Actor and filmmaker Praveen Hingonia is on a yearlong Yatragram, a journey across India to undertake a 365-day acting and human observation experiment for hunting 999 characters for his proposed film project to highlight unity in diversity of culture and heritage of all states of the nation.Though observations made during the year would be transformed into a film only after completion of yatra in 2027, Hingonia feels that stories have started conversing in silence through a series of interactive sessions with educational, social, religious and professional outfits.“Contrary to my anticipation that attending events organised by activists of international service organisations will help me observe salient features of lifestyle of participants, they (participants) prompted me to divulge my earlier experience before them,” said Hingonia after addressing a seminar at MGMN Senior Secondary School at Ahmedgarh. Hingonia said he was highly impressed by the concern of Punjabi mothers towards upbringing of their wards.Born and brought up in Rajasthan, Hingonia is currently settled in Mumbai and has already made a film ‘Navras Katha Collage’ in which he has enacted nine characters highlighting social evils including gender bias, illiteracy, domestic violence, divorce and molestation.Hingonia started his Yatragram neither as a travel series nor a vlog – but according to him it is a yearlong acting and human observation experiment, aimed at extensive travel of the country in 365 days to hunt for 999 characters for his next venture. He is hopeful that his makeup artists and directors will help him perform all characters himself, like nine characters played in Navras Katha Collage.Hingonia has been trying to observe real-life moments of people every day during the past 112 days. Collar microphone, selfie stick and mobile camera are his most important companions besides a bag carrying articles of daily use.Public places including railway stations, bus stops, religious places, heritage buildings and congested markets are among most desired spots where Hingonia observes and hunts for his potential characters.Hingonia came to Mumbai with a dream to do something different in acting over 29 years ago. He completed diploma in acting from a Mumbai institute in 1999 and since then, he has been trying to transform his dreams to reality. “It took a quarter century for me to see my dream come true with the production of Navras Katha Collage, the script of which was written by me and I played all the nine roles myself,” said Hingonia, claiming that the production had fetched him six dozen awards and appreciation.