Court Kacheri actor Pavan Malhotra gets candid on his humble beginnings and exciting journey ahead | Exclusive
Pavan Malhotra, who once left theatre to work in his father’s business, is now a veteran actor, and he talks about it all under the sun with OTTplay.
Last Updated: 07.01 PM, Aug 13, 2025
Court Kacheri, now available for streaming on SonyLIV via OTTplay Premium, is catching people’s attention. The courtroom dramedy brings Pavan Malhotra and Ashish Verma together for the first time. It is also veteran actor Pavan’s first association with a brand like TVF, thus making it iconic. From his humble beginnings that were ironic when it comes to his Court Kacheri character Advocate Harish Mathur to exciting projects ahead, Pavan Malhotra got candid with OTTplay about his life in general, and more.
Pavan Malhotra on humble beginnings, turning an actor, working with TVF for Court Kacheri and exciting projects ahead
Playing a single father comes with its challenges. Male-to-male interaction differs from person-to-person, and father-son is anyway very complex. So, what was it like, trying to understand what challenges single fathers go through, and then to overcome those challenges - take me through the whole process of how you went into your character's mind and then managed to appear so free and independent despite the patriarchal mindset in Indian society.
You're right. Sons are often close to their mothers and they communicate often. Fathers, in spite of the whole facade, inside he's also thinking about his children. However, sometimes, fathers and sons are like friends and can talk about anything. Sometimes it's man-to-man talk, and even sharing jokes that the son cannot share with his mother. It depends. In families, there's generally good cop-bad cop. One person shouts, the other stays calm. Even when using violence, a parent doesn't want to hurt you. It's just an old way of disciplining children.
Parents just tend to worry. They have enjoyed late nights during their own youth, but will stay awake till their children don't come home. There's a certain kind of vulnerability also when it comes to your children. You want to protect them, but also want them to rough it out. The parents try to balance it. Some parents allow their children to try something while having a backup plan. Others feel restricted in doing so. Life is a rollercoaster ride - ups and downs are part of it. So many girls come out of small cities and are doing so well. Even then, all parents try to stay in touch with their children. That’s what my character also wants.
The show, in a sense, tackles nepotism. How do you view the whole idea of wanting to support your child to the fullest?
This is with all parents. They feel that if they have struggled to reach a point, why should their children go through the pain? If there's money and support, why not? People often claim they work for 'paapi pet.' In reality, though, we work so hard for the other criteria that we need to meet. The parents feel they went through a lot so that their children can inherit what they have built. It is to take the legacy forward. That's how it has always been. The farmers would pass on their farmlands also to kids, right? So, it is normal for parents.
At the same time, if the children want to venture into something else, they should go ahead. It is, however, interesting to note how proud parents feel when they are introduced as somebody's mother or father. That's how it is. There's nothing to be surprised about. Sometimes it can happen that the child doesn't take much of the business or profession that his/her father is in. In our show, my son doesn't like the profession too much, but when somebody tells him one line, he's just furious. So, it is about perspective. The parents aren't here to suppress you.
To add to it, here, there's only father and son. Thus, there's a major generation gap. Their challenges and views are different. That has always been the story.
You have a dialogue about planning that makes it to the trailer. You yourself have quite an interesting story, leaving theatre for family business, only to become one of the most respected actors today. Tell us more about that.
Till I finished my college, I didn't know what was I going to do other than family business. My father called performing in theatre drama and said 'drama nahi chahiye bass.' His mentality is to know the business and what it takes at the lower level, too, to reach the higher level. My father even converted his suite into an office and asked me why he did that. He believed ego was necessary to get work done. It was a very good training.
Having seen really humble beginnings, right from selling bread to feeding cows, the glamour industry would have come as a huge cultural shock for you. Today, there would barely be any Indian language film that you haven't worked in, and have in fact even appeared in small roles in English movies. How do you view your journey today?
When I started in films, the salary was very low. Those films were made with passion. Being a production assistant worked in my favour. I have worked in props, costume, transportation, and it all helped me in my journey. Thanks to my experience, I got a film like Baghban. After seeing my performance, a traveller comes to India and asks me if I would like to work in his English movie. The key is to keep patience and ghastly perseverance.
There are so many things that could happen. The best of film could be in the works and coronavirus can happen. Two people react differently in the same situation, and both can be right. With one performance, you'll not be great or a total loser. That's what makes it interesting. Take the example of how Vicky Kaushal's Masaan and how different is it from Chhaava or Sam Bahadur. We saw so many good actors and writers, thanks to OTT. I refuse film festival-only films, because I don't want only 5-10,000 people to watch my work and then nobody streaming it. You should take a pause, if it means delivery two absolutely different performances.
TVF shows and the kind of work you are known for are drastically different. Through Court Kacheri, did you somewhere want people to see that you can also bring out a fun side and do light-hearted comedy from time to time.
In Jab We Met and Mubarakan, my character could be shouting but people are laughing. So, in that sense, Court Kacheri is my kind of world. I didn't know who TVF was, but when they called me and told me they produced Gullak and Panchayat, I realised I was fond of their work. At the time, I had worked on Tabbar, Grahan and more projects. I played a Sikh thrice, and the characters are different in all of them. Children from small towns, when they come out, they are very sensible. They make a place for themselves.
You appear to have some exciting work in the pipeline. Anything you want your fans to know about this show and what's coming?
I've already shot for Amit Rai's next film. I don't know when will it be out. There's another movie that I'll start shooting for soon, followed by a Punjabi film.
FAQs:
Q. Court Kacheri web series cast?
A. Pavan Malhotra, Ashish Verma, Puneet Batra, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Priyasha Bhardwaj, Sumali Kaniwale, Ayushi Nema, Kiran Khoje
Q. When and where to watch Court Kacheri?
A. Court Kacheri web series to release on SonyLIV (OTTplay Premium) on August 13, 2025.
Q. Court Kacheri web series story?
A. In the chaotic small-town court, Param Mathur steps into the world of advocacy he has spent his entire life trying to escape. His strongest identity? He is the only son of Advocate Harish Mathur, a legal legend whose reputation looms over him like an unshakable shadow.
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