Actor and doctor: Ashish Gokhale has carved a unique path for himself. While viewers know him from projects like ‘Indian Police Force’, ‘420 IPC’, ‘Shaitaan’, ‘Bholaa’, and recently released ‘Raid 2’, he continues to dedicate himself to his medical profession as the CEO and Medical Superintendent of Advance Multispeciality Hospital and Cardiac Care Center in Juhu.In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Ashish spoke about juggling two demanding careers, his experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, working alongside. Ajay Devgnand why saving lives remains his greatest purpose.
You will successfully manage acting and a full career in medicine. How do you balance the two?
Many people ask me in amazement, ‘Hey, how do you manage a hospital, patients, and shooting at the same time?’ I always tell them that it is actually very simple and not rocket science at all.When I shoot in Mumbai, I visit the hospital for a round in the morning before going to the set, and when the shooting is over, I go back to the hospital.I really like to work. Currently, I am the CEO and Medical Superintendent of Advance Multispeciality Hospital and Cardiac Care Center in Juhu. It is a big responsibility, but because of my love for work and the 24-hour availability of mobile phones in our hands, the world has become closer.Even if I am outside India, I can contact everyone through phone calls and video calls. This makes managing shootings, hospitals, and patients much easier.In the beginning, I was managing patients in ICU and ICCU during night hours in the hospital and shooting during the day. In all of this, I received a lot of help—knowingly and unknowingly—from my fellow doctors, everyone at the hospital, and everyone on the shooting set.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging time for healthcare workers. What is your experience?
Actually it is better not to talk about COVID, because those days are very horrible and physically as well as mentally debilitating.At that time, I stepped away from the acting profession and fully focused on treating COVID patients. I work day and night. In the first six months of the pandemic, I did not go home, despite living 750 meters from the hospital.I am very grateful to the Almighty and my parents for choosing me to do the noble work of saving lives during a terrible crisis.I treated an unlimited number of patients across India during the three years and four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the biggest lessons the pandemic has taught you?
The COVID-19 pandemic taught me some important lessons about discipline and hygiene, the power of preventive health, valuing mental health, and expressing gratitude to all the healthcare workers, delivery drivers, grocery store clerks, and sanitation staff who keep the world running. Most importantly, it taught me the importance of financial preparation.
Looking back on your acting journey, what moment remains the most special to you?
Till now, my favorite moment was when I went to London for the shooting of the film ‘Shaitaan’.Although I have traveled abroad for vacations many times, going abroad for a film shoot is a much happier experience for me.There, I had to do a scene with Ajay Devgn sir, R. Madhavan sir, and Jyotika ma’am, where I interrogated all three of them. Getting a chance to interrogate his character right in front of Bollywood’s ‘Singham’ was amazing, and I got a lot of cooperation and gratitude from everyone there.
