India, Dec. 19 -- He is known for his comic timing and viral characters like Chutki and Shopkeeper, but actor Gaurav Gera surprised the audience with his intense turn in Aditya Dhar's directorial Dhurandhar. Gaurav was unrecognisable as Mohammad Aalam, actor Ranveer Singh's handler in the spy thriller. Shedding his light-hearted persona and sporting a grey beard, this transformation was anything but accidental. The 50-year-old explains how he strategically went off social media for nearly a year and a half to keep his look under wraps. "I was not posting anything in my beard. My online activity was nil and mann bhi nahin karta ki itna heavy character kar rahe ho aur phir saath mein kuch light bhi banao," he shares, adding, "I think its impact turned out to be good and gave people a break from what I have been doing so far." Despite the shift, Gaurav insists that the role did not demand a dramatic personal overhaul. "In life, I am not funny all the time. I am a fun person, but I am not funny or cracking jokes all the time. I understood the intense situation and went with the requirement of the scenes," he says. Off the screen, too, Gaurav feels a shift in his own personality. "Daadhi bhi aa rahi hai, and I feel mature also. I am now more interested in socio-political topics than before. Life mein ye ho jaata hai with age," he shares, adding that he is now looking forward to exploring a new chapter in his career....