In Conversation With Vishal Pandey On Bigg Boss, Cannes And The Actor He Hopes To Become

From creating lip-sync videos on an average phone to making his acting debut at Cannes, Vishal Pandey has come a long way since his early days as a digital creator. Best known for his stint on Bigg Boss OTT 3 and his work with Teen Tigada, Pandey has steadily made his way into acting while continuing to build his presence online.

In conversation with ELLE, he reflects on his journey, the experiences that shaped him and what he hopes to take on next.

ELLE: You started out making lip-sync and entertainment videos before short-form content had become the industry it is today. What do you think the younger Vishal would make of the creator you’ve become now?

Vishal Pandey (VP):I think the younger Vishal would be really proud and glad that he made the decision to create that one piece of content on his phone – an average phone, with no lighting or tripod. He would be proud that he didn’t stop, trusted the process, and listened to his inner voice.

ELLE: ​From Teen Tigada to acting and eventually Bigg Boss OTT 3, your career has gone through some very different chapters. Was there a particular moment when you realised you wanted to be more than just a digital creator?

(VP):Yes, very early in my career, I was quite determined not to be just a digital creator. I actually started creating digital content because I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to act, and I saw digital content as a way to get there. I thought, ‘Let me build an audience, get noticed, and maybe the opportunities and auditions will eventually come my way.’ And that’s exactly what happened.

ELLE: ​Bigg Boss put you in a completely different kind of spotlight, where audiences were seeing more of your personality than a curated version of you online. What did that experience teach you about being watched, judged and misunderstood?

(VP):I think Bigg Boss was a very big and daring step in my career. I’m just glad that through the show, people got to see and know the real me. Of course, there were many hardships I faced inside the house – there were accusations and several difficult situations that I had to deal with. But I’m glad I came out of the experience with flying colours, as a much stronger person and with far more clarity in my mind.

ELLE: Your Cannes debut in 2025 felt like a full circle moment, from creating content on social media to arriving at one of the world’s biggest film festivals. What did that moment mean to you personally?

(VP):My Cannes debut is personally one of the most memorable and significant phases of my career. I never imagined that I would one day be standing on that carpet, doing a Namaste as cameras flashed around me and the media cheered me on. When it actually happened, when I walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival with my film, it felt incredibly surreal. After the carpet, I went back to my room and even shed a tear. It was one of those moments when I thought, ‘Yes, I think I’ve done something right to be standing here.’ It’s a very, very special and unforgettable milestone in my career.

ELLE: You’ve built a career in an industry where trends can change almost overnight. How do you decide when to adapt to what’s happening online and when to stick to your own instinct?

(VP):I think I’m someone who doesn’t chase or blindly follow trends. I’ve always believed in trusting my instincts and doing what feels right to me. If my heart tells me to do something, I’ll go ahead and do it, regardless of whether it’s trending or not.

ELLE: What are you most interested in exploring next as an actor, a creator and as someone whose career is no longer confined to one platform?

(VP):Any kind of role that challenges me enough as an actor is something I’m willing to take on. I’m drawn to parts that make me feel like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to pull this off,’ the ones that give me butterflies and make me nervous. If I don’t feel that nervousness before going on set, then I don’t think I’m taking on the right role. As a creator, I’m simply trying to be as authentic as possible and create content that my audience and people genuinely love and admire.

With acting firmly in his sights, Pandey is keen to take on roles that challenge his abilities and push him into unfamiliar territory. He is drawn to characters that make him nervous, question his abilities and demand something different from him. At the same time, he hopes to keep his content rooted in the authenticity that first brought him an audience. As he moves between the two worlds, Pandey seems happy to let instinct guide what comes next.