Vardhan Puri: Follow what my grandfather would have done

Vardhan Puri and Amrish Puri

The life of an actor - while aspirational - comes with challenges of its own, one they cannot shirk away from, irrespective of the situation. Late actor Amrish Puri's grandson Vardhan Puri was shooting for a high-octane, electrifying scene for National award-winning filmmaker Shantanu Anant Tambe's upcoming film Dashmi when he fell off his bike on rough terrain and suffered injuries. Going against the doctor's advice, Vardhan continued to shoot the action sequences without a stunt double. "I knew it was important to wrap up the shoot that day. I didn't want the producer or the studio to suffer [because of a delay caused by my injury]," says the actor, who only realised that he had fractured elbow and a crack in his shin when he went for an MRI check-up on his return to Mumbai from Lucknow.

Valuing others' time and being a thorough professional was a trait Vardhan claims to have imbibed from his grandfather. "I have seen my grandfather work till his last day. He inspires me, and that is where I get it from. Amitabh Bachchan, who is a close family friend and one of my grandfather's best friends and contemporaries, also inspires me with his professionalism. Whenever I need to make a film-related decision, I always think about what my grandfather or Amit uncle would have done."

Also Read: Vardhan Puri on granddad Amrish Puri: He really was a gentle giant