There’s something unnervingly convincing about Anurag Thakur when he slips into character — so much so that even his family struggled to separate the man from the role. Whether he played a cop in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant (2025) or took on the recently released Freedom at Midnight 2 by Nikkhil Advani, Thakur leaves a mark. Widely appreciated for his performance as Madanlal Pahwa, the actor talks to mid-day about his approach, tackling the lull between projects, and why theatre remains his first love.
Excerpts from the interview.
Showrunner Nikkhil Advani said your performance stood out and you are one to watch out for. What reactions have you been getting for Freedom at Midnight 2?
Yes, Nikkhil sir called to thank me for trusting him with this [role]. He was glad it came out the way he wanted it. Sir told me, ‘You are my Manoj Bajpayee’. My sister, who didn’t know Madanlal Pahwa, asked my father about him. He told her, it was Anurag. The reactions have been unexpected and beautiful.
Still from ‘Freedom at Midnight 2’
You’ve been working in the industry since 2015. According to you, what has been your breakthrough project?
According to the audience, of course, Black Warrant — it’s a Vikramaditya Motwane series and a beautiful show. [Despite] having worked for a long time, I’d also say Black Warrant, show-wise. [Since then], things have changed for the better.
When it comes to playing a real-life character compared to a fictional one, does your approach change?
The basic approach is the same, where I focus on the backstory and the mental and physical transformation of it. But if I have a reference photo or a reference video of the character, then I obviously try to adapt to it. Luckily for me, Madanlal Pahwa’s reference is only in name, so I had the freedom to portray him the way I wanted.
Still from ‘Freedom at ‘Black Warrant’
How did you build the character without references?
All the information I got from the script, I wrote it down in a diary. I also started reading up on him from books and the web. I researched what was going on in the country at the time. In one of the articles [I had read], he had lost his index finger while making a bomb. I asked Nikkhil sir if it was okay to keep the finger bent. I thought it would help me relate to Madanlal Pahwa more.
Did anything shown in the series differ from what you knew of the Partition story?
I think the show was written in a very balanced and neutral way, so I did not feel any anomaly. I didn’t focus on what my opinion was in school [when we studied about the Partition]. When you have a director like Nikkhil sir, you trust his vision, writing, and everything he does. Moreover, I am not a critic, judge, or filmmaker; I approached it as an actor with sole focus on my character. To mentally [align with my character], I had to keep repeating in my head: Yes, I have to kill someone. How else would you actually convince yourself to kill or assassinate someone? The backstory, references, and the things that have happened with him during the exodus [convinced Madanlal] to do it.
It takes time to make a name in the industry and among fans. How do you keep your passion alive through the struggles?
By working. I kept doing theatre and workshops with friends. I have been part of a theatre group in Delhi. I was also a teacher; I wrote, directed, and acted in plays when we formed a new group — Bayaar Theatre Group. I also keep sharpening my skills as an actor. Right now, I am not doing any films or web shows. But I am in the play Hum Hum, written by a close friend, on February 3. The play I’m performing on February 21 is called Aham Murakami, a Hindi-Japanese drama written and directed by Lovely Raj.
Between theatre and movies, what gives you creative satisfaction?
Since I have spent more time on stage, right now it is theatre for me. But the more I am working on camera, I feel that there is no major difference between the two mediums. Some technical things are very different, like theatre requires teamwork, but on camera you can act alone, minus the technicians on set. After a point, both are the same for me. The ultimate goal is to be happy, honest [to my craft], to be able to keep exploring, and stay passionate.
