logo
HomeCelebrity
Shubham Saraf | Source: youtube.com/CTV Your Morning
Shubham Saraf | Source: youtube.com/CTV Your Morning

Shubham Saraf Is Charlie Hunnam's 'Shantaram' Co-star and an Actor with Many Faces

Jana Stevens
Nov 09, 2022
11:15 P.M.
Share this pen
FacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterLinkedInLinkedInEmailEmail

"Shantaram" is the long-awaited adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' bestselling novel of the same name. The series, developed for Apple TV+ by Steve Lightfoot and Just Kurzel, stars Charlie Hunnam with Shubham Saraf and Sujaya Dasgupta.

Advertisement

The story follows a convicted criminal, Lin, portrayed by Charlie Hunnam, who flees his native Australia for India and ends up living in the slums. He finds a friend in street-smart guide Prabhu, played by Shubham Saraf.

The breakout TV star, Saraf, is a theater actor at heart with a particular love for William Shakespeare's works. He was previously seen in award-winning series on Netflix and BBC and as Gandhi's assassin in a successful West End production.

US director/producer Steve Lightfoot (L), British actor Charlie Hunnam and British-Indian actor Shubham Saraf arrive for the Apple TV+ original series premiere of "Shantaram" at the Bruin theater in Westwood, California on October 3, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

US director/producer Steve Lightfoot (L), British actor Charlie Hunnam and British-Indian actor Shubham Saraf arrive for the Apple TV+ original series premiere of "Shantaram" at the Bruin theater in Westwood, California on October 3, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

Advertisement

Shubham Saraf Is Passionate about the Theater

Upon graduating from The University of Warwick with a BSc (Hons) in economics in 2013, Saraf was accepted into the prestigious theatre program Ecole Philippe Gaulier. He honed his craft by studying theories such as Neutral Masks.

The actor told Uproxx that Shakespeare "gets his blood pumping." He had the unique chance to play Ophelia in a gender-swapped production of "Hamlet" in 2018, and was Benvolio in the 2021 National Theatre modern retelling of "Romeo and Juliet," per Variety.

The theatre actor's "star-making performance," according to Variety, is Nathuram Godse in "The Father and the Assassin" by playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar. He portrayed Gandhi's assassin and said he could love to take the production to India, but it is not safe now.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Shubham Saraf Has Worked Steadily since His Student Days

As a student, Saraf had a small role in Academy Award-nominated Mike Figgis' "Suspension of Disbelief." His big break came in the acclaimed mini-series "The Bodyguard" as Tahir Mahmood in 2018.

He had to ask the big questions as DC Kyle Petit in two seasons of Netflix's "Criminal: UK" starring Rochenda Sandall and "Game of Thrones" Kit Harington. And he portrayed Firoz Ali Khan in BBC's "A Suitable Boy," about four extended Indian families.

Next, he stars in the Bollywood action thriller "Blind," about a blind cop chasing a serial killer, with Sonam Kapoor and Lucy Aarden. Ironically his other upcoming project is called "Seen," in which he goes on a virtual date with a woman played by Iniki Mariano.

Advertisement
British-Indian actor Shubham Saraf, British-Australian singer Elektra Kilbey, British actor Charlie Hunnam and French actress Antonia Desplat arrive for the Apple TV+ original series premiere of "Shantaram" at the Bruin theater in Westwood, California on October 3, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

British-Indian actor Shubham Saraf, British-Australian singer Elektra Kilbey, British actor Charlie Hunnam and French actress Antonia Desplat arrive for the Apple TV+ original series premiere of "Shantaram" at the Bruin theater in Westwood, California on October 3, 2022. | Source: Getty Images

"Shantaram" Was A "Joyous Challenge" for Shubham Saraf

When Saraf landed the role of Prabhu in the Apple "Shantaram," his life was uprooted at short notice, but, he shared with Variety, it was an "intense life-altering experience." The story is set in India but had to be shot in Thailand and Australia due to Covid-19 restrictions. He said:

Advertisement

"Nothing about 'Shantaram’ was ever easy; it was a joyous challenge to everyone involved. […] in the night, you're being bitten by mosquitoes, and it was long, 13-hour days, six days a week. I really went out of the frying pan into the fire."

He spent a month of the six-month shoot in quarantine, two weeks in each country. He told Forbes that despite joining the production late, his input, especially about Bombay, was met with "open hearts and eyes."

Advertisement

"Shantaram" Was Stuck in Development Hell for Years

An adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' 980-page "Shantaram" has been in the works since it became a bestseller in 2003. Throughout the years, Hollywood actors like Russell Crowe and Jonny Depp have shown interest in the project.

Calling the experience a "chaotic dance," he mused that the audience would have to judge if they pulled off their acting choices.

Hunnam became involved when Hollywood was less "film-centric," giving the rich story time to evolve over twelve episodes. The actor felt a kinship with the novelist of the book when they met in preparation for the role; he told ScreenRant they were mistaken as father and son.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Shubham Saraf Stars Opposite Charlie Hunnam In "Shantaram"

Due to the "chaotic" nature of the shoot, the two stars only met on the first day of the shooting. Saraf later told ScreenRant it was the "greatest gift" as he and Hunnam could organically develop their characters' relationship.

The theatre star admitted in a Uproxx interview that he had not seen a single scene of the series that made his scene partner a TV star, "Sons of Anarchy." In their early scenes together, Shubham realized, "Oh, [expletive], this guy gets me."

The British actor of Indian descent told The Hindi that Indian stories are "in his blood" and expressed his love for Bombay, which he describes as an "impossible city" that somehow works against all odds.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The Chemistry between Shubham and Charlie makes "Shantaram" Work

Uproxx wrote that Saraf and Charlie Hunnam's chemistry, onscreen and as friends, should be "bottled and sold," while another publication commended the authenticity of the relationship. The "A Suitable Boy" actor said:

"I had the time of my life with Charlie, and I think that's what translated into the characters. And that's kind of the spirit with which we led the entire show. Or at least, I hope it translates because I had the time of my life with that man."

Advertisement

Saraf jokingly told Forbes that he and Hunnam "just did our own thing, and everyone else has had to deal with it." Calling the experience a "chaotic dance," he mused that the audience would have to judge if they pulled off their acting choices.

The cast grew close as they were confined to the set and hotel. One night Hunnam and Saraf partied for 12 hours, they revealed in an interview. Hunnam said there is video evidence that he put Saraf to bed at the end of the night, like a dad.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts
Celebrity

Chris Colfer's Partner Will Sherrod Is Also an Actor — Facts We Know About Them

October 23, 2022

Celebrity

Kevin McGarry & Kayla Wallace Dating: All We Know About Their Relationship

October 18, 2022

Celebrity

Charli D'Amelio Is a Young Tiktok Star and Competitive Dancer: A Look into Her Life

September 29, 2022

Celebrity

Cress Williams's Wife Kristen Torrianni Is Also an Actress — Black Lightning's Off-Screen Life

October 26, 2022

Celebrity

Lauren Swickard Is a Star in ‘A Calfornia Christmas’: She Used to Go by the Name Lorynn York

August 30, 2022

Celebrity

Liza Koshy's Parents Immigrated to the US & Met at a Theater Club

October 10, 2022

Celebrity

Tom Holland's Brothers: Actor Has Three Siblings & Two Are Twins

October 24, 2022

Celebrity

Millie Bobby Brown's Parents Risked Everything to Give Her a Chance to Pursue Her Dreams

October 25, 2022

Celebrity

Spence Moore II Acts in '13 Reasons Why' and 'All American' - Facts about the Rising Star

November 08, 2022

Celebrity

Dave East on Playing Method Man in 'Wu-Tang: An American Saga'

October 19, 2022

Celebrity

Saweetie's Dating History — All We Know about the Rapper's Current Relationship Status

October 13, 2022

Celebrity

Storm Reid & Sayeed Shahidi Met When She Was 13 & Started Dating in High School - Inside Their Relationship

October 28, 2022

Celebrity

Dixie D'Amelio and Her Boyfriend Noah Beck Keep Their Love Private - Timeline of Their Relationship

October 06, 2022

Celebrity

xQc and Adept's Breakup Explained — Known Facts about Their Relationship

October 19, 2022

logo

TheCelebritist creates engaging, meaningful content for women. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world.

We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams.

© 2023 AmoMama Media Limited