Once we were shooting an ad, two people came to take a photo. They took a photo with Hardik. Then they came to me, 'Let's take a selfie with you too?' I refused, because if someone takes a photo with us in front of celebrities, they often feel bad.
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The person who shared this incident of Hardik Pandya is his body double Paddy. Paddy's full name is Pandurang Sakharam Chaugule. But, people also know him as 'Paddy'. You must have seen many advertisements of Hardik Pandya. In his advertisement, except dialogues and facial scenes, Paddy completes the rest of the scenes. Not only Hardik, but Paddy has also replaced many other players. How did this three-year journey of Paddy begin? Divya Bhaskar had a special conversation with him regarding this. Here are the main excerpts from the conversation with him…
I had to get into acting for money.
Talking about his acting journey, Paddy said- I was fond of fitness. So after finishing college, I had just started working as a gym trainer when the time of Corona came. All the gyms were closed due to the long lockdown. Now I had no work. Then one day a message came in one of my WhatsApp groups that a person needed a man for shooting. I also needed money. So I immediately reached out to him. Luckily I was selected. After a few days of shooting, I came to know that there is also a role called 'body double' and this is what I have to do.
In 2020 my look didn't match anyone else's
Paddy further said, 'I came to know that body doubles also double the money. While in normal acting, we used to get barely a thousand rupees a day, a body double gets 8 to 10 thousand rupees a day. I also decided that now I have to become a body double. But, in 2020, my look did not match anyone. Then I used to think that I wish someone who resembles me a little bit comes into the industry, for whom I can become a body double. At that time, even Hardik Pandya's look was not like mine.
I taught Kabaddi stunts to Tiger Shroff
So when did the role of body double start? Paddy says about this- I was acting and at that time the shooting of 'Student of the Year-2' was going on. So for this, the actors had to be taught Kabaddi stunts. At that time I was called because I was in the shooting line and my fitness was also good. My background in Kabaddi was also good. That is also why I was quickly liked. During that time I taught acting and Kabaddi stunts to Tiger Shroff. At that time I did not have a job and I earned about 30 thousand from this 7 day work.
lose other big offers
Paddy says that there are many benefits of body double, but there are disadvantages too. I am Hardik's body double, so if any other shoot comes, I cannot do it. Let me tell you the latest case, Bumrah's body double was offered for a shoot and that too for 3 days. He was supposed to get more money for that too. At that time, Bumrah's look was clean shaven (no beard) and short hair.
Hardik's look had long hair and he was still growing it. Now if I would have cut Bumrah's hair, I would have lost all of Hardik's shoots for this one shoot. Because once the hair is cut, it does not grow back easily. Ultimately I refused to shoot for Bumrah. So the disadvantage of this is that I have to lose other offers to remain Hardik's body double.
Ravindra Jadeja was deceived after seeing me
In response to this question, Paddy laughed and said- Once I was shooting for Dream11 during IPL. I was sitting there on the sofa, then Ravindra Jadeja came there and put his hand on my shoulder. As soon as I looked up, his reaction changed. He said to me- Hey! I thought it was Hardik Pandya. He told this to everyone. I felt very good. Because, this was the best compliment of my life.
How were you selected for Hardik's body double?
Talking about the beginning of working as Hardik's body double, Paddy says- Suddenly I got a call and was told that I have been selected to be Hardik's body double, come tomorrow. I was surprised because I had not even applied, then how did I get selected? The reason for this was Bumrah's ad, in which I had played his body double a long time ago. Bumrah's manager at that time was now Hardik's manager. Seeing me working as Bumrah's body double, he felt that I could also work in Hardik's place. And this was the turning point in my life.
Took many medicines to meet Hardik's face
Paddy further says that when I was selected for Hardik Pandya's body double, I did not look like Hardik at all. My body matched Hardik's, but not my face. I had to work hard for this. At that time I had a 'French cut beard' and Hardik's beard was full. I did not even have a proper side beard.
I worked hard for this too. After watching videos on YouTube, I took many medicines and also did many other makeups. In a few days, my beard grew and my face started resembling Hardik to a great extent. I also got many tattoos on my body like Hardik. In this way, I have been working as Hardik's body double for 3 years now.
I am confident that I am perfect in my work
Once I was on a shoot in Delhi and our shoot ended at 12 in the night. The next day Hardik had a shoot in Mumbai. So I got a call saying you have to reach tomorrow at 9. Now this was difficult. Because, even if the shoot ended around 12:30 in the night, I could not reach the set till 9 in the morning.
Finally I refused and told them to arrange for another body double. But, till late night they could not find any other body double actor who looked like Hardik. Finally late at night I got a call that we are postponing the shooting for now. Now the shooting will start at 12 o'clock. You can come comfortably, this has given me confidence that I am perfect in my work.
Earlier we used to get 5 thousand, now we get 55 thousand rupees
In response to this question, Paddy says- The biggest thing is fame. I also started getting as much love as Hardik gets. When people see my photo with Hardik Pandya, their perspective of looking at me changes. Earlier I did not even share photos with Hardik, but then I realized that people are only interested in photos, so then I also started uploading photos, which people like very much.
Now those who are fans of Hardik Pandya have become my fans too. Another thing that has changed a lot is in terms of money. When I was working as a trainer, I used to get Rs 5000 per month per client. Now as a body double, I get Rs 55000 per day. Apart from this, I get money for food and travel separately.
How did you feel when you met Hardik Pandya for the first time?
Sharing his first experience with Hardik Pandya, Paddy says- I went crazy after seeing him, because I was a big fan of his since a long time. And now he was standing in front of me. However, I did not have any conversation with him on the first day. After a few days, we started talking. His nature is so good that whenever he comes to the shoot, he talks to everyone very happily. On the first day of the shoot, Hardik talked to me a lot and put his hand on my shoulder and told the manager to take a photo of both of us together, because we both look alike. After that, the behavior of other people on the set also changed towards me.
When Hardik is trolled, does it affect you too?
Paddy says about this- Yes, it makes 100% difference. When he was trolled, we also face the same situation. Hardik's trollers troll me a lot. When Hardik was being trolled in IPL, I had stopped posting on social media.
But, when they won the T-20 World Cup recently, the situation turned completely the opposite. Talking about my personal life, life has completely changed now. People who did not even call me, now come and meet me. I am working with Hardik Pandya, so along with acting, my fitness training work is also going well.
