One of the first Bollywood actors to flirt with TV in the 90’s, Pandey understands the ‘power’ of the small screen. “I used to host Superhit Muqabla,” he recounts adding that this time it’s a new garb, “I’ve always said that if I do something on TV it should make a statement,” he says adding that he liked the concept of Zara Nachke Dikha (on Star One). “Dancing is fun, and all this sexist rivalry is right up my street,” he says explaining his new role to find out the best dancers from a group of boys and girls. With Pandey, humour comes naturally. “I’m a corrupt judge. You can buy me with your talent.”

For the actor, life in his “second innings” is rocking. He’s just back from the US, where he went to shoot for a cameo in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kambakth Ishq and another in an English film, Mumbai Calling. While he says his role in Kambakth Ishq will be a surprise, in Mumbai Calling, he plays a star that saves a call centre. “My character is called Chunky Lafanga,” he says adding that the character was originally a part of a hit UK television series in 2000. “Now the makers are doing a film where this character exists,” he informs. This year he has Ek-The Power of One, Ronnie & Rocky, Shortcut, Sankat City, Paying Guests, Hello Darling, Daddy Cool and Khalbali Hai Khalbali lined up for release.

If he is a detective sharing the screen with an animated dog in Ronnie, in Daddy, he’s a drug dealer, whereas in Khalbali… he’s Shyamu aka Shyam Gopal Varma, a wannabe director. The resemblance with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma brings the latter in the discussion. This is when Pandey becomes serious. “My second innings started when Varma took me in D (2005). The film was a turning point and it gave me my confidence back,” he says.