00:00It was a lot of fun.
00:07Like I said, you know, I think the atmosphere of the film, the experience, the energy and environment that is created in the film,
00:16I think, as per my experience, if the director sets the right tone, the right, you know, instruction,
00:29and basically lead by example, if the director does it well, then automatically that energy spreads to the cast, crew, everything.
00:38And I have to give full credit to Vandana Kataria, who is very, very, as I said, very detailed, oriented,
00:45and very passionate, and focused, and almost obsessive kind of a director.
00:52Because of her, our work became very easy.
00:55Because the script was very well written.
01:00And our workshops, that is the first time where I met Shobita.
01:08And I must say that she is a very grounded, very collaborative, very trusting kind of actor.
01:16And because an almost collaborative energy had spread on our set,
01:23we all worked without any ego, very defenselessly.
01:29And I think whenever she and I were in a scene, or some other co-actor,
01:35there was never a moment that we had to enhance our individual performance.
01:41We were all working for a scene.
01:44And I think because of her, a lot of scenes have shined.
01:47And because of her, the film has become the star of the audience.
01:55So I am very grateful for that experience.
02:02So basically, when I thought of acting as a profession,
02:09all the actors whom I admired,
02:14basically, they played different types of characters.
02:19Their range as characters was very good.
02:25In fact, sometimes they would play a businessman, sometimes they would play a criminal,
02:30sometimes they would play...
02:31I mean, they played different types of characters.
02:34So my dream of acting was always to show as much range as possible as an actor.
02:46So that's why I feel that I have been lucky
02:52that I have got a chance to play different types of characters.
02:58In Ashram, as you said, I was a reporter, an idealistic reporter.
03:03In FOMO Shots, I was an NRI.
03:09Basically, I was a very selfless and very giving sort of a human being.
03:16And in Love Sitara, I am playing a chef.
03:20And I really enjoyed working in Love Sitara.
03:22Especially our director, the captain of our ship,
03:26she was very collaborative, very giving, very exacting, very detail-oriented.
03:35And because of her, and thanks to RSVP,
03:38I got a chance to train as a chef in Farzi Cafe.
03:43I trained there for a month and a half.
03:46Cutting, chopping, slicing.
03:48In fact, I also worked there as a proxy head chef.
03:54So I was a head chef.
03:55But along with them, I used to watch and learn from them
03:59how they used to take orders, how they used to manage the kitchen.
04:03They are basically the leaders of the kitchen and the restaurant.
04:07And I observed the atmosphere of the kitchen very closely.
04:14Because I knew that in our film,
04:17there are 3-4 scenes where plating, cooking,
04:23cutting, slicing are intense scenes.
04:27I mean, while doing that, the scene is also very intense.
04:31So I knew that if I don't get this automatically,
04:34then the scene can go wrong.
04:36So fortunately, the month and a half was a lot of fun and hard work.
04:41And I can say that all the scenes of cutting, cooking, and plating
04:48were done in one take.
04:50Because if I hadn't spent a month and a half in the Farzi Cafe,
04:53then I'm sure the day's schedule would have lasted for another 3-4 days.
05:03There are a lot of similarities.
05:05They are very idealistic, very principled, and very disciplined.
05:10I would hope to say that all those qualities are within me.
05:16And actually, if you look at it,
05:18all the qualities of the world are within every human being.
05:21But we just highlight some emotions or some qualities
05:26basically for the majority of the time.
05:31And as an actor, I feel that it is our responsibility
05:37that the point of view of the character,
05:39the way the character thinks and feels,
05:41it is our responsibility to find those qualities within us.
05:46And I think this is the fun of being an actor.
05:48Basically, we have been given the duty to empathize with everybody.
05:54So this character is very close to me.
05:57I think I see the majority of the time the qualities of the character.
06:05But he is very supportive and understanding to the next level.
06:10And he is non-judgmental.
06:12I had to find all that within me.
06:15And I am so happy that I had to find it.
06:17Because sometimes when you play characters,
06:20you become a better person after playing those characters.
06:23Because you realize that this is basically a better way to live life.
06:31So I am very glad that I got a chance to play this character.
06:41A lot.
06:42And because I think Naseer sir has said that acting is a craft.
06:46And if you have a craft, you should work on it every day.
06:50You should practice.
06:52So when I joined, when I decided to become a professional actor,
06:57I started with theater.
06:59So I am associated with Lile Dubeyji and his troupe.
07:03And I have done a lot of plays with him.
07:06I am still doing a play called Gauhar.
07:08It is a musical.
07:10And I think I have toured the whole of India with his plays.
07:19We have gone abroad.
07:20US, UK, Dubai.
07:21We have gone to different places with his plays.
07:25And I think because of theater,
07:28an actor practices and evolves as an actor.
07:32And also with age, if you are open to life,
07:35and if you learn from your experiences,
07:39then you evolve as a human being.
07:41I know that what I was 10 years ago, I was not 5 years ago.
07:45And what I was 5 years ago, I was not 3 years ago.
07:47And what I was 3 years ago, I am not today.
07:49Because I always hope that we learn from life,
07:52learn from people.
07:53And always hope to become a better version of yourself.
07:56So in a way, as a human being, I have evolved.
08:01And as an actor, I have evolved.
08:03So I feel that the performances that I do and will do,
08:09will also evolve a lot.
08:17In that, there is Asha Negi, me, Apeksha Purwal.
08:21So in that, like Love Sitara is a love story, right?
08:25Honeymoon Photographer is a murder mystery.
08:27Who Done It is a thriller.
08:30His experience, I must say that I am lucky in this matter,
08:34that his experience was also very good.
08:36Because the director of that project is Arjun Srivastav.
08:41He was very good and he is also a very good editor.
08:44And according to me, a film or series is made on the edit table.
08:49Because no matter how well you act,
08:51no matter how many scenes you do,
08:53no matter how well you work on location,
08:55if the editor doesn't do his job well,
08:59then your work will not shine, your work will not be seen.
09:02So I am happy that his director is also an editor.
09:05And I think in a thriller, editing and sound design can work a lot.
09:09And in this show, both are very praiseworthy.
09:14In this, my character has some villainous shades.
09:18He has some complex shades, he is a little hurt.
09:22He has very little empathy.
09:25But he is not at all idealistic or principled.
09:28He believes that he can do anything.
09:30So again, this was very interesting for me.
09:33As I said before, I want to show range as an actor.
09:36This is my dream, my personal dream.
09:38So I was happy that I got such a character.
09:41And I think it is difficult to get such a chance.
09:48In our industry, you can easily become a typecast.
09:52But fortunately, it didn't happen with me.
09:54So while playing it, I was having a blast.
09:58I enjoyed a lot.
09:59In fact, I remember Asha, who is a very excellent human being,
10:03and a very good actor.
10:05One day she told me, I am scared of you.
10:08So I quite like that because my character and Asha's character,
10:14there is a lot of space between them.
10:17So I was happy.
10:18That day I realized that I have caught the spine of the character.
10:23So I watched this series too.
10:27And I must say that despite knowing who the killer is,
10:34it was made so beautifully and edited so beautifully
10:38that I forgot who the killer was.
10:41So I had to see to realize who has finally killed the person in Honeymoon Photographer.
10:47I think because of OTT, so many good actors, directors, writers, producers,
11:00basically everyone was skilled.
11:02People got a chance to work.
11:04They got a chance to show their work.
11:06Without so much pressure,
11:10we have to make something like a formula.
11:13OTT has given us a chance to do interesting, unconventional, creative work.
11:23And I am happy.
11:25Actually, I often think about this.
11:30Because I feel that when there is so much passion and energy in the environment,
11:38I think the universe makes something to channel it.
11:42So I think OTT is a boon for all of us.
11:44And if you look at it, all the great actors, directors, producers are working a lot on OTT.
11:52In fact, there is a particular kind of film going on in theatres.
11:56And a particular kind of film is going on in OTT.
11:58So I just feel that acting is acting.
12:02Whether it is in theatre, TV, OTT, or in films.
12:07You basically have to be honest for your character, have to be truthful.
12:12So I don't make distinctions in my mind.
12:17I want to do good work in whichever medium.
12:20And I am happy that I am getting this opportunity.
12:28No, not at all.
12:29Because as I told you, when I started, I knew that I love acting.
12:35And I started with theatre.
12:38And it was very clear in my mind that life is a marathon for me.
12:45It is a long distance run.
12:47It is not a sprint.
12:48So I never thought that I should get this role at this age.
12:54I never had that dream.
12:58I wanted to do good work.
13:00Fortunately, I am doing good work.
13:02And like I said, I was a long distance runner in school.
13:06I think I have the same mentality.
13:09And I am sure of it.
13:13There are so many examples.
13:15Keep working hard.
13:17Keep working on your craft.
13:20At some point, someone will notice.
13:23For instance, even Love Sitara.
13:26I basically auditioned for it.
13:32And I am sure many good actors must have auditioned for it.
13:36And it is God's grace.
13:39I am lucky that the director and producer liked my audition.
13:43So, I just want to say that if you are focused,
13:48if your dream is based on correct things,
13:52because it is not about money or fame.
13:57If you love acting,
13:59I feel that if you work hard,
14:01Lady Luck will shine.
14:03And that's what I feel.
14:11We are all humans.
14:14So, obviously, highs and lows, ups and downs happen.
14:18But that also teaches you a lot about life.
14:20Because if you feel happiness from external things,
14:33then all the wealthy and famous people in the world would be happy.
14:39But that is not the case.
14:41So, I realized this a long time ago.
14:44You cannot base your happiness on external things.
14:49You have to be happy from within.
14:51And obviously, life teaches you.
14:55And I realized very early, fortunately,
14:59that if you are calm, neutral, happy and grateful from within,
15:06then automatically you will be able to surmount obstacles more easily.
15:13So, I don't think...
15:17Like I said, highs and lows happen.
15:20But because my goal was clear,
15:24and it is clear,
15:26why I want to act,
15:28every moment is enjoyable.
15:31Like in a film or a series,
15:34there are twists and turns, obstacles.
15:38And the hero faces a lot of problems to achieve his goal.
15:41We call that a good film.
15:44It is a very interesting film.
15:45And if nothing happens in the film,
15:47and the hero is happy from start to finish,
15:50it can become a boring film.
15:52So, if God has written your script,
15:55and there are ups and downs,
15:57and obstacles,
15:58then God has written a good film for you.
16:00So, I feel that is a good thing.
16:07It is a big wish list.
16:08When the whole industry comes,
16:10then I will...
16:13Because there are a lot of talented people in our industry.
16:17And I admire most people.
16:19Like I said, I want to work with everyone.
16:21Basically, if I get a good job,
16:24a good character,
16:25a good director,
16:27I would love to work.
16:28Because, like I told you,
16:30like you said,
16:32when you asked me about my dream,
16:35I don't have a long-term dream.
16:38I just want to do a good job.
16:40I just want to do a good job.
16:42Because, again,
16:44because of life experiences,
16:46I have realized that you can dream big,
16:48you can have big hopes.
16:50But you want to have a dream
16:52because you think it will make you happy.
16:55But what if it doesn't make you happy?
16:58That means you had a wrong dream.
17:01That means...
17:03And imagine fulfilling your dream
17:05and still not being happy.
17:06I mean, how worried will a person be?
17:08He will think,
17:09I had to fulfill this dream
17:11and I will be happy because of it.
17:12And if I am not happy,
17:13I can't imagine the state of that man.
17:15So, I just want to do a good job day to day.
17:18I want to work with good people.
17:20I want to work with love.
17:21And I want to make people happy through my work.
17:24There is a project that will be released.
17:27There is a project.
17:29I won't talk about it
17:30until there is an official announcement.
17:32But definitely,
17:34I will tell you as soon as it happens.
17:36And there is another project
17:37which I will start working on soon.
17:38But for now,
17:39please watch Love Sitara and Honeymoon Photographer
17:41because both are made with a lot of love.
17:43Both are getting a lot of love.
17:45And I am just grateful
17:49that these two moments came in this journey
17:55on the same day.
17:56So, thank you.
17:57Take care of your health
17:59because if your health is good,
18:01then you can function properly.
18:03And just live life to the fullest
18:05and it's great to succeed.
18:09And it's okay to fail
18:11because that is life.
18:15So, just be happy and grateful
18:17and just spread positivity.
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