Mumbai, Maharashtra: Actor Suhail Nayyar Exclusive conversation with IANS, where he talks about his upcoming projects, including the patriotic comedy 'Udta Teer' with Ayushmann Khurrana, his experience working across films, OTT, social media, audio storytelling and his collaborations with Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Ranbir Kapoor. He also reflects on his FTII days, his approach to acting and character-building, maintaining detachment from his work, dealing with chaos and personal challenges, and the connection between different art forms. The interview also touches upon the proposed 570% increase in entertainment tax by the BMC and its potential impact on the film industry.
#Suhail #SuhailInterview #UdtaTeer #AyushmannKhurrana #PatrioticComedy #Bollywood #BollywoodNews #FTII #SharmajiNamkeen #RishiKapoor #PareshRawal #RanbirKapoor #Ramayana #Acting #OTT #Cinema #EntertainmentNews #BMC #EntertainmentTax
#Suhail #SuhailInterview #UdtaTeer #AyushmannKhurrana #PatrioticComedy #Bollywood #BollywoodNews #FTII #SharmajiNamkeen #RishiKapoor #PareshRawal #RanbirKapoor #Ramayana #Acting #OTT #Cinema #EntertainmentNews #BMC #EntertainmentTax
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FunTranscript
00:00Hello, welcome to NS.
00:05What's the Mindspace like?
00:07Mindspace is like a little nervous, a little excited and looking forward to it.
00:14My main focus right now is Rootateer.
00:17That's coming on 9th of October and I'm very excited for it.
00:20I want everyone to go into the theatres and watch it.
00:24Good that you mentioned Rootateer.
00:33I won't be able to talk about my character because I don't want to give out any spoilers.
00:38But it's a patriotic comedy.
00:42I don't think this genre has been done before.
00:45Recently we have had some spy comedies and there's also a spy comedy.
00:50I really love this film and I'm not saying because I'm a part of it.
00:54This is something which is very new, very fresh and it has...
01:00I remember my director talking about it at the press conference and he said it's a masala film.
01:07And trust me, it has every...
01:09Like whatever a good commercial Bollywood film has, it has all aspects like emotion, drama, action, comedy and like comedy
01:19is full.
01:20So like I'm very excited.
01:22Because I've never done that before.
01:25So I'm very excited for that too.
01:28And I've never been excited for that too.
01:29So I'm very excited for that too.
01:31So there's double, triple excitement and nervousness that everything goes wrong.
01:35Yeah.
01:36And you mentioned patriotic comedy.
01:38What a huge depth for us to be able to do.
01:41Because patriotism is generally quite intense and then it is comedy.
01:44Yeah.
01:45The competition is for that to see for everyone.
01:49As an actor, how tempting or were you, like how craving it was for you to touch on these?
01:56You know, I was very tempted to do something like that.
01:58Like I auditioned for the part at Casting Bay.
02:02And when I got to know about the film that something is being made like this,
02:05I was like, yaar, this will be fun.
02:07Because like this is something very cool and I will be able to do a lot with the character.
02:14And I'm lucky that I got the opportunity to do that.
02:18Like my co-actor is amazing.
02:21Like this is how great Ayushman Kurana is.
02:25But I'm a director, like Akash Kaushik.
02:29Amazing.
02:30So it was a very fun experience.
02:33And now it's just excitement.
02:35And I was listening to your earlier interview on the other side of the wall.
02:38As an artist, you do a lot of things.
02:42Music.
02:43And you are a learner.
02:44Of whatever student I defend myself.
02:46So you find joy in learning things.
02:48And then you have something like Ayushman sharing the screen with you.
02:51The same film.
02:52Who is also a jack of all trades.
02:54What's that like to jam with him?
02:58Like we share a lot of memes with each other.
03:02And we share a lot of music with each other.
03:25Like, this is a new song.
03:31And he sends me,
03:39I really cherish that relationship and what a guy, man.
03:44Like, I really admire that human being.
03:51Like, actors are very good, but the human being that Ayushvan Khurana is.
03:57I'm blessed to have a screen share with them.
04:02I'm calling them a friend.
04:04There's a lot of camaraderie.
04:06It's all done.
04:09It's when people are right.
04:13In the current era of dates,
04:16there is a content you mentioned.
04:20Even if two people are speaking in an audio format,
04:22it also turns out to be a content.
04:25Beautiful times, yeah.
04:28As an actor, when you explore times like these,
04:31sharing scenes or working across formats or across media,
04:36including cinema, what is storytelling and everything,
04:39how does it shape up or tune your mindset or your fun process?
04:45I mean, it's like, every era has its own things.
04:48Like, because, when it was before the television,
04:52like, in the 90s, when the television was coming,
04:54the film actors were coming to the television,
04:57it was such a question.
04:57Like, when we were starting out, people used to ask about OTT.
05:02Now, you're asking about content creation.
05:04So, it's like,
05:05every era is something you just have to be aware of what's going on,
05:11and see if it's your cup of tea, then be a part of it.
05:14If it's not your cup of tea, then just appreciate it for what it is,
05:18and just move on.
05:20So, I don't think I have so much thought of creating some content.
05:27If something organically seems to me that it's funny to me,
05:30I just do it.
05:32But there is no hard and fast rule that you have to do something like this.
05:36And this was 3-4 years ago, I saw your film, sir.
05:40Right to you.
05:41Rishi Kapoor, Parish Ahudar,
05:43and it was right in the eye of the storm.
05:47Two actors working on the same actor.
05:49What was the next video?
05:50Great, man.
05:51Like, like,
05:52I did the same scene with Rishi, sir.
05:58And then I got the opportunity to work with Parish, sir.
06:01And it was like,
06:03I am responding like my character, Rinku,
06:06to my father, Sharma Di.
06:08So,
06:08now,
06:10whoever the actors are,
06:11they have a different choice.
06:12Now, I'm responding to that.
06:15I never felt jarring.
06:17But, you know,
06:18Sharma Ji should be how Rishi said did.
06:21No, it's different.
06:22And you just react to that.
06:24It was a learning experience,
06:26and it was a very good film.
06:28So,
06:29like,
06:31again,
06:31like, very lucky to be a part of something like that.
06:35And,
06:35I mean,
06:36I have worked with Rishi, sir,
06:38and Sharma Ji Namkeen.
06:40I'm gonna work with Ranbir in Ramayana part 2.
06:43So,
06:44he looks like that,
06:45he's growing up.
06:46How similar are the father and his son?
06:49As artist and as human being?
06:51Or they are quite different?
06:52No,
06:53they are very different.
06:54And,
06:54it's a little age.
06:55Like,
06:56Rishi, sir,
06:56as we can talk openly with Ranbir,
06:59we haven't talked with Rishi,
07:00as much as Rishi,
07:02not at all.
07:02No,
07:03not at all.
07:04Like,
07:04he used to talk about food,
07:05all the time.
07:06Like,
07:06food,
07:07and his shooting experiences.
07:08And,
07:09like,
07:10fun things,
07:10I was talking to him,
07:11I was telling him,
07:12sir,
07:12I'm lucky by chance,
07:13and Romi Rawley's very big fan.
07:15He said,
07:16you haven't seen the world.
07:17I didn't see the world too.
07:19He was always very eager.
07:22About,
07:22like,
07:23talking about films.
07:24At that time,
07:25I think,
07:26Dinero's film came,
07:27I'm forgetting,
07:29Dinero and Al Pacino.
07:31Was it a marketing service for the film?
07:33I think so.
07:34Netflix came, right?
07:36Yeah, yeah.
07:36But you know the film.
07:38Irishman,
07:39I guess.
07:39Irishman, yes.
07:40Irishman.
07:40So,
07:41he was talking to me about,
07:42Irishman.
07:43Like,
07:46he was always,
07:47that,
07:48cinema,
07:49very well,
07:51up to date,
07:52with things.
07:53Like,
07:53he went to the hotel to Mumbai.
07:55I told him,
07:56I'm a part of this film.
07:57And,
07:58he went and he watched it.
08:00So,
08:01I mean,
08:02how intimidating is it?
08:03It's amazing.
08:06And,
08:06I want to know more about your FTI,
08:08I guess,
08:08while you were studying there.
08:10Very different atmosphere.
08:12Yeah.
08:12People from across the nation,
08:13they've come there and have a shared passion for cinema.
08:17So,
08:17they're telling,
08:18while you were in the institute,
08:20what was your experience?
08:21what was that,
08:22like,
08:22that poor experience?
08:23And,
08:24I'll tell you,
08:25it's,
08:27such a beautiful experience.
08:29Because,
08:29you know,
08:30I have never imagined a place like that.
08:33FTI is like,
08:34a different country in itself.
08:36If,
08:37if there's a currency,
08:38people don't come out.
08:40That,
08:41there are so many things that happen.
08:43And,
08:43cinema becomes an inherent part of your life.
08:49You're just talking about film,
08:51and discussing the performances.
08:52And,
08:53when you're doing 2-3 years,
08:56you're going to shift.
08:58So,
08:58I can just look at my life before FTI and after FTI.
09:02So,
09:03like,
09:03really lucky,
09:04that I was able to learn this about this.
09:07And I can get the entrance,
09:09and
09:09really lucky my selection made.
09:12So,
09:13i mean,
09:14so,
09:15I got the training that you meet.
09:16Which,
09:16how much you have to learn.
09:17I will learn and learn.
09:19You'll learn the details earlier.
09:21That's how you're going to learn what's applied for you.
09:23Mumbai,
09:24or not.
09:26So,
09:26FTI is always something that you can do.
09:28All I can't thank the institute with me.
09:31I can't thank the institute enough for.
09:32of my teachers, my fellow students, my classmates, like,
09:36all have a great contribution in my journey as an actor.
09:41I don't want to say success or how, everything is a perspective.
09:46The main thing is that the actor that I am, everyone has contributed a lot
09:51and FTI has contributed a great deal of it.
09:55And Backstreet was like,
09:56I showed me the meaning, there is a line in that particular song that I reviewed the size of stone
10:02observe the trend of things.
10:04FTI was earlier called, Pravath comes to go for it.
10:07You are right, it was very early.
10:10When you were studying in the institute,
10:13did you ever feel that, you know, how this place has changed last year?
10:17Always, because, you know, you are shooting something in Shantaram pond.
10:21Now, Shantaram pond is the whole story.
10:32You are a part of a, of this historical institution.
10:37So, I mean, I don't have to go to Oxford University,
10:41but the acting of Oxford has been FTI.
10:51And I want to know about the art of detachment from you as an artist.
10:55Because artists generally, they are very forced, they are very sensitive people.
10:59And they tend to get overly attached with their work, with their art.
11:02But talking to you, I feel that, you know, you are a little step away from the work that you
11:05do.
11:06I think you also have a part of this project,
11:11but as also you are a part of this project,
11:16do you want to do?
11:19And you want to do something,
11:20and do you want to do something and do what you need to do?
11:21I don't want to do it.
11:21Because, you know,
11:22screen acting, I would say
11:23You will do that.
11:25So, you already know what the work has changed.
11:26But, what kind of work has changed for me for your time,
11:33cut gaya. So, you can't be attached to the result. You have to do the time. You have to defend
11:42character with attachment, but the result with attachment, you can't do that. Like,
11:50I've seen some of my performance in slow-mo, background music, and the performance was
11:57good. But, I didn't do that. I didn't imagine the rhythm of singing. I didn't imagine
12:03it just happened. So, many people are like, when you have the ability,
12:09you can't do it. So, when you think about the process, you can't do it.
12:13So, when you think about it, it's a lot of detachment, and, it's a process.
12:18It's like, if I said, I'm detached, I'm not, I don't get it.
12:24But, you can learn something. And, I like to say, this is a right way.
12:28It's a good way. You should be angry with joy. And, you should be angry with anger.
12:40I don't think so but some people tell me that I am but I don't know and one of the
12:46greatest qualities of an artist is I feel it's them walking wounded no matter what all is going on in
12:52their personal space, their life, how do you look at it?
12:56It's like this, but now it's true that in life, the rest of the things you have to give you
13:02importance in life is important, family, friends and work is important.
13:11It's like bodybuilding, it's 80% diet and 20% workout, it's 100% diet and 100% workout.
13:21It's like life in life, it's like work and the rest of the things you have to do.
13:28Yes, it happens but you have to balance everything you have to do.
13:31Sometimes it happens that sometimes you will suffer and sometimes you will suffer.
13:35But it happens to each their own and you will understand what's working for you and till when it will
13:43work for you.
13:43So you have to keep reinventing yourself and don't forget it.
13:49Is there a lot of crossfiring between all of them?
13:51Crossfiring as in?
13:52Crossfiring as in each of them building into each other.
13:55Yes, this is a good thing because it really helps in enhancing.
14:01Like if a singer is getting to play a singer on screen, they can bring a lot more things.
14:07I have seen a lot of things, because this is like where you are supposed to play a player character.
14:17And if you have to play a character character, actor has played with a good performance and a good performance.
14:25However, the person who has played a ball in the way,
14:29It is a bad ball in the real life, when nothing lives with his hands.
14:33चल रहे हैं, तो यह आपको एक observation
14:35मिली, यार ऐसा करते हैं
14:37real tabla players, तब आप इसको कैसे
14:39अपनी performance में ला सकते हो, या आप कैसे
14:41इंसान को cast कर सकते हो, जिसको
14:42वाकरी tabla बजाना आता हो, या वो
14:45सीखे, तो यह सब
14:47चीजे help करके हैं, कि when you know
14:49जैसे driving आती है
14:50तो आप एक chase sequence जब कर रहे हो,
14:53you will act differently, अगर आपको
14:55driving ही नहीं आती ही, chase sequence में आपके साथ
14:57चीट कर रहे हैं, तो दस चीजें आपको
14:58ध्यान रखने हैं, कि यार फेक तो नहीं लग रहा, ऐसा
15:01तो नहीं लग रहा, तो
15:04having so many
15:05skills really help
15:06and taking from that, acting is not just what you do mentally or how you think of them in your
15:20mind, it has also got to do a lot with the muscle memory, how do you affect that muscle memory
15:25in acting, while you're performing minor body movement, minor body mechanisms, while you're just trying to get into the character,
15:32even while you're trying to get out of the character, how do you do it?
15:34It varies from project to project, like
15:36Hotel Mumbai was something that
15:39took me
15:40a lot of time, because we were shooting in Australia
15:42and there was, like a shoot
15:44break भी बहुत होता था, तो में बहुत वक्त होता था, जब आप अकेले हो
15:48अपने अपार्टमेंट में
15:49और आप अपनी स्क्रिप्ट के साथ हो
15:52और वो एक आपके पास एक लग्शरी भी होती है
15:55to dive deep
15:57और आपके पास research material
15:59भी बहुत था, we were provided with a lot of stuff
16:01तो उसमें आप बहुत ज़ादा
16:03घुस्ते भी हो, आपके real life
16:05में भी वो उसकी जलकियां आती है
16:06फिर वो निकलती भी है
16:08तो वो time लेते है, फिर आपको अगले project में समझ में आते है
16:11क्या यह requirement है यहां की
16:13तो यह नहीं करना
16:14जी करदा के लिए मुझे
16:15सिर्फ backstory पर काम करना था
16:18हमारी relationship exercises हुई
16:20पर ऐसा नहीं हुआ कि
16:21क्योंकि वो रिशव राठोर है
16:23he comes from a Rajasthani lineage
16:25तो मैं कुछ Rajasthani भी उसमें सीखू
16:27कि कुछ वहां का cultural कुछ भोला हुँए
16:30पर बंबे में पला पड़ा है
16:31तो उसको जादा
16:32बंबया भाषा होनी चाहिए
16:34जादा उस तरीके का करेक्टर होना चाहिए
16:36तो like I feel it varies from project to project
16:38and who are you working with
16:40what are you working with
16:42तो उस सब पर बहुत depend करता
16:44तो यू जू जू जू आफ तो बी ओपन
16:46करते बीजाए पर मिलें
16:51आफ नहीं बतारा पर दोनो नी
16:56अडिदे दों एक यू जू जू जू जू जू जू जू जू जू जू K
17:08को यू जू जू जू जू
17:14Like, no time to do.
17:18Acceptance. Like, you first...
17:21Just believe it.
17:22You have to judge it,
17:25that your character is your character.
17:28You are a human in this moment,
17:31now you have to react.
17:33So I think acceptance is the first step.
17:36And you have to be very relaxed.
17:38Because if you have a nervous energy in the body,
17:42you have to think about 36 things.
17:44You don't have to do that.
17:46So, relaxation and acceptance.
17:49This is the first thing.
17:51And I think if this is right,
17:52then you will go out for a few years.
17:54Next, to some other things.
17:57And you get to find something.
17:59You get to connect with one another.
18:01It's like...
18:02It's like...
18:03It's like...
18:04It's like...
18:11It's like...
18:13It's like...
18:14I can tell you so much.
18:15And taking from that thread,
18:18you said relaxation is very important.
18:20Now for film set,
18:21it's essentially a place
18:22where it's driven by great chaos.
18:24Lots of people...
18:25It's a collaborative medium.
18:26Right.
18:30It's very chaotic.
18:31What's your relationship with chaos and pressure that comes as a part and parcel of an artist?
18:35Yeah,
18:37You think that both things enhance me.
18:39My acting...
18:40Well,
18:41acting...
18:41I don't know.
18:42It has helped me in chaos.
18:46And the pressure, I work very well.
18:49So...
18:50The main thing is to focus on yourself.
18:53Relaxed...
18:53So, you can go yourself.
19:21I can't concentrate.
19:25I can't concentrate on that.
19:57I can't concentrate on that.
20:06I can't concentrate on that.
20:23I can't concentrate on that.
20:46I can't concentrate on that.
21:16I can't concentrate on that.
21:25I can't concentrate on that.
21:27I can't concentrate on that.
21:37I can't concentrate on that.
21:41I can't concentrate on that.
21:50I can't concentrate on that.
21:58I can't concentrate on that.
21:59I can't concentrate on that.
22:00I have better things to do.
22:02Other than thinking about how I am perceived.
22:05I can't concentrate on that.
22:05I can't concentrate on that.
22:06And very quickly, lastly.
22:08PMC Offlate has proposed 5-70% of high-kill entertainment tax across cinema.
22:13I was in the Mumbai region, not beyond the world.
22:15I can't concentrate on that.
22:22I can't concentrate on that.
22:25I can't concentrate on that.
22:29I can't concentrate on that.
22:29I can't concentrate on that.
22:44How will it affect both the artists and the audience?
22:45I can't concentrate on that.
22:47I can't concentrate on that.
22:48As of now, they have not proposed any changes in the entertainment tax.
22:51That's correct.
22:52This is what I feel.
22:53But again, largely, it will negatively affect me.
22:57I could be wrong.
22:58I don't think I'm not affected.
22:59Yeah.
23:00I also think that.
23:02But you never know.
23:03Things change happen.
23:05They will say,
23:07and then they will say,
23:08they will not do it.
23:10Let's see.
23:11This is a new news.
23:13Let's see what happens.
23:13Then we'll talk about it.
23:16And lastly, very quickly,
23:17you could update me about your upcoming projects.
23:2112 number?
23:2212 number.
23:22I've just finished 12 number.
23:24It's a found footage horror film.
23:26Veer Dasar has directed.
23:27What was the length of that?
23:28Yes.
23:29It's like Blair Witch Project.
23:32So, it was very great.
23:34It's not a horror comedy.
23:35It's a horror film.
23:37And it's very real.
23:40It's shot like something which is happening in real time.
23:42It's not a horror film.
23:44It's just beyond.
23:45Yeah, man.
23:45That's the thing that people can't imagine that.
23:49Because they have to see.
23:51And they have to do something first.
23:53People don't do something for the first time.
23:53They don't do something.
23:54They don't do anything.
23:55They don't do anything.
23:56They don't do anything.
23:56They don't do anything.
23:56But those who try to do it,
23:59I always do them.
24:00I always do them.
24:01And now,
24:03it's a good thing.
24:04Fortunately,
24:05we have to get the chance of doing such things.
24:07Be it Ramayan,
24:08Be it Urdatir,
24:10Be it 12 number.
24:11There's no such thing before.
24:13I'm very happy.
24:14We have to get the chance of doing such things.
24:16And we're part of them.
24:17I'd like to say one thing.
24:19It's 9 October.
24:21So please, go to the theater.
24:23And all of you will not be disappointed.
24:26It's a very good film.
24:28You'll enjoy it.
24:29Perfect.
24:30Thank you so much.
24:31Thanks man.
24:32Thank you so much.
24:33Bye.