Actor and Doctor Ashish Gokhale Carved a unique path for himself. While audiences recognize him from projects like ‘Indian Police Force’, ‘420 IPC’, ‘Shaitan’, ‘Bhola’ and the recently released ‘Red 2’, he continues to devote himself to his medical career as the CEO and Medical Superintendent of Advanced Multispecialty Hospital and Cardiac Care Center in Juhu.In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Ashish talks about juggling two demanding careers, his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, working alongside Ajay DevgnAnd why saving lives is his greatest objective.
You successfully manage both acting and a full medical career. How do you balance the two?
A lot of people ask me in amazement, ‘Hey, how do you manage the hospital, the patients and the shooting all at once?’ I always tell them that it’s actually very simple and not rocket science at all.If I’m shooting in Mumbai, I go to the hospital for a round in the morning before I go to the sets, and I come back to the hospital when the shoot is over.I absolutely love to work. Currently, I am the CEO and Medical Superintendent of Advanced Multispecialty Hospital and Cardiac Care Center in Juhu. It’s a huge responsibility, but my passion for work and the 24-hour availability of mobile phones at our fingertips has brought the world closer.I can keep in touch with everyone through phone calls and video calls even if I am outside India. It makes shooting, managing hospitals and patients incredibly easy.Initially, I managed ICU and ICCU patients at night in the hospital and shot during the day. Through it all, I got a lot of help — knowingly and unknowingly — from my doctor colleagues, everyone at the hospital and everyone on the shooting sets.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for healthcare workers. How was your experience?
It’s honestly better not to talk about covid, because those days were incredibly scary and physically as well as emotionally draining.At that time, I moved away from acting career and completely focused on treating covid patients. I worked day and night. For the first six months of the epidemic, I did not even go home, despite being only 750 meters away from the hospital.I am deeply grateful to the Almighty and my parents for choosing me to perform the noble task of saving lives during such a dire crisis.I have treated an infinite number of patients across India in three years and four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the biggest lesson the pandemic has taught you?
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught me some important lessons about discipline and hygiene, the power of preventive health, mental health assessment, and gratitude for all the healthcare workers, delivery drivers, grocery store clerks, and sanitation workers who keep the world running. Most importantly, it taught me the importance of financial preparation.
Looking back on your acting journey, what moment is most special to you?
So far, my most cherished moment was when I went to London to shoot for ‘Shaitaan’.Although I have traveled abroad for vacation many times, going abroad for a film shoot was an incredibly gratifying experience for me.There, I was met by Ajay Devgan Sir, R. Had to do a scene with Madhavan sir and Jyothika ma’am, where I interrogate the three of them. Getting a chance to interrogate his character in front of Bollywood’s ‘Singham’ was amazing, and I got great support and appreciation from everyone there.
Despite your growing success as an actor, what keeps you going as a doctor?
Acting is my passion, but medicine is my calling. There is no greater satisfaction than helping someone recover and save a life. Both professions bring me immense joy in different ways and I feel lucky to be able to pursue them simultaneously.For me, the biggest reward is knowing that I can contribute to society while fulfilling my dream of becoming an actor.
