Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani is stepping into the OTT space with Pritam and Pedro, but the upcoming series is also special for another reason. It marks the acting debut of his son, Vir Hirani. While conversations
around star kids often revolve around easy opportunities, Hirani says things worked very differently at home, with Vir having to prove himself before landing the part.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Hirani revealed that Vir was never part of the original plan when the series was being developed. The filmmaker explained that he prefers not to think about actors while writing because it can influence the creative process.
“When we started writing, neither Arshad nor Vir was on the radar. When you’re writing, you don’t want to think of the cast because you get stuck.”
At the time, Vir was studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Hirani said he had advised his son to first complete his training and gain experience as a performer before chasing film roles.
“I told him to come back from drama school, do theatre and establish yourself as an actor doing interesting work,” he adds.
Interestingly, it was only after watching the team’s casting discussions from home and at the office that Vir decided he wanted to try for the role. But his father made one thing clear from the start — there would be no special treatment.
“I told him, ‘If you want to audition for it, do it. Meet Avinash Arun. Convince him because he’s directing it. I can’t impose myself. Even if it’s my film, you have to audition. Don’t think you’re going to get it just because you’re my son,'” Hirani says.
Vir then prepared like any other aspiring actor. He reportedly rehearsed scenes every night with a friend, shot several audition tapes and shortlisted the best ones before sending them to the makers. It was only after the audition process that he secured the role.
The series also reunites Vir with Arshad Warsi, who shares a long association with the Hirani family. For those unfamiliar, Vir had earlier appeared as Short Circuit, the son of Arshad’s beloved Circuit, in Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
Reflecting on working with the young actor again, Arshad admitted he felt unusually protective of him during the shoot.
“More than a brother, I’d say he’s like my son. He’s not just a co-star for me from any angle.”
The actor said his concern wasn’t just because Vir is Hirani’s son, but because of the person he has grown into.
“I’m never this attentive to my co-stars, but this was a little special. Obviously, he’s Raju’s son, but that’s not the only reason. He’s a very good boy. If he wasn’t a good person, none of us would give him that much attention. We like good people, it’s as simple as that.”
Praising Vir’s attitude towards work, Arshad added, “He’s hardworking, he wants to do well, his principles are in the right place. He’s got a bright future ahead because people will want to work with him again and again. He’s a stress-free actor. I’ll always be there with him.”
Pritam and Pedro is a cybercrime comedy-drama created, co-written and produced by Rajkumar Hirani, marking his debut as a streaming creator. Directed by Avinash Arun, the series stars Vir as Pritam, a tech-savvy cyber expert, opposite Arshad Warsi’s Pedro, an old-school cop who is reluctantly transferred to the cyber cell despite having little understanding of the digital world.
The unlikely pair joins forces to investigate the kidnapping of a minister’s son while taking on a dangerous cybercriminal played by Vikrant Massey. The series is set to premiere on JioHotstar on July 3.
