Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | February 12, 2025

For Gul Panag, life has never been about fitting into a single mould. An actor, entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, and aviator, she has built a career that defies traditional boundaries. “I am extremely grateful for the platform my acting career has given me. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pursue all my diverse goals,” says the actor who has once again hit bull’s eye with her restrained performance as Renu Chaudhary, the wife of Hathiram Chaudhary (Jaideep Ahlawat) in ‘Pataal Lok’ Season 2.

Gul Panag Beyond Acting: Prioritizing and Compartmentalizing

Her journey has been shaped by two key principles—prioritization and compartmentalization. “These are the two pillars on which I have based my existence,” she explains. “They allow me to focus, to embrace my passions, and to pace myself for the long innings.” This structured approach enables her to seamlessly transition between her many roles, ensuring that burnout is never on the horizon. “I have an excellent work-life balance. It all comes back to how well you compartmentalize and prioritize.”

At the heart of Gul’s philosophy is a deep belief in human potential. “We were never meant to do just one thing. Our ancestors were hunter-gatherers—they didn’t specialize, they did everything. Over time, society pushed us towards hyper-specialization, but I’ve chosen to embrace our fundamental ability to be multi-talented.”

For her, success isn’t just about achievement; it’s about enjoying the process. “The goal has always been to pursue multiple interests while maintaining balance and fulfillment,” she says. With this mindset, Gul Panag continues to chart a path that is as dynamic as inspiring.

Excerpts:

Paatal Lok delves into the dark underbelly of society. Given your long-standing presence in the public eye, have you ever encountered moments where you sensed a similar Paatal Lok beneath the surface of your own experiences—whether in the entertainment industry or elsewhere?

Paatal Lok is everywhere; this makes for such powerful writing. Sudhir, the writer, can see things we often choose to ignore. Take caste, for instance—it’s deeply ingrained in the part of the world I come from. People usually associate caste issues with Bihar and UP, but caste is just as brutal in Punjab.

The narrative sold to us about Punjab is about being happy-go-lucky—great bhangra, great music, great dance, a celebration of life. But beneath that surface, there’s a harsher reality that we’ve become desensitized to. We’ve trained ourselves to look past it.

We see people begging on the streets, yet we choose not to acknowledge them. It starts as a conscious decision and eventually becomes subconscious. Paatal Lok is so deep—it tells the stories of people we’ve chosen to overlook. People we only interact with transactionally. A beggar on the street? Maybe we give them a hundred bucks if we’re feeling generous. The person who works in our home? We exchange a few words every couple of days, but we don’t truly engage with their lives.

Paatal Lok forces us to confront this reality. It holds up a mirror, and that’s why it strikes such a chord. Season One, in particular, focused on the people around us—the ones we often fail to see. In some ways, Season Two demystifies the Northeast, shedding light on another overlooked part of our world.

Beyond the glamour and the mechanics of aviation, what is one seemingly simple thing that brings you joy and keeps you grounded?

I think, Martin, that’s where I differ from most people—I don’t prefer one thing over another. Whatever I’m doing at the moment is what I enjoy the most. Right now, this conversation with you is what I value most because, at this moment, that’s all that matters. I don’t know if this makes sense, but for me, it’s all about living in the present, appreciating and fully engaging with each moment. Right now, I’m grateful for this opportunity to speak with you, and that’s what keeps me grounded—being present and valuing each moment as it comes.

This mindset applies to everything I do. When I’m flying a plane, that’s my sole focus—that’s what I enjoy the most at that moment.

When you started, you were keen on PR because that was the norm. However, today, you aren’t frequently seen in public spaces or making media appearances.

I have a publicist who focuses on topics that are relevant and important to me. However, I believe PR should be about being recognized for what truly sets you apart, not just for visibility. I don’t see the value in hiring a publicist to tip off the media and ensure I’m photographed at airports. What purpose does that serve? How does it contribute to my long-term goals? I don’t see the point.

That’s not to say it is wrong to have a publicist—everyone does. However, I believe, their role should align with a clear, strategic vision of what they want to communicate. If there’s something meaningful to share that requires depth and strategy, then, of course, I would engage in PR. But creating noise just for the sake of it? That doesn’t interest me.

You’ve been part of the entertainment industry’s evolution—from traditional Bollywood to the rise of OTT platforms. What excites you most about the future of storytelling, and what role do you hope to play in it?

I think this question has two parts. As an actor, the medium is secondary. My primary role is to be part of a director’s vision and bring a story to life. More than ever, storytelling has become a writer’s medium, and when the writer and director align in their vision, you get a truly great story.

Whether it’s OTT, film, or even theatre—which I haven’t explored much beyond college—it all comes down to the power of storytelling. Today, platforms like Instagram and YouTube have also become avenues for storytelling. I produced a short film called Manoranjan for YouTube two years ago, and it received over a crore (10 million) views. That experience reaffirmed my belief that a well-told story is a privilege to be part of, no matter the platform.

As for the evolution of content consumption, OTT platforms have completely transformed the environment by democratizing access. Audiences can now choose what to watch, when, and where to watch it. Theatres still offer a larger-than-life experience, but OTT has shifted the power to the audience, making it a demand-driven market rather than a supply-driven one. In the past, content was released strategically around festivals or holidays, and audiences had to wait. Now, people don’t wait—they move on to something else. The real game-changer is that quality content is more accessible than ever.

As for my journey, I’d love to explore roles I haven’t done much before—like playing a cop or a well-written antagonist. Those are definitely on my list.

If you could swap lives with any other woman for a day—past or present, famous or not—who would it be and why?

That’s a tough one. If I were answering this as a Miss India contestant, I might have given a different perspective. But as Gul Panag today, with the benefit of hindsight, I will not have it any other way. I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience so much in life. If, by some miracle, I could be born again, I would choose to be born as my parents’ daughter, as Rishi’s wife, and as Nihal’s mother—it has been such a privilege.

Fame and recognition are secondary; what truly matters is this beautiful journey I’ve had. I wouldn’t change a thing about the path that brought me to this moment. It’s not about being boastful or arrogant; rather, it’s about a deep sense of gratitude. Regardless of what the future holds, I will always be thankful for the journey that has shaped me.

Image Credit: gulpanag

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