You made your debut in the Malayalam film industry, what prompted you to take up this project?
I have always been a fan of Malayalam cinema. The offer came through and the script was so beautiful and the team was so loving that I could not refuse. The role was something I never did before and that was a really lucrative thing for me. Being a fan of Malayalam cinema, I wanted to take that opportunity.
How was your experience?
The experience was actually very good because the two things I got a lot from Malayalam cinema was humility, simplicity and of course, a lot of passion and love to build a project. That was a great thing to be a part of. At the same time, they were so passionate about telling the story and telling it in the right way.
How did this project come about?
The makers had seen some of my work and approached me. They had probably seen The Railway Men and they
were keen to work with me. In fact, when they sent me a text, they made an AI image of my character with my face. That was an interesting approach.
You played the role of an exorcist. Was any character your reference point?
This is a role we have not seen and the character is not heard of. It’s completely imaginative. And of course, the
character is moving beyond the human level. We had to speak to our imagination. I did not look at any other character because we wanted it to be unique. I don’t think there is any reference for this character. The character has both masculine and feminine energy.
Did you notice any difference between the Malayalam and the Hindi industry?
The way of working is quite similar but the approach was simple. There was an on-set editor and we used to keep checking every shot. Things were very planned. I also saw a lot of simplicity in terms of approach and a lot of passion.
Can we expect to see you in more Malayalam or regional projects?
I would love to. Whatever great offer comes my way, I would like to take it. I am open to all kinds of languages. You get to explore a different side of yourself. Cinema is a collaborative process. So, when different minds come into the picture, something unique happens.
Do you think the rise of OTT has changed the landscape of actors in India?
Not only for actors, but for the entire fraternity because OTT has given us a lot of opportunities, projects and good
talent. People like us got a chance to showcase our talent through OTT.
Did the success of The Family Man and The Aspirants open up new opportunities for you?
Yes, for sure. There was a show made on my character in The Aspirants. It was called Sandeep Bhaiya. It garnered quite a lot of reach and love. Even The Family Man or Shehzada, it has all been instrumental. Because of those, I could get that kind of reach.
What was the pivotal moment in your career?
The release of Aspirants has been pivotal. It has got so much reach and love. That’s what I think has been the changing point. You never know which one touches people’s hearts and what can change things for you. I am only focusing on taking each role at a time and working on it to the best of my ability.
You have also shared the screen with Rani Mukerji and Sidharth Malhotra among others. Which one actor was the most fun to collaborate with?
I would say Manoj (Bajpayee) sir. I have had a great time working with him on The Family Man. I feel grateful that so
early in my career I could get an opportunity to share screen with him. He is a fabulous actor and a fabulous person. He has taught me so many things such as to be patient and not take things so seriously. It has been a delight working with him. I miss being in The Family Man with him now.
Are there any genres that you have not explored yet but you would love to do it?
I would love to do a rom-com and also a film on sports such as a biography. If there is something on football or athletics I would like to do that. Something that will be inspiring, hopeful and yet relatable.
You have started your own YouTube podcast. What prompted you to do so?
We always talk about struggles, problems, and hardships in our industry—I think that’s everywhere. But we are not talking about the bonding, love, and celebration that we have along with our work. So that was the main focus of starting this show and displaying the beauty of people that is there in their hearts.