Like with NASA, I started sending these brilliant kids who couldn’t go but wanted. That’s the chain reaction that sends me down interesting paths. Say, if it’s a film talking about the future, it could do with technologies or the disruption because of that, a simple story of a family whose life changes because of technology or it could be about space, and I could get to go to NASA. For example, any films that have anything to do with the future or that give you a fresher perspective of the past essentially a film that commands your attention. It starts at the very beginning - if it’s a film that revolves around a subject I am interested in, I get very excited about it.
But when the camera is off and I have a day off, what do I do? This is when I start looking at what else I can take away from the experience of making that film. When I’m acting and the camera is on, I’m there. One of the things after you’ve minimised the loss is you maximise the wins. A kid learns a language in two years, it takes a little longer for grown-ups, but it’s no big deal.Īre there skills that you’ve learnt for other films that have stayed with you? Of course, but it’s not difficult for anybody if one puts in time. This film also required you to learn a new dialect… If there is somebody who’s courageous or smart enough to know and cultivate his or her own perspective and it’s original, then I would like to see it. That’s what I look for, not just in filmmakers, but in general. I now know his perspective as a filmmaker that’s the most important thing. Given he was one of the directors you wanted to work with, how did this collaboration enrich you as an actor?
How much I’m going to enjoy working with a team, what I am going to learn while filming or how interesting my character is are questions that come later. These things are sufficient for me to say ‘Yes’ to a film. For stories that are not based on real events, I am interested in what the audience will take away after watching the film. Once you’ve got me curious, you’ve got me hooked. Personally, stories that are true that I don’t know enough about always fascinate me. I can pick out specifics, but that was not the reason why I wanted to do this film. Was there anything specific that intrigued you about this character? I read the script when I got it and called him again just to confirm that he knew I was being serious (laughs). He read just one page of Sonchiriya and I told him that he could stop if he wanted to because I wanted to do the film. What he was reading to me was absolutely fantastic. And I couldn’t find a common connection between us who could introduce me to him but I was always intrigued by his work. I was chasing Chaubey for any film! I couldn’t meet him because he doesn’t meet that many people and likes his work. Is it true that you chased Abhishek Chaubey to be a part of Sonchiriya? What I can do is to be sure of what I exactly like, not what I would like to like, and allocate time accordingly. I also have interest in space, in technology, in policies. So, we play characters and ‘be’ actors, but I can also be an engineer. To make sense, to have a communication going, to put something out there, we need context. If you don’t want to be known only as an actor or as a star… So, when I pay attention I see the conflicts, I see why they like what they like, I see the problems and then I’m more specific in choosing my films. While this is a great thing, this is also what I think I should do as an actor - observe people. The great thing about paying attention is I’m intrigued I’m excited, all these great things happen and I’m happy and those around me are excited and happy.
So, I can’t be investing more free time when there’s limited time, that doesn’t make sense. This is mathematics - you can’t continuously invest in something to have more of it in the future when you have limited time. Even if I’m successful by a marker that is widely accepted but I don’t have free time - I started working because I wanted to have more free time. Even if I have great dreams that are not selfish, everything starts from being present. It all starts from paying attention in the present. The great thing is that everything I’ve ever wanted to do was because I want to have more free time and be happy. So, even as my mind is wandering, I am also already paying attention to what is happening around me. And the second is I like it when I pay attention. One is very concept-based, bookish knowledge to which we must pay attention to in the present. There are two things that are true, that I know of.