‘Shershaah’ has been receiving rave reviews. How does it feel?
It’s still sinking in because it feels so surreal. I am overwhelmed with the response. It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The audience is appreciating it a lot. I wish the film had been released in theatres but nevertheless, I’m extremely happy.
How did you come on board for the film?
I think I manifested this film for myself because I always wanted to do an army film and after I got a call to audition for ‘Shershaah’, I went and gave my best and the rest, as they say, is history.
What kind of prep work went into your turn as Yashpaul Sharma?
In order to play a soldier mentally and physically, we underwent military training every day for a month. We got trained under NSG commandos. We would wake up and report to our trainer at 5 am on the ground and train till 9 am. Everything–from running, military obstacles, learning all the sign languages and about the psyche of a soldier to getting our salutes, posture and body language right–was part of our daily routines. But the best part were the mock action scenes where we would act like soldiers and carry out missions to get ourselves under the skin of the character. In Kargil, I mingled, spoke at length, and spent time with our jawans to get a better understanding of their psyche, so that I could play the Kargil war hero Yashpaul as authentically as possible.
Is playing a real-life character much more difficult than playing a fictional character?
Yes, acting is so personal in a fictional world that you make the character your own. But when you are playing a real-life character, it becomes tricky. In this case, my character rifleman, now (Havaldar) Yashpaul Sharma, is still serving in the army. When I spoke to him, I nervously told him to forgive me if I didn’t get his character right in bits and pieces, but he was ecstatic and thanked me for portraying him so genuinely. If the person I am playing on screen is watching me, I want him to be convinced and in awe.
What is the best compliment that you received for your role?
I received a call from the real-life war hero Havaldar Yashpaul Sharma post the film, and he said, ‘Thank you for making me feel and look like a superhero’, to which I told him, ‘You are a superhero, sir’. He was speechless and quite emotional. He also told me that he watched the film four times and that his seniors, juniors, and comrades have all called him up and congratulated him. At that moment, I realised how blessed I am to be an actor and in this position. It made my day. It was definitely the best compliment I have ever received.
How was it working with Sidharth Malhotra? Did you guys bond on the set during the shoot?
It was a blast both on and off set. As a team, we used to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together; it was like going back to school. We would pull each other’s leg, crack jokes, and travel to beautiful spots in Kargil. We were all like a gang and it reflected in our camaraderie on screen.
Any interesting anecdotes from the sets of ‘Shershaah’ that you would like to share with us…
This one day, after an early pack up, we decided to indulge in some stargazing. We were shooting at 13,000 feet earlier and I thought we could probably have some interesting star gazing from that spot. We quickly left in our cars to reach the spot, and when we did, we saw the entire inner ring of the Milky Way, shooting stars. We all went silent in awe. It was magical! To be standing in Kargil, at such a height, and witnessing the entire universe unfold, was just the most beautiful moment that all of us shared.
When you are a part of a real-life story, criticisms, and comparisons are bound to happen. How do you deal with them?
Well, you try to do your best and if the criticism is constructive, you take it in the right way and try to do a better job next time.
Are there any films that inspired or influenced you during your growing-up years?
Films, for me, have been an amazing escape from reality. They transport you to a different realm and that in itself feels so good. The larger-than-life quality of films got me hooked and extremely fascinated with the world of filmmaking. Some of my favourite films that I wish I could do are ‘Swades’, ‘Interstellar’, ‘La La Land’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and all the army-based films.
Actors you look up to in the industry…
I looked up to Irrfan Khan sahib. He is my ultimate go-to acting bible. He was an institution in himself and he has been a guiding light and inspiration to so many people and I am one of them.
Name one Bollywood actress you would love to star opposite…
I would love to star opposite Sanya Malhotra because she’s a fantastic actor, but majorly because we started our journey together and she’s the first friend I made in Mumbai. To date, we are great friends! It would be amazing to star in a film opposite your friend, with whom you once shared a dream. So fingers crossed, let’s hope that happens.
The emergence of OTT has turned the tide in terms of content. How do you look at this change, as an actor?
I think it’s a great time to be an actor. The OTT has provided people with so many opportunities that our content quality, in general, has become way better. It gives tough competition to theatres and within the OTT industry too but having such healthy competition will only boost our content quality. Since OTT is a story and acting-oriented platform, it will produce some of the best works which excite me, as an actor.
What’s next?
I have signed two shows for an OTT platform. I am currently shooting for them simultaneously. I am playing a lawyer in one and a professor in another. My creative juices are flowing all the time, and it’s so challenging, yet creatively satisfying.
