviour. As artists, this gives us the canvas to play with different colours, step out of conventional boxes, and explore the true depths of human nature," he said.
Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali Having worked with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Heeramandi and Gangubai Kathiawadi, Malik described the experience as a dream for any actor. "Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir is nothing short of brilliant, it is a true dream come true for any actor. Every single day on his set is a masterclass; I have learned so much just by being in his creative orbit. Beyond the immense learning, I felt incredibly loved, respected, and cherished as an artist by him, which is a feeling I will always hold close to my heart," he said. He also recalled portraying Ustaad Ji's emotional arc in Heeramandi and credited Bhansali and the team for creating a supportive creative environment. "When you are working with a maestro like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, you are completely mesmerised by his vision. He bestowed an immense amount of confidence in me, allowing me to improvise, trust my instincts, and truly 'wing it' in the moment. Portraying that level of heartbreak and betrayal was definitely not easy, but it was deeply satisfying as an actor. I humbly bow down to the entire team of Heeramandi for creating an environment where such emotional vulnerability was possible," the actor added. Speaking about his scenes with Sonakshi Sinha, who played Fareedan, Malik said silence often conveyed more than words. "At times, what is left unspoken carries far more weight than any dialogue ever could, but executing that silence on screen is a massive challenge.
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