Actor Rizwann Sikander, who was seen in the film Sarkari Baccha, loves to take on challenges
Rizwann Sikander doesn’t just play characters—he lives them, loves them and lets them breathe through him; one honest performance at a time. His latest transformation is Gullu Pandey in the film Sarkari Baccha, a character as endearing as he is chaotic. “When I first heard the name, I said, ‘What a funny name’. We tweaked it slightly to give it more flavour, and, suddenly, it felt like someone straight out of Mahoba,” Rizwann laughs.
Gullu isn’t your typical leading man. He’s proud of his government job, a little greedy, a lot charming and hopelessly in love. “He’s intelligent, emotional, flawed and never gives up on the girl he loves,” says Rizwann. “That honesty in his pursuit is what made me fall for the character,” he adds.
With barely any prep time —just a call, a script and a camera rolling — Rizwann immersed himself into Gullu’s world. “After the first day of shooting, I had a two-day break. I used that time to absorb the dialect, the body language, the rhythm of the town. I didn’t want to play him big and dramatic. I wanted him to feel like someone you might actually know.”
And that authenticity scored. “People came up to me after screenings saying, ‘You’re shining in this role.’ That kind of connection—that’s the real win.”
But it’s not just the character that makes this film special. The people around him played a huge part too. “I had the honour of working with the late Jr. Mehmood sir. We’d talk late into the night at the hotel and once he told me, ‘You remind me of Mehmood Sahib, the Khan Sahib of the industry.’ I didn’t know what to say. I still carry that moment with me.”
While Rizwann has evolved on screen, he’s also growing behind it. As both actor and producer, he balances craft with commerce. “As an actor, your job ends when the camera does. But as a producer, you’re still in the game—solving problems, juggling expectations. It’s like walking into a dark cave. You never know what will hit you next.”
His spiritual side keeps him grounded in a whirlwind industry. “When I’m low, I turn inward. I reflect. I watch interviews, I listen to other actors talk about their journeys. It reminds me that we’re all just navigating the same storm—just on different ships.” That duality—of performer and planner—runs deep in him. Raised in Makrana, Rajasthan, his roots are strong, but his gaze has always been outward. “My dad ran a video library. I grew up watching world cinema. That exposure planted the seed.”
From modeling to Fear Factor India, where he once hoisted the national flag atop the Kuala Lumpur Tower, Rizwann’s path has been anything but ordinary. “Fear Factor gave me visibility. It made me fearless—not just in stunts but in life.”
But transitioning from reality TV to acting came with its own struggles. “People saw me as just a reality star. My first serious role had barely any dialogue. But that’s where I learned—less is more. That performance changed how the industry saw me; Ekta Kapoor ma’am noticed me too,” he says with gratitude in his voice.
His television days—from Kasauti Zindagi Kay to Kayamath—taught him discipline, but his heart beats for characters with depth. “I’m drawn to vulnerability. To love, loss, longing. Emotional truth is what I chase.”
And he isn’t afraid to aim high. “I’d love to do something like Edward Scissorhands or Pirates of the Caribbean. Or something intense like My Left Foot. Even a Bond-style film—I’ve always wanted to play that kind of role.”
Off the screen, Rizwann stays sharp with sports, fitness and parkour. “I incorporate my athletic side into my shoots—jumping from rooftops, climbing water tanks. It adds thrill and truth to the visuals.”
But through it all—fame, fear, fatigue—it’s the inner fire that keeps him going. “It’s hard sometimes. But I believe in two things—the hunger inside and the light within. That light gets me through the darkness.”
With two new films—one horror, one comedy—and a series in the pipeline, Rizwann’s momentum is just building. But he’s not in a hurry. “I take it one step at a time. I trust the process.”
And if he could offer one piece of advice to his younger self, or to any actor starting out? “Face your fears. Embrace your flaws. Shiver through the scene if you have to, but don’t give up. Once you make peace with your challenges, they become your strength. That’s how you grow.”
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