Let \({\mathcal {A}}\) be a \(C^\star\) -algebra. Consider two continuous linear maps, \(\delta\) and \(\tau\) , from \({\mathcal {A}}\) to its double dual \({\mathcal {A}}^{**}\) . We assume that \(\delta\) and \(\tau\) behave like generalized derivations on orthogonal elements in \({\mathcal {A}}\) , satisfying conditions like \(ab = 0\) , \(ab^\star = 0\) , and \(a^\star b = 0\) . We prove the existence of standard solutions for these maps and apply this result to characterize various types of mappings, such as (right or left) centralizers and (generalized) derivations vanishing on zero products, and their local variations. Some of our findings generalize previously established results in this area.