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With Mirzapur The Movie arriving on digital on Prime Video India today after its massively successful theatrical run, actor Mohit Malik reflects on his experience of playing Birju Lohar, a character whose flaws, questionable choices and unpredictable nature make him an interesting part of the Mirzapur universe.
Known for its morally complex characters, the Mirzapur franchise presents people who operate in shades of grey, often blurring the lines between right and wrong.
Birju Lohar is no exception. As an actor, Mohit found the challenge in understanding the character’s motivations and bringing his personality to life without judging his actions.
Rather than looking at Birju simply as a good or bad person, the actor approached him by exploring the circumstances, emotions and thought processes that influence his decisions.
For Mohit, playing such a character requires stepping away from personal beliefs and allowing the audience to form its own opinion. The process involves understanding why a person behaves in a certain way, even when their choices may be difficult to justify.
Speaking about playing Birju Lohar, Mohit Malik says, “Birju is a flawed character who makes choices that may not always be right, and that is what makes him interesting to play. As actors, we cannot approach a character by simply deciding whether he is good or bad. We have to understand his mindset, his circumstances and what drives him to make certain decisions. Even when you don’t agree with a character’s actions, you have to find the reasoning behind them and make them believable. The challenge is to portray the character honestly without judging him. I believe audiences connect with characters who feel human, with their flaws, contradictions and complexities. With Birju, I wanted to understand the person behind his actions and bring that truth to the screen.”
As Mirzapur The Movie makes its way to digital audiences, Mohit’s portrayal of Birju Lohar offers viewers another look at the morally complex world that has been central to the franchise.
His experience also highlights an important aspect of an actor’s craft: the ability to understand characters beyond the labels of good and bad, and portray them with honesty and conviction.
