**Anant Vijay Joshi on Playing Yogi Adityanath and His Journey So Far**
Actor Anant Vijay Joshi recently bagged a role that is set to be one of the most talked-about in his career — portraying Yogi Adityanath in *Ajey – An Autobiography of a Yogi*. The movie, inspired by Shantanu Gupta’s book *The Monk Who Became Chief Minister* and directed by Ravindra Gautam, was recently released in theatres. However, this isn’t the only reason Anant is making headlines. Two of his films, *12th Fail* and *Kathal*, were associated with this year’s National Awards.
Personally, many fans regard his role as Golden in the romantic thriller web series *Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein* as a standout performance. In this show, he shines with impeccable comic timing and a chirpy personality, truly entertaining the audience.
In an exclusive phone interview with *The Free Press Journal*, Anant Vijay Joshi opened up about his apprehensions playing Yogi Adityanath, his struggles as an actor, and much more. Here are the excerpts:
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**Q. There must have been some apprehensions about playing such a prominent politician?**
**Anant:** At this early stage in my career, I didn’t want to engage with a script that is politically polarizing. I felt relieved that the film does not reflect any political party, ideology, or belief system. It focuses on how his individual belief system was formed. It’s a privilege to play the leading man in the film, especially such a prominent character. Yes, there was some apprehension, but alongside that came excitement, nervousness, and a sense of challenge. I thought, if I don’t take this opportunity now, then when will I?
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**Q. How did you prepare for this role?**
**Anant:** I wanted to be honest to his value system — the fact that he started living in a math at such an early age, which is not an easy task. I spoke to many people from the math he comes from. I would love to meet him someday, show him the movie, and hear his thoughts.
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**Q. How was it working with legends like Paresh Rawal and Pavan Malhotra?**
**Anant:** They are like libraries of experience in the film industry. The most memorable part of working with them was that they believed in me so much. When senior actors treat you like their own and have faith in your work, it is incredibly reassuring. I cannot describe how much it changes your confidence and dedication.
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**Q. Did you go through a phase of struggle in your career?**
**Anant:** That’s a tempting question! Honestly, I never saw acting as just a profession; it’s a lifestyle for me. Like getting a tattoo — once you commit, you stick with it no matter what. Of course, there have been downtimes when I struggled to find the right projects or had to ask for work, but I saw all of it as part of my lifestyle commitment. I’m not fragile enough to be deeply affected by petty struggles.
By the grace of God, I’ve had a very supportive family and friends who always trusted my talent and the direction I chose for my career. Their faith has guided me throughout. I’m not trying to paint a perfectly rosy picture, but I’ve been fortunate to meet people who believed in my skill and craft. When commercial work wasn’t coming through, I turned to theatre, which kept me engaged and constantly learning. Yes, there were hardships, but I never saw them as the end of the world.
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**Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects.**
**Anant:** I’m very excited about *Mamla Legal Hai* Season 2 — it’s funnier and better than Season 1, for sure. It will probably release next year. Also, my new film with Ashutosh Rana, called *One Two Cha Cha Cha*, is coming out. It is a big comedy film and totally different from *Ajey*. It should hit theatres by the end of this year. These are the projects I can talk about right now, and I’m looking forward to both.
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Anant Vijay Joshi’s journey highlights his dedication to the craft and willingness to embrace challenging roles. His portrayal of Yogi Adityanath is bound to add a remarkable chapter to his evolving career. Keep an eye out for his upcoming projects!
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/exclusive-unraveling-anant-vijay-joshi-the-actor-who-portrayed-yogi-adityanath
