Mahir Pandhi: The Role of Baali and Sugreev in Hanuman's Story

Mumbai, March 20 (NationPress) Actor Mahir Pandhi, who portrays the vanar-brothers Baali and Sugreev in the upcoming show Veer Hanuman, believes that Baali and Sugreev play a crucial role in Lord Hanuman’s journey.

Mahir stated, "Rather than focusing solely on the Ramayan, I think Baali and Sugreev are vital to Hanuman's narrative. From Hanuman's inception to his meeting with Ram ji, there are numerous stories about Baali and Sugreev that remain untold because many shy away from exploring these sensitive topics; they prefer to stay on safe ground."

“However, we are taking a different approach; our focus is more on the historical aspects of their journey rather than merely the mythological,” added the actor, known for his roles in shows like Vanshaj, Choti Sarrdaarni, and Congrats My Ex.

"We aim to present history as it is; we won’t replicate the styles of the 1980s and 1990s, but instead, we will depict it in a contemporary manner for 2025," he noted.

To accurately embody his character, the actor engaged in extensive research and reading.

He shared, "My focus was on studying and comprehending the historical evidence we possess and how Baali and Sugreev have been portrayed over time."

Mahir revealed that the most fascinating discovery during his research was the absence of a calendar image depicting Baali and Sugreev.

"This presents us with an opportunity to characterize and explore them. Thus, the aesthetic of the characters is closely aligned with our findings, and since audiences have diverse emotional connections to these mythological figures, we had to tread carefully."

He highlighted a common misconception that only individuals with a robust physique can portray such characters.

“However, it's essential to recognize that in ancient times, there were no gyms, and the concept of strength and power was vastly different. Our portrayal strives to align with the strength these characters represent. That said, viewers will witness the evolution of the characters as they age.”

Veer Hanuman is produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary, and Mahir shared that the producer envisioned him for the roles of Baali and Sugreev.

"It wasn’t a conventional offer; it was Siddharth sir expressing, 'I want Mahir as my Baali.'"

“He encouraged me to delve into the characters and then meet him. We ended up discussing our history, culture, and even how ChatGPT lacked substantial information on Baali and Sugreev. By the time we reconvened after my research, I was already mentally prepared for the role, and we conducted look tests,” Mahir concluded.