The wonder years

Gulshan Devaiah

Detox, according to Gulshan Devaiah, is the best way to describe Little Thomas. For the actor, director Kaushal Oza's family dramedy was a much-needed change of pace after his intense roles in Dahaad, Guns & Gulaabs, and the second season of Duranga last year. "After delving into the complexities of those intense and grey characters, Little Thomas became a palate cleanser. It's definitely the sweetest film of my career," smiles the actor, who plays the titular character's father in the movie. "My character shares the innocence and naiveté of his little boy."

But there's something more about Little Thomas, also starring Rasika Dugal, that drew Devaiah. The film, which looks at the simple life of a Goan family through the eyes of an only child, resonated with him as he too is an only child. "While filming, I couldn't help but be transported back to my childhood. Thomas' innocence and imagination was relatable to me," laughs the actor, adding that like the protagonist, he too used to have a wild imagination. "I used to believe that my dad, who is an engineer, would build me a robot friend. I thought I could play, hang out with it, and it would protect me from the bullies in school."