"In this profession, if you want to be choosy and do good work, you need immense patience and perseverance,” states Pavan Malhotra at the start of our chat, preaching it only after having practised it himself. The actor got his due last year as he played key roles in Tabbar and Grahan, winning much acclaim. Now, he has bagged two nominations in the third season of the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards. His performance as the retired cop has earned him a place in the Best Actor (Male): Series category, while his turn in the Disney+ Hotstar drama has made him a contender for the Best Supporting Actor (Male): Series.  

Even as the OTT boom has given him a new lease of life, Malhotra continues to operate by the two truths as an artiste—a powerful script, and the ability to slip into any character seamlessly. “It is an actor’s job to constantly reinvent himself. I don’t think people write stories keeping me in mind. I could be one of the contenders [they are thinking of]. Had I said no to the roles in Tabbar or Grahan, someone else would have done it. I am glad I took them up because a lot depends on how you take the character ahead. With every new script, we are digging a new well,” he says. While both series saw him essay Sikh characters, it is to his credit that he made them distinct. “They are two different men with different ideologies. Their body language is different.”