Chunky Pandey's 'Scary' Transformation for Saaho

Chunky Pandey recently reflected on his role as the menacing Devraj in the 2019 action thriller 'Saaho.' He revealed that director Sujeeth chose him based on his performance in 'Begum Jaan,' not his comedic work, aiming for a scary portrayal. To achieve this, Pandey underwent a dramatic physical transformation, shaving his head and growing a white beard, a look so convincing that many viewers didn't recognize him until after the film concluded.

Pandey humorously attributed his acceptance of negative roles to his wife's teasing that he was a 'real-life villain.' He has since embraced darker characters in various films and series, including 'Sardar' where he played a role spanning ages 25 to 75, and a particularly disturbing role in 'Abhay 2' where his character consumed children's brains. The bilingual nature of 'Saaho,' requiring lines in both Hindi and Telugu, presented a unique challenge.

The transformation for 'Saaho' even impacted his subsequent roles, forcing him to wear a wig for 'Housefull 4' as his hair hadn't regrown. A scene where his character chokes his on-screen father, played by Tinu Anand, deeply disturbed Pandey. He also spoke fondly of working with Prabhas, describing him as a gracious host who provided delicious home-cooked Andhra food during the extensive two-year shoot in Hyderabad.