Palash Tiwari: Banaras has a calmness that stays with you

For Palash Tiwari, acting was never a planned destination but a leap of faith. The doctor-turned-actor from Gwalior left behind a conventional career path to pursue acting and gradually made his space in advertisements and films. The actor, who has been part of projects like Satyaprem Ki Katha and several commercial campaigns, recently spoke to us about his visit to Varanasi, his spiritual connection with the city, how he deals with typecasting as an actor, how OTT platforms have changed the game for actors trying to find interesting projects and more...

Sharing details about his trip to Varanasi, the actor, says, “My trip to Banaras was amazing. In fact, it was my first visit to the city and something that had been pending for a very long time. I came to the city to attend a wedding and intentionally planned my trip so that I could see the city properly, which made the experience even more special and spiritual for me. I was fortunate enough to get darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple with some help from locals. I spent most of the night around the temple area and the ghats, soaking in the energy and atmosphere of the city. It felt surreal. I also attended the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat and went for a boat ride during sunset. That was honestly one of the most beautiful parts of the trip. We had a wonderful guide who narrated stories about the ghats and the history attached to them, which made the experience even more memorable.”
Speaking about how the city contrasts with Mumbai’s fast-paced lifestyle, Tiwari says, “Banaras teaches you how to slow down and balance yourself. Mumbai moves very fast, while Banaras has a calmness that stays with you. The city has a charm that stays with you even after you leave.” The actor also relished Banaras’ famous tamatar-chaat. “I tried the tamatar-chaat for the first time and absolutely loved it. I didn’t know that a chaat made of tomatoes existed,” he says.

Born and raised in Gwalior, Tiwari comes from a family of doctors. An MBBS graduate, he was preparing for post-graduation entrance exams when acting gradually became a serious pursuit. “I started auditioning, doing theatre and realised that if I didn’t take the leap then, I probably never would,” he says. His family was initially sceptical about his decision, but their perspective changed after seeing his work in advertisements regularly.
The actor has done several commercials and has also slowly begun making his mark in films. However, he admits that extensive visibility in advertisements also comes with its own set of stereotypes. “The moment people see you fitting into a certain type of role or personality, those are the parts you start getting approached for more often. When you do one thing convincingly, the industry starts seeing you through that lens,” he says.
Speaking about his upcoming release alongside Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Mithun Chakraborty and Sanjay Dutt, Tiwari says sharing screen space with actors he grew up watching felt surreal. “It was like a dream suddenly performing scenes with people you’ve admired since childhood,” he says. He also recalls Jackie Shroff’s humour on set, adding, “He used to jokingly call me ‘Lamboo’, which instantly made me feel comfortable.”

Amina Ashraf