Gashmeer Mahajani: I knew I wanted to be a part of cinema

Actor Gashmeer Mahajani speaks on playing a don's henchman in 'Dongri Ka Raja' and more. Excerpts...
Your father, Ravindra Mahajani, is a veteran Marathi actor so did acting come naturally to you?
My father's last Marathi film released before I was born. My interest in films grew during school. I knew I wanted to be a part of cinema. I came to Mumbai and approached (late) cinematographer Ashok Mehta.I took up odd jobs for a year and eventually he trained me.
After Marathi films, how was it to work in a Hindi movie?
The only difference is the language and the scale.
How did you bag 'Dongri Ka Raja'?
I was approached to play the lead in the Marathi remake of a Gujarati film but I turned it down. Director Hadi Ali Abrar had also turned that film down. After that, he approached me for 'Dongri Ka Raja', convinced that I could play Raja. Hadi is like a brother, so working with him was fun.
Any difficulties on set?
I had temperature while shooting a romantic scene. Each time the heroine hugged me, she said, 'I will get burnt.' Thankfully, antibiotics didn't show on my face.
'Dongri Ka Raja', produced by PS Chhatwal and Filmy Keeda Productions, releases on November 11.