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Mumbai, July 4
Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani said the message of following one’s passion from his blockbuster 3 Idiots came back to him in an unexpected way when his son, Vir Hirani, chose acting over filmmaking as a career. Hirani said he initially encouraged his son to become a director but eventually accepted his decision after Vir reminded him of the film’s central philosophy.
Hirani said Vir had developed an interest in filmmaking during his school years and had made several impressive short films independently. He said he believed his son would find direction, particularly after assisting him with Sanju for 6 months. However, Vir later informed him that he wanted to become an actor, a decision that surprised him.
The filmmaker said he tried to persuade Vir to continue with filmmaking because he had never seen him perform as an actor. During the conversation, Vir reminded him of the message from 3 Idiots: people should choose a profession they truly enjoy. Hirani said he had no response to that argument and instead advised his son to undergo proper training before entering the profession.
Following the advice, Vir spent nearly six years learning acting through theatre and professional training. Hirani joked that while he could offer advice to any actor, children rarely listen to their fathers.
Vir Hirani will now make his acting debut in the web series Pritam and Pedro, in which he stars alongside Arshad Warsi and Boman Irani, who earlier appeared in Hirani’s Munna Bhai films. The cybersecurity-themed series marks Hirani’s first project as creator, co-writer and producer for an OTT platform. It has been directed by Avinash Arun, known for Pataal Lok. Speaking about the shift from films to long-format storytelling, Hirani said writing for streaming platforms requires a different narrative style. He said creators have the flexibility to develop multiple storylines but must also ensure regular twists and engaging moments to keep audiences invested throughout the series.
Pritam and Pedro follow the partnership between an experienced police officer, played by Arshad Warsi, and a technology-driven investigator, portrayed by Vir Hirani, as they solve crimes together. Hirani said the series was inspired by crime stories written by Amit Dubey and was carefully developed to offer a fresh perspective. The series premiered on JioHotstar on July 3. It also features Vikrant Massey and Mona Singh, with special appearances by Sanjay Dutt and former India cricketer Virender Sehwag.
