- 8 months ago
Actors Suniel Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi and debutant Akanksha Sharma share why their film 'Kesari Veer' is more about the country's history than mythology. They get candid about their idea of Lord Shiva, and what real success means.
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00:00Hello everyone, this is Vinita Kumar. You are watching me on India Today.
00:04In the show today, the team of K3, we welcome the show all of you.
00:08Congratulations on the film. I think this is such a brilliant ensemble that you have out there.
00:14You have to tell me, is this just a religious film or is there more to it?
00:19A lot more to it.
00:21Aan Sang Heroes, the first Jyotir Ling, the Somnath Temple.
00:27The upteen times, they tried to plunder it.
00:32And the people who fought to save the temple, save the culture, the wealth, the idol, everything.
00:43And it's about Shivji, Mahadev and Vegaraji, the character that I am playing and both the characters that they are playing.
00:53So, there is a lot of history, untold history that is a part of this.
00:58A lot of history, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of emotions, relations, faith, hope, everything.
01:08You know, since I mentioned, this is about Mahadev, right? Let's talk about Mahadev.
01:13You mentioned, I was listening to your interview and you mentioned that you were at Somnath when this happened.
01:21Yes.
01:22What does Mahadev stand for, for you, for Suresh Pancholi?
01:27Because, you know, he is also somebody who is more spiritually significant to a lot of people.
01:33Apart from, of course, being this deity that we all worship, right?
01:36For me, he is the most balanced person to look up to.
01:42His life has always been balanced, you know.
01:45So, that is what I think everyone, every Mahadev believer feels like a very balanced life and a very balanced soul and very aligned soul is what we all seek for.
01:57And, I mean, I have been a Shiv Bhakt since the beginning, you know, since I was small.
02:03Actually, I am mentioning this for the first time.
02:06So, you remember, now look at this.
02:09Remember, Hero Time, when Hero was releasing, you had gifted me one Shivji, you know, this huge white one.
02:15I still have it.
02:16Oh.
02:17Right in front of my wall, the white one, the marble one.
02:21Yeah, yeah.
02:22So, I think it was just meant to be that, maybe it was, that was my Shivji, but it was, I think, a contract for this film in a way, you know.
02:32I am talking seven, eight years ago.
02:36Eight years ago.
02:37Eight years ago.
02:38Yeah.
02:39So, I mean.
02:40Yeah, yeah.
02:41So, you know, and of course this is more about personal faith, but, you know, when you do a film like this, K3B, we are talking about Somnal.
02:49Does it also make you feel more connected to the, to Mahadev?
02:53100%.
02:54100% it does.
02:55100%.
02:56It does, like it does feel, the feeling that I have always had as a child for my country also,
03:02Yeah.
03:03It's a part of my country's history.
03:04It's a, it's a part of the damage that people have done continuously for years together without breaking us.
03:12Yeah.
03:13We are still, soon going to be the, the number three super power in the world.
03:19Can you imagine after being plundered time and again, time and again, we've still stood up.
03:26Yeah.
03:27That means there's something to this land.
03:29Yeah.
03:30You know, it's, it's God's own country.
03:31Absolutely.
03:32You know, when you talk about the world.
03:34I think God resides here also.
03:35And that's what the West and the world is, is realizing.
03:39So that connect will always be there.
03:41Anything that is got to do with the country, I think is, is the connect to all of us.
03:46A lot of actors, you know, choose to do films like that.
03:50It could be sport.
03:51Yeah.
03:52It could be war.
03:53It could be period history.
03:55It could be unsung heroes.
03:57This part of history was never taught to us.
04:00Yeah.
04:01You know, and through cinema, if we can teach it.
04:03And now through education, if we can change history and get it, I won't say rewrite history,
04:11but to bring about these chapters in a state-wise movement, it would be beautiful.
04:18Yeah.
04:19You know, you mentioned that a lot of actors choose to do such scripts.
04:23And you've been those, one of those actors who actually sought, I believe, these scripts.
04:28You've done war films.
04:29You've done period dramas.
04:30Absolutely.
04:31Was there any time in the career where, you know, you were starting probably or when you were there in the 90s,
04:36or you felt like, you know, I shouldn't be that vocal about what I feel about the country, about its politics,
04:42about anything, you know.
04:43Did you ever feel like, no, I shouldn't go out?
04:46No, never.
04:47Never.
04:48And don't, you know, I never connect my country feel to politics.
04:51Today, unfortunately, it is, you talk about the country, then you talk about the ruling party.
04:55You talk about the ruling party.
04:56You talk about it.
04:57It's just that.
04:58It's not that.
04:59It's not that.
05:00I will appreciate any leader from any party for what they say.
05:04Today, I mean, I always liked the way Shashita Roor spoke and, you know, put his words out and stuff like that.
05:13Today, I'm admiring him after what has happened post-Pelgaon and Operation Sindhu.
05:22Because no politics.
05:25It's my country.
05:27And that's the kind of people you seek.
05:29That's the kind of people who suddenly you see, wow, there's such a beautiful side to him.
05:36And I like that.
05:37And I like that.
05:38Because it's not about a party right now.
05:40It's about India and the problem and terrorism.
05:43I'm not even saying the people of Pakistan, but I'd say terrorism.
05:49I'd say the government, the army on the other side, who are responsible for that.
05:54Right.
05:55You know?
05:56Yeah.
05:57You know, in fact, all of you, because all of you are artists and you belong to the same industry.
06:02I did not even mention Pakistan and Sir were not, was not even afraid to use it while, you know, expressing whatever he said.
06:08I think he was the first actor on camera who spoke about it.
06:11No, no.
06:12Talk about terrorism.
06:13Right.
06:14See, I know when we go outside of India, there are huge fans of Indian films, Indian actors.
06:22They give a hell of a lot of respect.
06:24Yeah.
06:25And you come from a place which is so secular that has never differentiated.
06:30We've never differentiated your this caste, your this community, nothing.
06:34The world might have its own way of putting India out there saying, you know, this is it.
06:39But this is the safest place in the world to be.
06:42You know, this time everybody has spoken.
06:45Yeah.
06:46Irrespective of caste, creed, community has spoken for the country.
06:50And once again, even if it was Operation Sindhu, what was it?
06:54We targeted places of terror and nothing else.
06:59And then there was ceasefire.
07:01And now we're quiet.
07:03We've held our own.
07:04But why is it connected to politics?
07:07I think that's why actors are scared to speak because, not because of the backlash of,
07:13re, fan foaling ki problem mein, is ki problem mein, ki you'll connect me to politics.
07:17And no actor wants to be connected to politics.
07:20I don't even dream of ever becoming a politician.
07:26That is not in my agenda only.
07:28So, I'm speaking.
07:29People shouldn't misunderstand.
07:31Right.
07:32That, oh, he wants to become a politician.
07:34I don't want to.
07:35If I'm doing a film I case review it, it's because of the love for the subject.
07:40Yeah.
07:41Yeah.
07:42You know, the way Sunilsev has been speaking to you about the film, he's also playing this
07:47anchor in the film, right?
07:48If I'm not wrong.
07:49Yeah.
07:50And I'm hoping that he's been the same with you in personal life as well.
07:54Being there as an anchor, you know.
07:56Yes.
07:57If you could just speak and could share some nuances about your relationship with him, both
08:01of you.
08:02I'm sure that, I'm sorry, I'm sure that you of course know him since your childhood
08:09and of course you have known him right now, right?
08:12Yeah.
08:13So, if you could just share that.
08:15Okay.
08:16Don't force yourself to say anything.
08:18No, I will always speak from my heart when it's about you.
08:22And I feel like, you know, I live away from my family and he's playing my father in the
08:27film and an actor always is able to perform their best when you get the best reactions
08:34from your co-actors and I feel like he filled me up with so much warmth and love, you know,
08:40that fatherly love that I was able to, I feel, you know, do just to perform.
08:46And his, I take his guidance very seriously.
08:50Whatever comes out of his mouth, it gets printed in my heart and I take it because he's
08:55been very vocal about and his belief system is really strong.
09:00His conviction is very strong.
09:02So, I've really learnt that from him.
09:04Yeah.
09:05Yeah.
09:06To you.
09:07With me, I mean, I don't know, sir, I've not met sir as a child, but I met him during
09:13when I was doing my first movie with Athiya and that's where sir and me met and we just
09:19connected and it started off with fitness conversations.
09:24Then it started off with, oh, you should go train with Ahan.
09:29And then I think I trained with Ahan a couple of times and we always were in touch.
09:34Whenever I had a few difficulties in my life, I always reached out to sir and I said, sir,
09:39I'm stuck here.
09:40What do I do?
09:41And, you know, he would always guide me and help me.
09:44And I remember those days and, you know, that is why I have so much respect for him
09:48and can take a bullet for some.
09:52Oh, my God.
09:53Lovely.
09:55But he is that person.
09:56You know, but you know, even with him, I always knew that you would come out of everything.
10:02Because people look at training and physical training as, hey, you want to look good.
10:08You know, that tells you a lot about the character of the individual.
10:11It talks about consistency and when you're consistent with anything in life, you cannot fail.
10:17You can manifest damn everything.
10:20Try getting up in the morning every day at five o'clock and six o'clock.
10:24Try going to the gym every day for an hour, hour and a half.
10:29It's the toughest thing to do.
10:31Yeah.
10:32It's like not getting out of school ever and not wanting to go to school every morning.
10:37You know, there are some kids you have to, that's how difficult it is.
10:40And when you can, you can take care of all that, you can, you can take care of anything.
10:44Yeah.
10:45And that's why it's very important.
10:47I always tell parents, get your kid into sport and it'll be a different individual, a human being altogether.
10:53Yeah.
10:54Suraj, you know, of course, like you are a young actor in the industry and personally also have seen a lot, you know.
11:02A, does that help you become a better actor?
11:05And B, you know, sir, I think because sir is seen, the most senior person here, in fact, would tell you that sometimes in life you,
11:12people, you know, compliment you for moving on.
11:14Oh, you did great.
11:15Oh, that way and this way.
11:16But you know, sometimes in life you don't have any other way.
11:20Yeah.
11:21But to move on.
11:22Right.
11:23Right.
11:24And you've been in that phase.
11:25Ji.
11:26How do you manage your way out from there?
11:28How do you constantly keep moving on without even seeing what lies ahead? Like, you know, your destination would be way ahead.
11:36See, my logic is simple. Clear mind, clean mind, clear heart, clean heart. Keep working. You know, always they say,
11:47Mahnat ka fal, ek bin, darur sa fal ho ga. So that was my motivation. My mom always kept me motivated.
11:54I never got into any kind of substance abuse or any kind of bad habit. I'm blessed, you know.
12:01And for that I would like to take the credit because I kept myself strong. I've said, you know, I've seen people go down the wrong way.
12:08I said, no, if I've not done something wrong and you know, there will be a, I believe in God and I will succeed no matter what.
12:17And I never gave up. So I don't know who to talk about. But when you talk about experience, definitely life experiences give you a better reference point when you're acting as well.
12:28I think all actors, everybody, whatever experience they have, they use it in all their scenes. So that's of course helped me as a person, as an actor also.
12:37Yeah. Yeah. So congratulations on becoming a grandfather. I'm sure that this is such a fantastic phase and you wouldn't, like it's, it's of course unparalleled.
12:46The joy is unparalleled, right? Absolutely.
12:48Tell me this, when in personal life you, you meet this benchmark, this milestone, does all your, you know, struggles and do all your, whatever motives and whatever goals you have in mind as an actor, as a business person, do all those things look, start looking tiny?
13:04It does. It's a natural progression and that's how you do. Because you're looking at the entire, entire family now, you know, all of them mean as much to you.
13:15You want peace, you want love, you want the siblings to be the best of friends even today.
13:22You want the new members who come into your family to believe that they are a part of your family. So there is that extra effort to make sure that they are comfortable.
13:29You see, you've read, you've heard about families breaking up. You don't want all that. You just want to bring it together. So you become that one person, you know, especially as grandparents, parents who want to bring everything together.
13:44And for me, it's always been about, I only break if there is a problem in the family when it comes to someone's health or there's someone, you lose someone. That's, I'm very weak when it comes to that.
13:55I'll take on the world. But if you see, if someone falls ill at home, I just don't know how to handle that situation. Then I'm like a little child. I'll be probably crying more than anything else.
14:05I need Mana's shoulder for that. So that's when you want all this to happen because nothing matters. Eventually, actually it doesn't matter.
14:13You don't understand it when you're young, but eventually you'll feel, oh, this is what life is about and this is what settling down is all about.
14:20Yeah. So before I leave, there's this question that, you know, it just lived with me and I thought I'll just ask you.
14:26I was watching one of your interviews where you said that had I been a super successful actor. Why do you think about yourself in that way?
14:34No, I don't think, no, I don't think less of myself in any way.
14:38When you asked me that question, I'm like, what?
14:40No, but it is, it is a, you know. No, because he said that.
14:43You know why? And I continue to say that because when you've seen success and then you've made mistakes and you let that go off you.
14:50Box office, see in this industry, box office is success. Unfortunately, that's the way it's looked at.
14:57So I always say, even now, earlier I said, success for me now is trying to do a film where I carry that film on my shoulder and see it go well at the box office.
15:07So if a producer puts in a rupee, he makes two. And then that's the time I'll say I'm out of cinema completely.
15:13My only aim in life is to do that and nothing else. That's when I will feel completely satisfied that I've been blessed.
15:22I've played a good second inning, you know, and done a film on my, you know, carried it on my own shoulder and seen it through.
15:30And that's what an actor always wants. You know, they say ultimate retirement is when you're at your peak.
15:35It may not be at my peak, mental best or otherwise in life. I'm very, very happy with the way I am.
15:44Don't get me wrong. I'm not someone who has a complex about anybody or anything in my life.
15:50I hero worship people that I believe in. I appreciate everybody who's around me.
15:56But like I always say, I am who I am. My attitude depends on who you are.
16:01So if you show me attitude, you don't even exist for me and you could be any damn person because I'm running my own home.
16:08I'm running my own family. My family is taking care of me and I'm taking care of them.
16:13I have friends to die for, relationships that are 60 years plus. My kindergarten friends, today my backbone.
16:21So I'm very secure there. But this. So if you, if you see it through my eyes, that's what I meant.
16:30Yeah. Yeah. And lastly, the film, as you mentioned that it represents our culture, our heritage, you know, the construction and, you know, how many times India has been attacked and reconstructed.
16:40Tell me this, how does this film fit in the scenario today where India, you know, our country is still reeling from whatever, you know, we have suffered through after Pahal Gaam, you know, and also maintaining the spirit of the nation together. How does the film represent that?
16:56I think everything about the film, you know, happy in their own space, in spite of all that has happened in their life, never bitter about everything.
17:09The film has, has, has, has said yes to every individual who's decided to reside in this country and is a citizen of this country. There's only love. The most secure, secular place, the most, a place, one place in the world where every religion is given equal love, treatment, justice, everything.
17:34This is the safest place in the world, according to me. For Hindus, for Muslims, for Christians, for Jews, for Sikhs, for everybody. We are truly secular. I mean, politically, there are different narratives that are going on, you know, and that is sad because we are only giving these narratives to the world.
17:56But it's not like that. When you see videos from all over the world come today, it's scary. That's not, we can express ourselves and we can do what we want here, you know.
18:06Right, right. For you, Sujit, what is it going to be presented?
18:10I think it just represents, this is just a tribute to the unsung warriors. Yeah. I mean, it's currently what our soldiers are doing for us right now in the modern world. They have guns. That time they had swords. That's the only difference.
18:25Yeah. It's about people who stood up for the right, like them, like our soldiers now. So that's what this film is about to, firstly, don't mess with the wrong people. That's what this film is about.
18:40And we would be the wrong people if you mess with us. Don't mess with Indians. Yes.
18:44That's right. It also says how people come together and, you know, fight together because in our film we've shown how the Bhils and the Rajputs came together and, you know, fought for the country and that's what it's about.
18:59Yeah. So unity.
19:00Unity.
19:01It's unity.
19:02So congratulations on that note again and all the best for the film.
19:06Thank you so much.
19:07Thank you. K3B, 23rd May.
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