In an interview with socialbites.ca, Gela Meskhi, the lead actor of the series Dashing, spoke about a difficult childhood that his parents did everything to shield him from, yet could not fully prevent. The story traces a life colored by a blend of Georgian warmth and Russian pragmatism, a mix that would later shape his craft and durability. The early years carried upheaval and moments of fragile safety, experiences that taught him to read people, calculate risks, and hold onto hope even when the world felt uncertain. Those days planted the seeds of a stubborn perseverance and a desire to prove himself not just as an athlete but as a performer capable of carrying heavy stories onto the screen.
Growing up with the weight of history behind him, Meskhi explains his mixed Georgian and Russian roots and the harsh conditions that accompanied his youth. During the Abkhazian conflict, his parents left their homeland and settled in the southwest of Moscow, a part of the city that moved with a different tempo and a different set of challenges. He describes life on the streets where danger was a frequent companion and where every day could pivot on a moment of impulse or poor fortune. Fights after school, sudden confrontations, and the constant feeling that safety was never guaranteed became a backdrop to his childhood. His parents stayed vigilant; tears were shed in quiet moments, and the boy who would become a man learned to move forward even when the path was unclear. Yet sport arrived like an anchor. He joined programs and threw himself into Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo, Judo, boxing, table tennis, and football. The discipline, mentors, and structured routines of these activities offered a lifeline, steadied him amid chaos, and gave him a sense of belonging that contributed to a growing sense of self and purpose.
He describes the 90s in Russia as a difficult time, urging the current generation to recognize and appreciate that era not with nostalgia but with a sober respect for its trials. People were fighting to survive, to earn enough money to feed themselves and their families, and to navigate a rapidly changing economy that often rewarded risk and abandon. The memories carry a weight that underscores the reality that success required more than talent; it demanded resilience, patience, and a long view toward the future. For a young person then, sport could be a constant amid upheaval, a dependable ladder that offered both skill and a path toward a different life. The period forged a generation that understood hardship, learned to improvise, and discovered the value of discipline in the face of uncertainty.
Reflecting on those years, Meskhi notes that some acquaintances were drawn into crime stories, a reminder that desperation can blur moral lines. The era pushed many toward decisions driven by necessity and the fear of what tomorrow might hold. Yet he frames these experiences as a test that tempered character rather than simply a source of regret. The shift from street corners to training halls, and later to studios and a television set, demonstrates how resolve and hard work can reframe a painful past into something constructive and meaningful. It is a narrative that invites younger audiences to study history for its lessons—how endurance, responsibility, and purposeful effort can convert difficulty into opportunity without glorifying the mistakes of a bygone era.
Earlier in conversations, Meskhi expressed a dream of playing Konstantin Raikin, a goal that signals his aspiration to inhabit complex, credible characters and stretch his range as an artist. His life story—from a youth shaped by the street and the gym to a professional actor in a notable series—illustrates a journey where stubborn curiosity and sustained effort can transform rough beginnings into credible artistry. The experiences inform his approach to roles, guiding him to bring authenticity, discipline, and a nuanced understanding of human struggle to every performance.