00:00Hello everyone, welcome to ANS and first of all congratulations for Abhugain Saaf that's about to release on 18th of
00:04June.
00:05My first question is open to all.
00:08I saw the trailer, the show is set in Punjab, you know people going to Canada, they experience something because
00:14of that and that's how it spreads forward.
00:17What was it about the premise of the show or your characters in particular that kind of appeal to your
00:22artistic sensibilities?
00:23Anyone can take the lead and start.
00:24Well for me it was first of all the story, how it was written and how Namit who's our producer
00:34who's also a great storyteller when he narrated the story to me like the first few episodes I liked how
00:41he was telling the story.
00:43So that was very very interesting for me.
00:46Kamna is one of those characters that I've never played before.
00:49She's very flawed, very outrageous but makes sense.
00:51It made sense to me and was somebody that I would have liked to play.
00:55And the cast like they are great and we had a ball of a time and I'm so grateful that
01:02I got to work with all of them.
01:05I have never played a character like this before so this was the exciting part for me.
01:10Challenging tha thoda toh yeah that's what made me sign this project.
01:15And the passion of the makers.
01:17They were so passionate about it.
01:19They wanted to reach the world and that's what happened.
01:22And Sanjay sir I have a different question for you, she mentioned that you know the character made sense to
01:26her, now you play a character which is far away from you in real life, it doesn't make sense to
01:31you but then how do you make your way around it, how do you become one with such characters?
01:34In fact, your question is the main thing is the most interesting thing because you are doing something which you
01:41are not actually in real life and you are going to play a character.
01:44So that's challenging and it's exciting.
01:46And as we say in our language it's a negative role, so I am doing a role for 20 or
01:5421 years after that.
01:56So that itself was, I would not say every role is challenging but I feel like it will be fun.
02:01I think it will be fun and I feel like I am doing a lot of positive things and it
02:05will be a good thing.
02:06But suddenly you feel like you have done a negative thing.
02:09So I always feel a negative character whenever I have played or whenever I have seen on screen of any
02:15other actor, be it India or internationally.
02:19They always, I feel, have got a little edge in the sense that they have a little more colourful.
02:25Yes, it is always fun.
02:27So I think so which you are asking what was the reason obviously is the script like we spoke earlier
02:35also, the passion of the director, the producer, the casting, such a beautiful ensemble cast.
02:41And this was also one of the reasons that I was playing something which I had not played for the
02:46last 20 years.
02:48And Moni, actors have this privilege if I may say so, that they get to live life vicariously through their
02:55characters.
02:56You know, they travel a lot, they mix with the people of different cultures, languages.
02:59While shooting for this show, how did being in Punjab, in the land of Punjab, assimilating from the culture from
03:05there, how did it add to your repository as an artist?
03:07Well, the flavour was already there in the scenes, the script and the story.
03:11And our director, Divyanshu sir happens to be from Punjab.
03:16So, he was very good with the nuances.
03:19They say, you know, God is in small things like the offbeat.
03:22So, he was very good in capturing all those things, adding that extra zing, that extra namak into all the
03:30characters that he was bringing to life.
03:33And I guess that really helped and like I said, the ensemble is fantastic.
03:39When you see the show, everybody has brought in different flavours, different energies and there is such great synergy and
03:48bonding between all of us both off and on screen.
03:52And our camaraderie and the friendship that we, the relationship that we shared off screen, I think it kind of
03:58reflected on screen as well.
04:01So, yeah, all in all, it was a wholesome experience and I am very grateful that I got to be
04:06a part of it.
04:06In fact, I'll add another thing, this show has been casted very well.
04:10Yeah.
04:11You see the faces in the poster, in the trailer, there are a lot of other people that you don't
04:16see right now.
04:17When you see the show, there is a character's name, Rathi, Harpal, Moitre.
04:23They have been so well casted and they are so good.
04:25When you do scenes with them, you have to be on your toes because they have prepared themselves and come.
04:31When I was with them, I felt like they are ready.
04:35They are ready.
04:38Yeah, no, they are there in the place.
04:39I am saying that people who are, you are not.
04:41Yeah, yeah.
04:42So, when I was with them, definitely I felt like they are ready.
04:47So, that was the interesting thing.
04:51I think so, this show has been really, obviously, what you see, this ensemble cast is there but other characters,
04:57very, very important.
04:58That's another thing of web shows, you know.
05:00Yeah.
05:01Everybody gets that moment, you know.
05:02Yeah, 100%.
05:03What happens in the film?
05:03Sometimes every character, because it is 2 hours, 2-15 minutes.
05:08It is a very limited time.
05:08So, there is no justification for all characters.
05:10In the web show, there is a justification for each character.
05:13So, you have not seen them, you don't know, you have not seen their work.
05:19But in the first scene, in the first shot, you know that there is a story.
05:25And Shaheer, coming to you.
05:26I loved your performance in Doppatti, by the way.
05:28Oh, thank you.
05:29And my question is that, you know, you have this very, how do I put it?
05:34Innocent looking face, if I may say so, for the lack of a better word.
05:36When you get into a character, your face lines change.
05:40You know, everything, like you become one with the character.
05:42How do you manage to do that?
05:43And what's your process to approach such characters?
05:46That means a lot.
05:47Thank you so much for the compliment.
05:49But, see, I try to live the moments rather than trying to act, enact the scene.
05:58I try to doâŚ
05:59Also, you're a very good actor, that's why.
06:01No, sir.
06:02I don't think IâŚ
06:02It goes without saying.
06:03I act.
06:04That's what I was trying to say.
06:07See, what I feel, it has to look effortless.
06:09So, for that, you need to live the moment.
06:12Feel the emotion.
06:13Experience it.
06:15It takes a toll on you emotionally, maybe.
06:18But that's the only way you can doâŚ
06:20For me, that's what my process is.
06:22To do justice to the emotion becauseâŚ
06:25And before that, you have to understand what the writer or the director is trying to say
06:29through the scene.
06:31That's where the director comes in and, you know, your conversation with the writers
06:36or the makers of the show.
06:38And I always say that I'm a director's actor.
06:41So, IâŚ
06:43I would rather want to become and do what they are wanting to achieve from the scene
06:51rather than put my brain and, you know, create something else out of it.
06:55Okay, okay.
06:56And you said that, you know, sometimes it takes a toll on you being in the moment, you know,
06:59to deliver from that emotional space.
07:01Now, it could be a train wreck of an emotion.
07:02How do you detoxify your system from that?
07:04Go for a vacation.
07:06Just spend time with family, friends, you know, people who are there for you,
07:13who you actually can be yourself with.
07:16Yeah.
07:16It took me some time from, you know, some time back when I was doing a show
07:21and it took a toll on me for a very long time.
07:24And then to come out of it, it took me good two months, I'll say, to come out of it
07:28completely.
07:29Yes.
07:30Okay.
07:31And my next question is for Sir and Mani, you both.
07:34Given the context of the show, you know, the society has largely changed in the last 15-20 years
07:38because of the tech, because of the people, the way people interact with each other.
07:42We have a lot of options as friends, as people who are in our social circle.
07:47How has this change in the dynamics of relationships affected the society at large in Europe?
07:52When you say you have options as friends that you always...
07:55In life, not in the show.
07:56You can choose your friends.
07:58So that option is never...that option has always been there.
08:01Always there.
08:02Yeah.
08:02So, you know, you choose your friends whom you get along with, who gives positive energy.
08:09So, you're surrounded.
08:10You want to be surrounded with people, you know.
08:13You know, aap kabhi kabhi kisi ko milte ho.
08:15Or jab aap ko realize karta hai ke, realize karte ho ke, yeh negative energy dae raha hai.
08:20So, slowly, slowly aap us ko, hei bolta ho ke, yeh block karte te ho or anything.
08:24So, you move yourself out and you...you feel ka our energies are not matching.
08:29So, it's best that you meet at a party or in a social...you're still nice to that person.
08:34Yeah.
08:35But you're not friendly.
08:37But only with people whom you have the right energy and positive energy that you hang with.
08:42I also truly, truly know and believe that relationships per se when they are not your...
08:48Blood relationships are very organic.
08:51You can't force it.
08:52Yeah.
08:52You can't force love.
08:53You cannot force hatred.
08:55These are feelings that you naturally feel.
08:56So, only when you...you do get along with each other or your value systems are the same
09:03and you want to become friends with somebody is when you do.
09:07It can't be force.
09:09So, that is something I think it will be like this for time immemorial.
09:12But people can be manipulated into friendship or relationship.
09:15Then you...if you understand, till the time you don't understand you're being manipulated,
09:18then you can be in your lala lion and bubble.
09:20The day you understand it, I think it will be wise for you to move out of that equation
09:25rather than carrying dead weight.
09:28Okay.
09:28Okay.
09:29And Shaheer, coming to you, given the title of the show,
09:32what does justice mean to you as a person for the society at large?
09:37People get what they deserve.
09:39Yeah.
09:40Looking at the bigger picture.
09:41In a different way, they had asked and everything.
09:44Do you get affected or do you think you're vindictive or do you...so we had all thought
09:49that we move on.
09:50You know, it affects you at that time.
09:52Yeah.
09:52Basically, the...
09:53I think so, it's more or less to that.
09:57So, I think so...
09:58There are different ways of looking at everything.
10:01Like, you can't be the judge.
10:03You can't decide that this is wrong and this is right.
10:06I feel so.
10:07I mean, you...
10:09It's not tangible for sure.
10:10Yeah.
10:10You have to look at things from different perspectives.
10:13Yeah.
10:14But, yeah, as I said, people should get what they deserve.
10:20I hope so.
10:20They should, but not all the time.
10:22I hope so.
10:23That's a hope.
10:23For heinous crimes all over the world, you know, sometimes...
10:26Some people get away with it as well.
10:28It has happened.
10:30Yeah.
10:31So, I guess...
10:33Did you ask me that question?
10:35I don't know why I'm answering it.
10:36No, you can.
10:36Please, please.
10:37But, yeah, justice to me, yes.
10:40People should get what they deserve.
10:43But, I also feel like you have to pay off your karmic debts whether in this lifetime or any other.
10:51Somehow, it will haunt you.
10:53So, that is kind of...
10:55Makes sense.
10:56Yeah.
10:56Makes sense.
11:24Yeah.
11:24I mean, apart from the source material that you got in the form of the script, how did you go
11:27about exploring these avenues?
11:29Nothing.
11:30I interacted a lot.
11:31I wanted to see what the director has in mind, how he wants to project this character.
11:37Because, what is the layer?
11:38Sometimes you have negative.
11:41You know, at what level you want to show negativity and everything.
11:46And then you add your own thing also.
11:49So, I think that's the reason you will see when you see the whole show.
11:55When you see the Goldie Sikon with his family and everything, he is a very normal man.
12:01It's only when he is doing his work where you see the dark side of his.
12:05So, I have tried to balance it out.
12:08You know, being negative doesn't mean that every time you have to be...
12:13You know, a normal man is also negative.
12:16When he talks about it, he does that.
12:18He doesn't have to.
12:19Yeah, he's a loving father.
12:21Yeah, loving father.
12:22So, only there are moments where you see the real dark side of it.
12:27I think so.
12:27Then that character looks a little more scary and a little more powerful he looks.
12:34So, yeah, and Divyanchu was there to, you know, take Surah as an actor, you have to get the Surah.
12:41And then when you give your thing to the director, you know he is there to correct you if you
12:47are going too high or too low.
12:49So, I surrendered myself to Divyanchu and I am very happy the way this character is coming.
12:55Okay.
12:55And Moni, coming to you, cinema, television, OTT, which of the three is the most liberating medium for you as
13:01an artist?
13:01All.
13:02All of them?
13:03Yeah.
13:03It's not the medium, I think it's always the story that you are a part of.
13:07I have been lucky to be in all three mediums and I hope and I continue to do it.
13:12Okay, okay.
13:13And for my final question, Shaheer, what is it that you are chasing as an artist?
13:17Is it higher consciousness in terms of craft or wisdom or knowledge?
13:20Wow, as an artist?
13:22Yeah.
13:22Yeah.
13:25And also raises questions and if doing all this, I can be a part of that, I will feel that
13:34I am very lucky.
13:35So, yeah, raise questions.
13:37Also, very many great characters.
13:39Yeah.
13:40That is true.
13:40But I mean to say leave an impact on the society because as a kid when I used to watch
13:47cinema, it has shaped me into who I am today.
13:50Yeah.
13:51Or how I look at things.
13:52So, I hope we can give the right message out.
13:56Because a lot of people watch and get influenced even without knowing in their subconscious mind.
14:02They don't even know it.
14:03But, you know, I don't want to give any examples right now, but yeah, you know what I mean.
14:08Yeah, absolutely.
14:09Yeah.
14:09And I will take that further as a last question.
14:12We can take your answers as the closing notes, both of yours.
14:15He said that, you know, he wants to do some work which impacts the life.
14:17Now, an artist or art is the only place which outlives an entire civilization.
14:22We have seen that with prehistoric cave paintings and all.
14:25As an artist, what do you consider your responsibility as towards the society or towards your medium that you are
14:30working in?
14:33Well, to begin with be a good person, then be a responsible citizen of the country.
14:42And I guess, even if you can, I mean, aadhyatma me na, sevaa bauth zaruri hoti hai.
14:54Aasa zaruri nahi ki aap sab ko bata ke ya dikha ke karo.
14:56Par responsibly aap se jitna horra hai.
14:59Agar aap wo kar rahe ho.
15:02You are treating everybody that you meet in your life with respect.
15:06You treat everybody as an equal.
15:08You've given your 100% in whatever you're doing.
15:11You're present.
15:12In your real life, in your family life, in your friendships.
15:17And you do the best that you can.
15:19But I think that's, in terms of movies also, if you do responsible work, I think that's all that I
15:26can do.
15:27As a human being, as a person.
15:29And the day I feel that I have done that, done all these things, in a day, I think my
15:34work is done.
15:35Okay.
15:36Answer, Drazenos.
15:37I think one thing is that the audience and everything, when we are different characters, this is the role that
15:44we apply.
15:45We are not that person.
15:47Yes.
15:48So, there is a lot of clarity.
15:50If I teach a goal and create a goal, then I'm not in real life.
15:54That script is there.
15:56But saying that also, the responsibility as a human being, as the citizen of this country,
16:04is a human being.
16:04So, somewhere you have to balance it out.
16:07You know.
16:07And that is the stage when you get the offer of doing a part, being part of a show or
16:13a movie or television or whatever.
16:16At that time, you feel that this might be a negative effect on people or children.
16:23Then, at that time, you should take the decision and say, it's on a thin line.
16:27I don't want to be part of it.
16:29So, you should just not be part of it and everything.
16:33But sometimes, you do parts which are, even they are enjoying it and everything, then it's fair.
16:39You may be doing a negative character.
16:41You may be doing that.
16:42That's okay.
16:42That's okay.
16:43But without harming the society or anybody's religion, you know, you have to be careful of that.
16:51You should, as an actor, you have to be responsible towards that.
16:54Okay.
16:54And Shahid, you raised your mic.
16:55You wanted to say something?
16:56No, no.
16:56So, I will just revisit what he is saying is correct.
16:59Yeah.
16:59That's how you should approach your projects.
17:01Okay.
17:02Perfect.
17:02So, with that, we have reached to the end of this conversation.
17:04If there's anything that I may have missed asking as a question or something that you would
17:06have loved to talk about, please feel it.
17:07Please watch our show, Ab Hoga Hissab.
17:10Yeah.
17:1018 June on Amazon.
17:12MX Player.
17:13MX Player.
17:14Free.
17:14Free.
17:14Yeah.
Comments