All of us who have watched and enjoyed the Aamir Khan Titan films remember them for a reason beyond the superstar: the endearing major domo, butler, call him what you want. Vihang Nayak, who so brilliantly wove himself into the films, passed away tragically in a road accident on Sunday.
O&M chairman Piyush Pandey was stunned by the news, coming as it did less than 48 hours before Prasoon Pandey was to shoot another TVC with Aamir. “It was such a fantastic experience working with such a fine actor as Vihang. Vihang complimented a superstar like Aamir rather than merging into the background.”
“All of us (at O&M) referred to him as “Ghoshto”. Ghoshto was my Man Friday for many years. Vihang, in the Titan films, was like Ghoshto; a friend and a helper who could take liberties because of the depth of the relationship.”
“The world of acting has lost a phenomenon. While Aamir in the Titan films brought an edge to the brand, Vihang made the brand so much more human.”
Prasoon Pandey, founding director, Corcoise films (the outfit which produced the Titan films) was equally distraught on hearing the news. Speaking to Campaign India from Chennai where he is shooting with Aamir, he describes Vihang as “a fine actor.”
“I got to know Vihang on the Titan shoot. Vihang made room for himself in the scripts. His movements were all so delicate, a lot of little stuff that made the films so joyful.”
“It’s not easy working with a celebrity like Aamir, but Vihang held his own. His contribution to the first film was so marked that the client told me that whenever we used Aamir in a TVC, we must include Vihang as well.”
Vihang Nayak, RIP.
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