CID: ACP Pradyuman aka Shivaji Satam speaks his mind

ACP Pradyuman is one of the most interesting characters of Indian TV. He has enthralled generations of kids with his antics and continues to charm. Despite the fact that the ACP has never been promoted, he seems to be very happy solving crimes from the little clues he has been provided with. With more than 1000 episodes of CID already on air and more being churned out everyday, it seems that ACP Pradyuman is only getting more popular. His team takes pride in him as does the audience. However, what does it take to be the ACP? Over to the man himself...

With the hint of a twinkle in his eye, the snoop in ACP Pradyuman solves crimes in a matter of minutes. Not the one to leave a crime unsolved, the ACP slogs relentlessly hunting for clues and looking for the truth in evidence till he has someone to slap with the charge of a faansi. Talking about the character and it's details, Shivaji Satam says, "When I prepare for the shoot, I metamorphose into ACP Pradyuman with all his mannerisms and the attached idiosyncrasies. But, the moment the shoot is over, I'm back to being the genial, cordial person that I am. For me, it is very important to switch-off. So, though people address me as ACP Pradyuman, they see a completely different side to me once they get to know me."

The show is very popular with the kids and a special version of the show was also made specially for the kids. While the other characters are equally famous, ACP Pradyuman is a complete hit with the children. They often imitate him and since imitation is the best form of flattery, this must mean something. But ask Shivaji if he is often mobbed by the kids and he quips, "Actually, no, they are wary of me and think that I will scold them. I have to tell them that I don't bite and once they get to know me, I'm their ACP uncle."

Be it Dr. Salunkhe with all his chemicals or Daya with his door-breaking capabilities, all the characters of CID are fleshed out. They add to the show's character and create a sense of relatability. Talking about the crew he works with, Shivaji says, "I feel very lucky and blessed to have found the best actors to work with. Even before I came into TV, I was working with seasoned Marathi actors. That helps!" But doesn't it get taxing to shoot for episodes of a show that has been on air since the past 17 years? "Well, now the team is divided into groups and we shoot our scenes separately. Only when we are canning the bureau shots, we gather at the same place. It is physically taxing!" he explains.

While all the episodes have a new story and are unique, certain episodes have truly been remarkable. The show that has now achieved cult status was the first-of-its-kind when it was first aired on January 21, 1998. But when asked to choose his favourite episode, he says, "It would undoubtedly be the one where the ACP kills his son, when he realizes that he is a threat to the country. It was very emotional episode and brought out the best in every actor. There was also the Guinness Book of World Records winning episode where we shot at a stretch for 111 minutes."