Doctor turned actor Ashish Gokhale reprised the role of a policeman in the psychological horror thriller Satan, which starred Ajay Devgan as well as R Madhavan and Jyothika. The movie was released on March 8th in theatres and on May 4th it premiered on OTT platforms. The character of a law enforcement officer adds more flavor to every scene where people are waiting for the police to rescue a suffering family with bated breath.
The most important thing to remember about his transition from a physician to an actor is that he continuously acted, taking roles in full-time. exclusiveIn an interview with ETimes, Ashish spoke about how acting mirrored his medical career. He added what it was like working with Ajay and Madhavan in this film. Below are excerpts from some interviews.
How was your experience working with Ajay Devgn and R Madhavan?
Working with Mr. R.Madhavan and Mr.Ajay Devgn was amazing and unforgettable too; they both treated me like their brother but also both of them are very composed; I learnt much from them; whenever they act it’s a lesson for me; I have also worked with Mr.Ajay Devgn before in Birla.I will never forget working there.
What inspired you to pursue an acting career while pursuing a career as a physician?
I did my first play when I was eleven years old, and during one of my performances, I realized that I had stopped being “Ashish Gokhale” and had become the characters themselves.I knew instantly that this was what i would do for the rest of my life even though i should have been more interested in other things at my age.But here is where my dream began as an actor.Now what inspires me is the fact that i am so many different people because I come from such diverse backgrounds.There were no cinema halls in our village so for the most part, I watched films on television and Doordarshan at that time.I was born in a theater and it’s part of my genes that make me an actor today.
Have you noticed any similarities between acting and practicing medicine?
The only similarity I have ever observed between acting and practicing medicine is knowing what the patient has done to themselves and the degree of severity. “You need to prove to them that this is their condition,” That’s what your report says. It’s serious. And then you take it as a challenge, “Okay, I’m going to cure this.” You must convince a patient without using obvious medical jargon but let them know there is nothing wrong with them because they are scared by their illness; otherwise, they will lose faith in your words. So many such patients come whinging into the consulting room; sometimes one must encourage them.You need to be slightly funny with him or her.There are times when you have to play devil’s advocate towards viruses and bacteria.As for any disease treatment though very aggressive towards patients you appear like demons against virus.So this also can be said very subtly.This is no different just with regard to convincing and treating the patient carefully.Be gentle with his body.
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What piece of advice can you give to aspiring actors seeking other careers?
The only advice that I can offer all young people is this: Please take your education seriously and ensure that you acquire basic knowledge before choosing to come down here in Mumbai. Having a degree doesn’t hurt. Sure, we all have dreams but then again for those dreams to be sustained, one has to be courageous enough to work hard and keep the dreams alive. Take acting basics. Do plays and study emotional expression. If your fundamentals are met, then you have good prospects.
Have you any upcoming projects in show business?
I just concluded “The Raid 2”. I have a few more films in the works. A movie may be out in June. In that film I can’t mention my co-stars names though it’s another Bollywood production nevertheless. As for me, I practice medicine regularly every day. One of them is still working as a doctor constantly. No wonder there are hardly any movies being made right now with an actor like him in it.
