“My character may make people laugh, but that laughter has a soul,” says actor Heital Puniwala, speaking about his role in the international spiritual drama White, currently being shot with Vikrant Massey portraying Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Heital plays a Gujarati man whose innocence and humour bring light to a story steeped in spiritual depth. “I am the film’s smile,” he adds. “Where the energy is meditative and intense, I bring that breath of joy. Enlightenment can be serious, but it can also be joyous.”
It is a rare comic role within a deeply reflective film, and Heital’s performance delicately balances the spiritual gravity of the narrative with human warmth. Shot across continents with an international cast from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and France, White explores Gurudev’s journey of peace and inner transformation. Within this global canvas, Heital’s character becomes a cultural connector — a slice of India abroad, carrying humour, kindness, and the unmistakable flavour of home.
“The most beautiful thing I noticed,” Heital shares, “is how foreigners genuinely want to embrace Indian culture. They don’t just admire India; they want to experience it. They are curious about our traditions, our values, our everyday spirituality — how we greet, how we pray, how we eat together. To them, it isn’t just culture; it’s warmth.”
He recalls an afternoon on set when the international crew was served shuddh shakahari bhojan. “At first, some were hesitant,” he smiles. “But once they ate, they said it felt different — lighter, purer. They understood that our food isn’t just nutrition; it carries intention.”
Then came a moment that became legendary on set — Heital deciding to cook bhajiyas himself.
“Unko bhajiya khilaya, aur unhe bohot maza aaya!” he laughs. “They absolutely loved it. It wasn’t just about taste — it was about sharing a piece of India.”
What stayed with him most, however, was not food, humour, or even cinema — it was faith.
“When Vikrant became Gurudev on screen, the silence was palpable,” Heital reflects. “Actors from Colombia and France closed their eyes during the meditation scenes. They didn’t understand the chants, yet they felt their meaning. That’s when I realised — spirituality doesn’t need subtitles.”
For Heital, White has been more than a film; it has been an awakening.
“I’ve learned that when you live your Indianness with heart, the world listens. You don’t need to explain who you are — just be, and they’ll understand.”
Filmed in Spanish with English subtitles, White carries a universal message of peace and oneness. Heital Puniwala’s presence brings an earthy Indian soul to the global narrative, reminding us that sometimes laughter can be prayer — and a simple act of hospitality can quietly become a bridge between worlds.
In a divided world, White reminds us that truth travels farther than translation — and that sincerity, warmth, and humour still have the power to heal.
