‘Want to win the hearts of people’
Despite being a starkid and son of actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, it was self-belief, talent, hard work and luck that worked in luv’s favour. He talks to Sangeeta Yadav about his upcoming movie Paltan and his bond with the family
All excited about your upcoming movie Paltanij
Very excited. I enjoyed playing Attar Singh who is cautious as well as aggressive at the same time. Only three months after he joined the Armed Forces, Nathu la clash had taken place. To play him was a great honour. When I got this role, I realised how crucial is to do justice to a soldier’s role as their job is 10,000 times tougher than what we are doing. We portray them but they live it each day.
Were you nervous to play such an important roleij
No, I don’t take anything as a burden. I take it as a responsibility and a challenge and feel grateful that it came to me. I believe that the tougher your job, more you enjoy. If it is easy, then it is not for me. Not every actor gets the opportunity to act in JP Dutta’s film.
What do you have to say about JP Dutta’s style of filmmakingij
JP sir does a tremendous amount of research and is a very intelligent person. He likes to make his vision larger than life through his storytelling. For actors, he gives a full understanding of the character. He will guide you and at the same time, if he feels that you are adding something interesting to the role which fits perfectly, he will let you incorporate that. You are in complete control of the director and at the same time, he allows the actor to add and bring their inputs into play.
Did you interact with the soldiersij
Yes, we did. We learnt a lot of things from them about that operation and how they made sure that the enemy doesn’t get the better of them. It was an enriching experience to hear these stories. They prepared us how to conduct ourself like a soldier, the right way to solute, march, load and unload the weapon.
Why is Paltan considered as your debut and not your previous film Sadiyaan (2010)ij
Acting is my first and last love and when I was approached for Sadiyaan, I decided to take it up. But for me, Paltan is a fresh start after a long gap. There are some films which give you an opportunity as an actor to improve yourself and register with the audience. And for me, Paltan is that film.
Was it a conscious decision to take eight years gapij
No, it was not a conscious decision but a matter of circumstances. There were certain projects that were supposed to start which for various reasons did not happen. Then we were looking at establishing our own company and decided to work with Umesh Shukla but our timeline didn’t match so we mutually decided to postpone it. These things no one can control. That is why people say that luck matters a lot in the industry. Sometimes you may be very dedicated and hard working but the luck factor needs to come into play more than anything else.
Do you feel luck favoured youij
Yes! luck is important but your belief in yourself matters even more. You might be the luckiest person on the planet but if you don’t believe in yourself, you will not be able to captalise on the opportunity that is coming your way. Self belief, hard work and talent will all matter when your luck changes.
Do people in industry differentiate starkidsij
Yes, people do get opportunities based on their background. But access doesn’t guarantee you success. You may get that first opportunity but it is all up to your talent or who is backing you. I feel in some ways, starkids are singled out which is wrong. Doesn’t matter where you come from, you should be dedicated towards your work and prove yourself.
like your father Shatrughan Sinhaij
Yes, one of the reasons why it took me so long to get a film like Paltan is that I don’t ask papa to make calls for me or give my reference to give me work. He is a self made man and that is what inspires me the most about him. How someone who came from Patna and didn’t know anyone in the industry, who only come to Mumbai with his confidence and his degree from FTII, he managed to become so successful. That is what makes me believe that if you have your head in the right place and you are willing to work hard, then nothing can stop you. Anyone who is self-made whether it is Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Jackie Shroff or anyone who has made it on their own is truly inspiring. My goal of acting is to connect with as many audiences as possible and win their hearts.
How kind of bond do you share with Kush and Sonakshiij
When we were children, I was a strict brother while Kush was a spoilt brat and Sonakshi a pampered one. But now it is different. I may not be that expressive but Sonakshi and Kush know how much I love them and value their achievements. We are all there for each other as a family.
