What's Common Between An Actor & Entrepreneur? Pratik Gandhi Reveals

The 11th edition of the SheThePeople Digital Women Awards and Summit in Hyderabad, was nothing short of electrifying, as women innovators, founders, and digital creators from across India came together to celebrate leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

One of the most anticipated sessions of the day was the panel “Leadership Exchange: Every Idea Has a Spark, where Pratik Gandhi, Actor and Ambassador of ZeeTV's Ideabaaz, engaged in a candid chat with Shaili Chopra (Founder of SheThePeople & Gytree, and Titan on Ideabaaz) and Mudit Kumar (Co-Founder of Ideabaaz) about how even the smallest idea can turn a normal person into a powerful gamechanger.

Passion Meets Persistence: Pratik Gandhi’s Story

Taking the Digital Women Summit stage, Pratik Gandhi, the actor who became a household name with his outstanding performance as Harshad Mehta in Scam 1992, opened up about his journey from engineering to acting.

Before captivating audiences on screen, Gandhi was an engineer and worked 14+ years in corporate, but his heart was drawn to the stage and the screen. He highlighted the risks, uncertainties, and persistence involved in pursuing one’s passion.

“It’s a journey in itself, as an artist, every project feels like a startup. You face unknowns, variables beyond your control, and still give it your best.” 

Gandhi drew an interesting parallel between art and entrepreneurship, addressing how both require resilience, adaptability, and faith in one’s own vision.

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Pratik also spoke about how his experience on Ideabaaz gave him a deeper appreciation of what founders go through. He recalled meeting entrepreneurs whose ideas were simple but whose dedication felt unstoppable.

For him, the most memorable pitches weren’t always the most polished ones; they were the ones filled with honesty, emotion, and a clear reason why the founder wanted to build something.

He also shared how some entrepreneurs came from small towns with limited resources, yet carried powerful stories and strong convictions. He pointed out that this is where the true heart of innovation lies.

He said, “What stays with me is the person behind the idea their belief, their struggle, their vision,” underscoring that supporting founders is just as important as financing them.

Through his reflections, he emphasised that whether it’s storytelling or entrepreneurship, the core remains the same: resilience, adaptability, and the courage to start again.

The Digital Women Awards and Summit was not just another entrepreneurship showcase, it became a mirror to the human side of building a business, highlighting the challenges, risks, and bold choices behind the name and fame. The event left women entrepreneurs feel seen and inspired, carrying with them not just ideas but also the motivation to make tough choices and and embrace the journey of creating impact. 

Views expressed by the author are their own.