New Delhi: Siddharth has done only three Hindi films in an acting career spanning over ten years. He was liked by the audience in 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Striker'. He has played Jai Lakhanpal in David Dhawan's 'Chashme Baddoor'. He talks about his chemistry with David Dhawan and the experience of shooting for the remake of Sai Paranjpye's classic.
Q: Your earlier Hindi films featured you in serious roles but 'Chashme Baddoor' is a comedy.
A: It's important to do every kind of films. I have been in acting for more than ten years and have done films in four different languages, many of them were comedies. I have done many comedies in South. I did just two films in Hindi before 'Chashme Baddoor' but I wanted to work with David Dhawan. I wanted to work with Deepa Mehta and thus I did 'Midnight's Children'. As far as this film is concerned, the preparation part was much less than some of my other films. It's not like the comedies don't need preparation as you can't do anything in front of the camera, but it needs a different sort of mindset.
Q: An actor carries the burden of his popular image as well.
A: I can work on my methods for 20 hours a day and still the film can be a bad film. You can't pitch two different actors against each other. I don't say no to any film if I am convinced about the role. I have always made films for myself.
Q: Then it's more about your journey and destinations as an actor.
A: You have made an important point here. See, I have been in the industry long enough to not care about the results, and I care about my journey as an actor, about why I make a film. I did 'Striker' because it was one of the most beautiful films offered to me. Whether the film works or not is a different issue.
Q: And one can't get films like 'Midnight's Children' everyday.
A: Actors can't create their own characters. When actors start taking control of their characters they become self-obsessed. You have to wait for the directors to write a good role for you and then you find the ways to fit into it.
I approach every film with the same enthusiasm. On set, the involvement for comedy is more because you can't prepare for the comedies, you need to be on your feet always. My work in some of my South Indian films is far better than my work in 'Midnight's Children', so it's my opinion versus yours. (Smiles)
Q: How did 'Chashme Baddoor' fit into such a scheme of things?
A: 'Chashme Baddoor' was like a holiday for me. I have a very technical way of working and I take a lot of time in preparing for a role. I needed a break and wanted to do a film where I can have fun.
Q: 'Chashme Baddoor' must have not been the only film offered to you in last some years.
A: I did 'Chashme baddoor' because I wanted to work with David Dhawan, he is my friend. I was supposed to do a film with him six years ago but that couldn't take off because of my availability. I have stayed at his house, his family is very close to me. Plus, I did this film because I didn't have to worry about the box office. In South, I am responsible for the film's success and that takes a lot of preparation as you need to sit on script, location, promotion everything. I had to think about three of my Southern films while I was on the sets of 'Chashme Baddoor'. Here David Dhwan would take care of everything, so it was like a holiday.
Q: Career wise, you are senior than Divyendu, Ali Zafar and Taapsee.
A: You will forget about the seniority when you will see the camaraderie among the three of us. You are only as young as you feel. I would have done this film even if I was offered a ten minute role because I was completely pressure free in this film. It was easier for me to sign 'Chashme Baddoor' than 'Rang De Basanti'.
I respect people like Aamir Khan who learns from everyone. He was close to 40 and I was 27 when we did 'Rang De Basanti', he told me that people will talk about our respective stardom nobody will bother about it after 50 years, all they will talk about is the quality of the film. That is something which stayed with me.
Comments
0 comment