‘I used to be an enormous Govinda & Akshay Kumar fan, however later it was Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Irrfan Khan…’ – Firstpost

Actor Paras Patel is finest identified for his position as ‘Matthew’ within the critically acclaimed collection The Chosen, with Season 5 premiering on Amazon Prime in Spring 2025. The Chosen has turn into a world phenomenon, with over 200 million viewers and 770 million episode views as of January 2024. It’s one of many most-watched exhibits on this planet.

The worldwide success of The Chosen has earned him a loyal fan base. In an interview with Firstpost, he shares his need for working with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the way he want to share the display screen area with Salman Khan, Govinda and Akshay Kumar.

 Edited excerpts from the interview:

 How a lot do you relate to the character, Matthew, within the in The Chosen?

 The respect to Matthew on The Chosen is big. I really didn’t understand how a lot I may relate to him till I began really filming. And I discovered that there’s so many issues that Matthew and me have in widespread as we painting him on the present. ? I’m very OCD in a manner the place I’m very clear. I’m very explicit similar to Matthew.

I additionally studied finance earlier than moving into performing. So there may be quite a lot of similarities between me and Matthew, and I used to be in a position to make use of that into the character and type of construct him as we’ve gone by means of season after season.

Matthew’s additionally taught me lots about myself, a lesson of power, perseverance, and self-motivation in addition to discovering your personal voice. And so it’s kinda cool to be linked a lot to this character that I’ve been portraying as a result of I didn’t understand how a lot it could influence me, and I’m fortunate to be portraying him. Our youngsters are a world phenomenon.

How do you are feeling about it? Had been you anticipating this sort of international love whenever you initially began with this undertaking?

By no means, once we first began the present, we did season one, and we crowdfunded. So we solely crowdfunded sufficient to do the primary 4 episodes. So we filmed that in late fall, and we didn’t know if we might end the final 4 till the next summer time. After which it simply went viral, and simply saved rising 12 months after 12 months. We’ve launched it in theatres in India too. It’s simply been this journey that none of us anticipated as a solid and crew, however we’re simply so grateful for this. I all the time wish to say, anticipate the surprising with The Chosen as a result of it’ll simply maintain levelling up in its personal manner.

It’s simply been a phenomenon such as you stated. It’s so surreal expertise to have the ability to be part of one thing like this and really go and see the world and see the influence you’re having on everybody by means of this present.

How has the present impacted you in your private life otherwise you as a human being on the whole?

What I like in regards to the present is that it simply teaches you to simply be a superb particular person. And it provides you hope. Perhaps simply watching a personality

It type of helps you with totally different components of your life that you simply didn’t know you wanted some, you understand, like, recommendation on or perhaps simply, watching a personality undergo their journey. And also you’re like, “Oh! I’ve been by means of one thing comparable, however that is how Matthew dealt with the scenario.” And look what occurred? He turned a greater particular person, and he discovered himself. And perhaps you’ll be able to adapt that into your personal life.

For me, it’s portraying Matthew and actually discovering this inside confidence I had as a result of I struggled lots as an actor, and it’s simply such an unpredictable profession. And to now painting this character that’s actually impacting individuals’s lives, has made me really feel fulfilled, and I’m simply so grateful to be part of that.

You have an interest in Indian cinema, who do you wish to work with? Any particular director or something?

 Perhaps a Heeramandi or one thing like that might be simply epic to be part of such a collection of that scale. However, you understand, I grew up watching the 90 stars like Salman Khan, Govinda, Akshay Kumar, all of them. So, even simply sharing a display screen area with them would simply be an honour.

Who’s your favorite Indian actor and why?

After I was rising up, I used to be an enormous Govinda and Akshay Kumar fan. Like, I might simply watch all their motion pictures. However as I grew extra into being an actor, I realised that every actor brings their sure masala to the position. So, I used to be impressed by Aamir Khan, Irrfan Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, who simply introduced their components relying on the type of film they’re doing. I like them for his or her versatility.

WATCH the trailer of The Chosen: Final Supper (Season 5) right here: