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Mohan Kapur’s Brilliant Portrayal of a Hero In “A Deep Dive Into Portraying Real-life Icons”

Fans marvel at Mohan Kapur’s return to the big screen in a transformative new role as Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, the real life former ‘Fauci of India,’ who was part of an elite task force to create India’s indigenous COVID vaccine, Covaxin. Embodying the real-life figure in Vivek Agnihotri’s pandemic thriller The Vaccine War, Kapur’s exploration of the role brought unique challenges as well as rewarding achievements, including praise from the team of scientists who inspired the film. Leading up to The Vaccine War’s September 28 release, Kapur provides an exclusive first look into the character and intriguing behind-the-scenes insight into how he navigated his portrayal of the important doctor.

As a trailblazing actor, Kapur’s acclaimed career spans three decades, with an extensive discography of over 50 award-winning films and TV roles in India. A true pioneer, Kapur’s variety show Snakes & Ladders made him South Asia’s first television personality in broadcast television. In a career filled with accomplishments, Kapur reached a global audience with his breakout role as Yusuf Khan in the Disney series Ms. Marvel. Portraying the titular character’s father, his performance was widely acclaimed. Building on the success of Ms. Marvel, Mohan Kapur is set to make his mark in the upcoming film The Marvels, with a prominent role starring alongside Brie Larson, Iman Vellaniand Samuel L. Jackson.

Kapur’s starring role in The Vaccine War is already receiving critical acclaim in a powerful and hard-hitting performance fans on social media have never seen Kapur portray a role so intensely yet. In fact, when director Agnihotri called Kapur to play the role, The Marvels actor told him “He got the wrong guy!” But Agnihotri, who broke box office records with his last film The Kashmir Files, insisted Kapur could do it: “He saw it, before I could.”

To portray Dr. Gangakhedkar, Kapur came across a significant challenge and substantial pressure. Unlike many of his previous characters, Kapur had limited references about the real-life scientist to draw from: “I was unable to shadow and observe him in real life, so I had to watch his teleconferences and news interviews. I also read all his published essays and research to get into his thought process and mind. In particular, I came across a published essay where he expressed some frustrations about his expert conclusions that came from a lifetime of knowledge and study not being fully understood nor embraced by non-experts whose knowledge of coronavirus was just getting introduced during a volatile period. It was important I captured his resolute which was stern and steadfast.”

The Vaccine War starts with an intense pace, providing the audience the ‘race against time’ feel giving insight of the environment the real-life scientists were in. The film gives homage to the relentless efforts of the Indian bio-scientists in creating the vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. These scientists faced not only external challenges but also opposition from within the country.

In a career marked by accolades, including the Critics Choice Award for Best Ensemble for Ms. Marvel, Mohan Kapur continues to shine as a true thespian who takes on challenging roles with grace and skill. As The Vaccine War soaks up its public praise, Kapur’s transformative portrayal of Dr. Gangakhedkarr is unforgettable and inspiring. Audiences are also excited for his upcoming slate: The Marvels and Karma Calling, the reboot of Emily VanCamp’s Revenge for Disney+ Hotstar, where he plays Emily Thorne’s nemesis.

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