Interview- ACP Pradhyuman

"ACP isn't stone-hearted"
Shivaji Satam

"I love cricket. I have been part of more than 50 films. And really feel honoured to be part of the most appreciated and loved crime show on air."

Isn't that an easy one to guess? Kid viewers' very own 'ACP uncle of CID' aka Shivaji Satam, in a tte--tte with Misha Malhotra, shares his experiences of being part of a show that has run non stop for almost eight years.

How do you feel always being known as CID's ACP?
It feels wonderful to be part of the team. The feeling is just too great to be expressed in words. And the credit goes to B P Singh, who is my friend, and my contemporary.

Flashback...
Shivaji recollects how he landed the role…
BP and I have been closely related for the past 25 years. I had just started my career then. He just came up to me and said that he was doing a show called CID. I think I was his first choice. Since I was so closely associated with him, this was the best opportunity for us to work with each other.

What is the success behind the show?
The team. I strongly believe the whole unit will suffer if any one person is taken off the sets. And the best part is that we have become more like friends now. There is so much of leg pulling, sharing of our ideas and sorrows. It feels like a family all together.

Did you take any special training to play this part?
I have been lucky, because the director knows what he wants his actors to do. So we don't have to do much homework and effort. He projects everything in a very simple but fantastic manner.

Which were the cases that you enjoyed solving?
This is a tough one. All my cases are really special to me. But to name a few, I would say there was this case where I went blind and was so helpless, but with the help of my team's support, I could crack cases. Another one was on dowry deaths. The ACP is thought to be very 'stone hearted'. I would like to say that he is just a man of principles. For him, duty comes before relationships.

What is Shivaji like in his free time?
I would say he is a cricketer , then there are times when he just loves to laze around, also does a bit on the home front like dusting, then by the evening he becomes a social animal who likes visiting friends, as the night approaches he loves to wind up his session reading or may be watching Marathi plays and films.

Pics by: Ananya Sengupta