Danish Pandor On Playing Afzal In ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’: ‘I Am Not Concerned About Screen Time, I Am Concerned About Impact’ (EXCLUSIVE)

For Danish Pandor, the size of a role has never been the defining factor in choosing a project. While his part in Imtiaz Ali’s “Main Vaapas Aaunga” may not have been amongst the lengthiest on paper, the actor believes impact matters far more than screen time.

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During an exclusive interview with Variety India, Pandor shares, “I would choose to be a part of good scripts like ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga.’ That is really important to me. It matters what your character conveys to the audience, whatever their screen time is.”

In “Main Vaapas Aaunga,” his character Afzal had plenty to do in a short span. He says, “I am not concerned about screen time. Many actors could have huge screen time in a movie where they cannot create an impact. They are not signifying anything to the audience. I believe people should come out of the cinema hall thinking about my character and performance. In ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga,’ my character held enough significance. That’s what matters to me.”

Pandor played Uzair Baloch in “Dhurandhar,” a character that became one of the talking points following the film’s release. With projects such as “Dhurandhar” and “Main Vaapas Aaunga,” he has emerged as one of the more noticeable performers of the year.

The actor believes in prioritizing substance over excessive presence. He shares how chasing lengthy appearances can be tiring for a performer. Instead, choosing roles that make or break a scene matters the most. “I don’t focus on screen time as much as visibility. What’s the point if a lengthy role does not challenge me as a performer? If you are not doing anything in a scene, it does not hold significance,” he says.