Actor Vinay Pathak believes that the strongest creative collaborations are often rooted in something far simpler- friendship. Reflecting on his long-standing association with filmmaker and actor Rajat Kapoor, Pathak shares that their bond has been decades in the making. The two recently collaborated for the ZEE5 original Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa, a well-crafted and written murder mystery. 

Vinay Pathak on working with friends

In an interview with Mid-day, Vinay spoke about working with good friend Rajat Kapoor who served as the writer-director of the latest release. “Sometimes we ponder together, sometimes we just question things together. The process has been tried and tested for the last 30 years—friends first and collaborators later,” he says, adding, “It has worked for us.”

That sense of camaraderie extends to actor Ranvir Shorey as well, though Pathak admits their friendship came later. “I introduced Ranvir to Rajat, and then they became friends too. We’ve all been close ever since,” he recalls.

For Pathak, working with friends brings an intangible advantage. “Doing everything with friends helps, even doing nothing. Just hanging out, sharing ideas, or sometimes not sharing anything at all… that also adds value,” he explains.

Vinay on shooting Everybody Loves Handa

One of the standout aspects of Everybody Loves Saurabh Handa is its chronological shooting style- something rarely seen in filmmaking. Pathak calls it a “privilege.”

“It makes life much simpler- not just for editors and technicians, but for actors too. Emotional continuity comes naturally when you shoot in sequence,” he says.

However, he is quick to point out why such an approach is uncommon. “From a production standpoint, it’s about logistics. If you have multiple scenes in one location, it’s more efficient to finish everything there at once rather than keep returning and resetting,” he explains.

The film’s structure also lends itself to introspection, particularly in a moment when the character played by Rajat Kapoor poses the question: Who would you want to be if not yourself?

Pathak admits he doesn’t have a straightforward answer to the question. “If you’re going to dream, dream big. There are so many personalities one admires—writers, poets, thinkers. But would you want to become them, or just have a conversation with them?” he muses.

Calling it a “psychological game,” he adds, “The grass is always greener on the other side. That’s why that moment works so well—it’s fun, almost like a game.”

OTT boom and new storytelling formats

With the film releasing on OTT, Pathak acknowledges how digital platforms have transformed opportunities across the industry.

“All new mediums have expanded opportunities- not just for actors but for everyone involved in filmmaking,” Vinay Pathak says, pointing out the growing demand for writers, technicians, and crew.

He also notes the rise of newer formats like vertical videos and micro-dramas. While he reveals his “heart sank” at first when he heard about the vertical format, as it would increase screen time on phones, he is also hopeful about the positives. “It may feel overwhelming, but it ultimately means more content and more work,” he says, comparing it to the evolution of journalism across platforms.

While mainstream cinema often leans towards formula-driven trends- be it action-heavy narratives or genre cycles- Pathak takes a balanced view. “I don’t think much about it,” he says candidly. “I believe all kinds of cinema should coexist. There’s space for everything.”

With the growing number of multiplexes and platforms, he sees no reason why diverse storytelling can’t thrive alongside commercial cinema.

`Drishyam 2` director Abhishek Pathak and `Khuda Haafiz` actress Shivaleeka Oberoi have embraced parenthood for the first time as they welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on Sunday. 

Shivaleeka and Abhishek welcome first baby

Making the happy announcement on social media, the new parents wrote in a joint post, “In a moment, our hearts found a whole new meaning! With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our precious baby girl! 19th April 2026. Blessed parents Shivaleeka and Abhishek (sic).”

“Our little Goddess Laxmi has arrived on an auspicious day. A blessing in its purest form (sic),” read the caption on the post.

Reacting to the arrival of the little one, actress Ishita Dutta wrote in the comment section, “Congratulations”, along with three red heart emojis.

Aahana Kumra added, “Aww!! Congratulations @shivaleekaoberoi and @abhishekpathakk”.

Many others also congratulated the new parents in the comment section on their new journey.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Shivaleeka Oberoi Pathak (@shivaleekaoberoi)

When they announced their pregnancy

In December last year, Abhishek and Shivaleeka announced their first pregnancy with an adorable social media post.

In a joint social media post, they wrote, “Our love story has found it’s sweetest verse — a tiny blessing is joining our universe (Baby angel, evil eye and Dizzy emojis) (sic).”

The post included a lovey-dovey photo of the couple being embraced in a warm hug, while Shivaleeka held a pair of tiny knitted socks. In another photo, the lovebirds were seen standing in front of a Christmas tree, holding an ornament that read, “Baby Pathak arriving *2026*”.

About Shivaleeka and Abhishek

Shivaleeka and Abhishek first met while working on the 2020 Vidyut Jammwal-starrer Khuda Hafiz, which follows the story of Sameer, a young man who leads a content life with Nargis, his wife. However, when she is kidnapped by human traffickers, he must rescue her.

The duo exchanged rings in July 2022 and finally tied the knot in February 2023.

Shivaleeka made her acting debut with the 2019 release Yeh Saali Aashiqui and later rose to fame with Khuda Haafiz in 2020. She was last seen in Khuda Haafiz: Chapter 2 – Agni Pariksha in 2022, where both she and Vidyut reprised their characters Nargis and Sameer from the original drama.

On the other hand, Abhishek directed Drishyam 2, featuring Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu, and Akshaye Khanna. He has also directed Ujda Chaman. Abhishek has also produced movies such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Section 375 and Khuda Haafiz.