Veteran actor and filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar reflected on his 63-year journey in cinema during a session at the Red Lorry Film Festival by BookMyShow in Mumbai, sharing anecdotes from his childhood in the industry and the lessons he learned from some of Indian cinema’s greatest legends.
Speaking about the history of Indian cinema, Pilgaonkar said, “The first Indian film which was a silent film, was essentially a Marathi film because it was made by Marathi people.”
Pilgaonkar began his career at an extremely young age and said he has little memory of life before films. “I was four and a half years old when I started acting. I faced the camera for the first time. I do not remember anything before that. What I remember is only when I entered this industry.”
Recalling what his childhood looked like growing up on film sets, he said, “My toys were camera, tripod, trolley, lights and the books. This is my childhood. This is my upbringing. I don’t know that if I didn’t do all these things in this film industry then what I would do because I don’t know anything else.”
Pilgaonkar said that curiosity and observation have played a major role in his journey. “Probably I am very observant. Meri nazar se raste ka ganderi wala bhi nahi chukta… aankh aur kaan khule rakhna has helped me all through.”
Reflecting on how cinema has evolved from black-and-white films to streaming platforms, Pilgaonkar emphasised that storytelling remains the foundation of the industry. “Content is the only thing which is going to be there because of which our entertainment industry will survive.”
He also shared his thoughts on learning from mistakes and staying open to growth. “All these years are all of brilliance and bullshit. It is not possible that every person is only brilliant at all times. We have to learn from our mistakes as well.”
Speaking about longevity in the industry, Pilgaonkar stressed the importance of learning from younger generations. “Earlier I used to learn from my seniors because I started very young. Today the situation is such that I am learning from my juniors. And I do not feel ashamed. If you want to stay relevant, you have to learn today’s language.”
Pilgaonkar also recalled the moment that inspired him to become a filmmaker. After watching Kaagaz Ke Phool directed by Guru Dutt at the age of seven, he was deeply moved by the film. “I watched the whole film, came out at six o’clock, and saw the ticket window open for the six o’clock show. I had money in my pocket. I bought another ticket and watched the whole film again.”
He eventually watched the film three times in one day and realised what he wanted to do in life. “While coming back home my father asked me why I liked the film so much. I said because of the director, and I want to become a director.”
Pilgaonkar also spoke about learning the craft of filmmaking from some of the industry’s most respected figures. He credited filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee with teaching him the importance of editing. “He told me, ‘If you want to become a director, first become an editor. Automatically you will become a director.’”
Another major influence in his life was legendary actress Meena Kumari, whom he affectionately called “Meena Appa.” Pilgaonkar recalled how she helped him refine his Urdu.
“She told me, ‘Tumhe bhale likhna padhna nahi aaye lekin bolna aise aana chahiye ke raste chalta aadmi ruk kar mudh ke dekhe ki kaun bol raha hai.’”
He said the lessons stayed with him for life. “Urdu is not only a part of my life, it is a part of my system, my body. Though my mother tongue is Marathi… Marathi meri maa hai aur Urdu meri maasi hai.”
Pilgaonkar also remembered how lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri later mentored him and continued nurturing his relationship with the language.
Despite his long career, Pilgaonkar said he still approaches every project with the mindset of someone new to the industry. “Whenever I step into anything, I feel that I have entered the industry now.”
The session offered audiences a rare glimpse into the experiences, influences and philosophies that have shaped Pilgaonkar’s remarkable journey across generations of Indian cinema.
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