Meet Amitabh Bachchan’s lookalike, who works as an ‘office boy’ at a school during the day, moonlights as Big B at events

A man who works as Amitabh Bachchan's lookalike spoke about his life on the latest episode of Arhaan Khan's web show, Dumb Biryani.

Amitabh Bachchan lookalike Gaurav Moleshri on Dumb Biryani. (Photo: Dumb Biryani)

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has several ‘lookalikes’ who make a living by appearing at events and mimicking his iconic mannerisms and replicating lines from his films. One such impersonator, Gaurav Moleshri, appeared on the web series Dumb Biryani, hosted by Salman Khan’s nephew Arhaan and his friend, Dev Raiyani. Gaurav, who said that he has been working as Bachchan’s lookalike for three decades, appeared on the show alongside Rizwan Khan, who has built a social media following for impersonating Shah Rukh Khan.

Gaurav said that this is mainly a side hustle, as he also has a day job. “I work as an office boy at the Anjuman I Islam school. I’ve never met Mr Bachchan. I came close once, but he left.” Gaurav said that he started out at birthday parties, and took it from there. “People would tell me that I look like him, and that I should take it to the next level. I used to do funny audience interactions in a Kaun Banega Crorepati style. Older people and young kids really like me.”

Also read – Shah Rukh Khan’s lookalike had no money for food during the pandemic, Salman Khan sent Rs 2,500 plus ration

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Gaurav said that his favourite Bachchan film is Mard, and that he has a two-year-old son who thinks that it’s him on television whenever Bachchan comes on. Opening up about what a day in his life looks like, he said, “My job takes up a lot of my time. I work from 10 to 5, but I bring a bag with my costumes, and take a train from CST to go to events. Birthday parties, wedding anniversaries… I also perform at sangeets, haldis, I dance and entertain people, I click selfies. We’re all performers at the end of the day. These appearances usually last 30 minutes, and then we’re done. The next day, we post videos and pictures on social media, and that’s how future clients get in touch with us.”

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A post shared by Gaurav Moleshri (@gauravmoleshri_)

He said that he has an arrangement with other Bachchan lookalikes, and that they often fill in for each other when they’re busy. A few weeks ago, another of Bachchan’s impersonators, Shashikant Pedwal, shared a video of his meeting with the actor. Rizwan said in the Dumb Biryani video that while there is a union for celebrity lookalikes, he hasn’t really interacted with the other men who make a living by appearing at events as SRK. Rizwan said that he has suffered a lot of financial setbacks in his life, and that things were particularly difficult during the pandemic, but Salman Khan rose to the occasion and sent money and ration to him and other celebrity lookalikes through their union.

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