Explore the unfiltered behind-the-scenes of Amazon Prime Video‘s latest talk show, “Call Me Bae,” and Netflix‘s hit series, “Class“! In this special piece, we’ll uncover the creative journey and the challenges faced during the production of these shows with none other than, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada. He is making waves in the entertainment industry with his impressive contributions. Join us for an insider’s perspective on what brings these exciting series to life!
Meet Gurfateh AKA Neel Nair On Call Me Bae
Gurfateh Pirzada is a transpiring actor who has been winning hearts as Neel Nair in Ananya Panday starrer ‘Call Me Bae’, a series where he brings charm, and wit to the screen. Playing the loveable yet complex character, Gurfateh perfectly balances Neel’s playful side with his deeper emotions.
The show explores the world of high fashion, drama, and self-discovery, and Gurfateh adds fresh energy to the series. His portrayal of Neel feels relatable, making us root for him with every scene. He’s definitely one to watch as he continues to slay both on-screen and off!
In Conversation With Gurfateh
We had a candid chat with Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, who played Neel Nair in ‘Call Me Bae‘, and Neeraj Kumar Valmiki in the Netflix series ‘Class‘. In the opening scene of ‘Call Me Bae’, Gurfateh dives into the pool but feels like he is drowning. Just in time, Ananya Pandey jumps in to rescue him, making the moment unforgettable (and dramatic of course).
“In this scene, which is my introduction, it was shot much later. I remember discussing with my Director Collin D’Cunha about the logic of me, being 6’2, in a 4ft small pool, but he assured me it was fine since it’s a comedy-drama series. I had to pretend I was drowning, which was a bit tricky but we managed to get it right,” shared the actor.
While he pulled off the scene with ease, Gurfateh also shared, “Interestingly, I struggled with swimming in real life as well. My mom always reminded me of this, making me feel a connection with Neel in that sense. The scene took about two to three takes due to the technical aspects, like timing the fall and scream with the child actor pushing me.”
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Working With Director, Collin D’Cunha
Collin D’Cunha is a versatile filmmaker, who has given masterpieces like PK, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, and now Call Me Bae among others. Gurfateh expressed, “Working with Collin was great, as he always brought fresh ideas to the table and was open to experimentation.“
Vir Das ‘The Magician’
The International Emmy Awards 2024 host, Vir Das, is a legend in the global comedy scene. He essayed quite an important role in ‘Call Me Bae‘. Gurfateh spoke about a few behind-the-scenes instances from the comedy-drama series.
He said, “Vir is just amazing, he brings the magic to life. He has so many ideas regarding everything he is doing, some of them land, some don’t, but he is very open to experimenting. For instance his whole ‘I only competed with myself‘ – SS vibe is very cool. Between scenes, he practised jokes on us, and some of those made it into the final show, which was quite fun to witness.”
Kiss & Tell
The kiss shared by Gurfateh and Ananya’s characters was a pivotal moment for their relationship ahead. Our Neel revealed what went behind it: “As for the kissing scene with Ananya, it was natural, fitting our characters’ dynamic. We even accidentally bumped into each other during one take, which added a touch of realism. I didn’t over-prepare for the comedy, preferring to rely on instinct, which led to a running joke about me forgetting lines. Despite the jokes, it was all part of the process, and I think the result came out great,” he said.
The Making Of Netflix’s Class
We all liked the quirkiness of three young adults hailing from economically challenged backgrounds attending a prestigious international school in Delhi, right? Now, let’s know Gurfateh’s POV, who played the character of Neeraj Kumar.
Talking about his experience with both shows, he said, “I think it’s a matter of awareness, while Call Me Bae is organic love, my character organically falling for his intern & vice-versa. On the contrary, in Class, my character orchestrates the whole thing of falling in love, but ideally for personal gain. I think the difference between the two characters has to do with their thoughts & expression.“
“In Class, we would also do too many takes because there were three directors, Ashim Ahluwalia, Gul Dharmani, and Kabir Mehta. So it was a lot of each one of their perspectives coming in, which built a lot of repetitions while filming. Both characters have their complexity, and I enjoyed playing them for their different approaches to love,” expressed Gurfateh.
Understanding the behind-the-scenes efforts of shows like ‘Call Me Bae’ and ‘Class’ really shines a light on the hard work and creativity that goes into making them. It’s fascinating to learn about all the little details that make these series special. Knowing the unspoken side of their production adds to the appreciation, and it’s great to see that other fans feel the same way!
