With a career spanning 15 years, Vaishakh has made his mark as an actor and writer in the Gujarati and Hindi film industries. He has acted alongside renowned actors, written an acclaimed Gujarati film, and published poetry books.

For the last fifteen years, Vaishakh Ratanben has been actively involved in both the Gujarati and Hindi film industries, establishing a notable presence as both an actor and a writer.

Vaishakh says that, in the Gujarati film industry, he has played lead roles as well as character roles in notable movies such as ‘Raado’, ‘Vandha Villas’ and ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’ alongside actors like Ranveer Singh. He has also worked in films like ‘Manto’ alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui and has worked in many other Gujarati films.

In his capacity as a writer, Vaishakh contributed to the story, screenplay, and dialogues of the acclaimed Gujarati film ‘Medal’. This film received widespread recognition, securing nine awards, including esteemed honors such as the GIFA and Transmedia Awards.

Beyond his film endeavors, Vaishakh has also authored two Hindi poetry books. Notably, his book titled ‘Surname’ earned a national award and has been integrated into the syllabus of certain central universities, says Vaishakh.

Vaishakh says that his journey in the entertainment industry began during his college days when he participated in theater for fun. Gradually, his interest in the field grew, possibly influenced by his avid reading habits. He left his government teaching job to pursue his passion and started working in theater under renowned Gujarati directors. Through his involvement in theater, he honed his acting and writing skills and gained inspiration from various literary works.

During his MA studies, Vaishakh recognized the significance of theater and decided to learn more about the art of acting and writing. He extensively studied books from Gujarat Vidyapeeth, focusing on acting as an art form. He applied the knowledge gained from these books to his work, resulting in noticeable improvements in his acting. He attributes his growth in the industry to his independent learning journey without the guidance of a mentor.

While discussing the challenges he faced, Vaishakh mentions that financial difficulties were relatively manageable as he had a job alongside his acting pursuits. However, he encountered mental pressure due to inconsistent work opportunities, despite delivering commendable performances. The Gujarati industry, although not extensive, comprises a large number of individuals, which creates a competitive environment. To overcome these challenges, Vaishakh turned to writing, allowing him to create compelling characters. He acknowledges the support he received from people who helped alleviate his stress and mentions that writing has always provided him with solutions.

Expressing his gratitude, Vaishakh acknowledges his wife as a steadfast pillar of support throughout his journey. Beyond emotional encouragement, she has offered financial assistance and provided valuable feedback to refine his writing skills. In his eyes, she holds the significant role of being his first and most trusted critic.

Vaishakh shares that during his college days he participated in theater purely for enjoyment and the applause of the audience. However, he eventually realized the importance of financial stability and started working as an actor. He initially faced difficulties when transitioning to acting, as it required different skills. To overcome this, he sought guidance from experienced actors and directors, gradually establishing himself in the industry. He admits that he has yet to accomplish the type of work he aspires to, but he remains dedicated to his goals.

Vaishakh believes that he has faced fewer struggles compared to others in the film industry and considers himself blessed. He perceives difficulties solely in terms of enhancing his artistic abilities and building connections with talented individuals.

Reflecting on his mistakes, Vaishakh acknowledges that he learns from them and moves forward without dwelling on the past. He mentions that his talkative nature sometimes leads to inadvertently hurting people's feelings, so he has consciously adopted a more reserved approach, speaking and criticizing less.

Vaishakh considers his books as his greatest achievements. Going through the process of publishing his book was a challenging phase for him, and he proudly shares that he managed to publish his own books. He now realizes that there is a lot of struggle involved in this field as well. He mentions that he has also written two more books, which he will soon publish, and the foreword for these books has been written by a renowned writer named Mahasweta Devi.

He has also worked with famous personalities in Gujarat theaters and has written four plays of his own. Currently, he is involved in a play called ‘Poetic Justice’,  where he has taken on the roles of writer, director, and actor. On the film front, his first movie was ‘Karsandas Pay and Use.’ Unfortunately, although he had a thirty minute role in the film, his scene was completely edited out, so no one knows about his work in the movie. He considers this to be the lowest point in his life. Though the director of ‘Karsandas’ offered him a role in another movie, it unfortunately did not gain much popularity.

When it comes to role models, Vaishakh draws inspiration from actors like Irrfan Khan, whom he had the privilege of meeting once. He also looks up to Manoj Bajpayee, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahad Fazil, and tries to incorporate their acting styles into his own.

Vaishakh mentions that the entertainment industry is filled with numerous rejections, and he has faced some peculiar reasons for rejection, such as being told that his complexion is too fair or that he is too old. These experiences created stress in his mind.

Vaishakh shares that during his free time, he enjoys reading books and playing cricket.

Talking about his childhood, Vaishakh shares that he grew up in a small house and his father used to work at a bank. Initially, his family wasn't very supportive of his aspirations during his college years, but they eventually accepted his chosen path.

Vaishakh’s life mantra is to forget the past and live in the present. He firmly believes in continuously working and never giving up.

Vaishakh advises the younger generation aspiring to enter the acting world that there is no guaranteed way to success in this field. One should come and explore, forging their own path.