Gaurav Amlani on living his dream: Seeing myself on the series poster is surreal

Gaurav Amlani, who became a household name as Maratha warrior Khanderao Holkar in Punyashlok Ahilyabai, will soon be seen in the six-episode series The Secret of the Shiledars. In this adventure-packed show, he takes on the role of Aditya, a quirky and tech-savvy young man. Reflecting on the experience, he shares, “Through Aditya, I got to relive my younger self. Mera millennial phase khatam hue thoda time ho gaya hai, but this character brought me back to that carefree space. Transitioning from a Maratha warrior to an urban, youthful role allowed me to unlearn a lot. My director really guided me through the process, making it an incredibly rejuvenating experience.”

Delving into the storyline, the actor says, “The series is a treasure hunt and adventure saga, something we rarely see in India. It’s fresh, exciting, and appeals across generations — a perfect family watch. I play Rajeev Khandelwal’s younger brother, and the show beautifully captures our sibling chemistry, filled with playful banter and mutual respect. It’s an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in a thrilling narrative.”

Gaurav went above and beyond to secure this role, pouring immense effort into his audition. He recalls, “I share a wonderful bond with Aparna (Padgaonkar) Ma’am, the creative producer of Punyashlok Ahilyabai and this series. She’s like a mother figure to me. When the team approached me for the role, I was in the middle of losing the 10 kilos I’d gained for Khanderao. There were three rounds of auditions, and I decided to go the extra mile. Instead of shooting my audition in a controlled environment, I chose a real location that fit the story’s backdrop. My director Aditya Sarpotdar and Aparna Ma’am appreciated the effort, and thankfully, it all came together beautifully.”

One of the most fulfilling moments for him was seeing himself on the series poster. He says, “As a child, I always dreamed of being on a poster. When I found out I would be featured on the series poster, it was an emotional moment — not just for me but for my parents, especially my father, who is also my acting teacher. It felt like a milestone. I’ve done projects where I would take screenshots of the end credits because my character wouldn’t even have a name — just ‘Man 1’ or ‘Music Teacher.’ But I always believed in the journey, and this moment feels like a culmination of that belief. I am grateful to work with a celebrated director and amazing actors like Sai Tamhankar, Rajeev Khandelwal and Ashish Vidyarthi. Seeing myself on a poster is surreal — it’s something I visualised, prayed for, and worked hard to achieve. I’m so excited that I can hardly sleep sometimes. This is a dream come true.”