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Ready for the rising

Character notes Sushant Singh: ‘Bollywood is not an easy place to survive’

“All my recent four films (“Laaga Chunari Mein Daag”, “Red”, “Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag” and “Dubai Seemu”) have flopped. It is disappointing.” Sushant Singh, one of the most accomplished actors in Bollywood, minces no words. Sushant, who made a name with RGV’s “Jungle”, and as Sukhdev in “Legend of Bhagat Singh”, is visibly upset as one catches up with him at the recently concluded Osian’s Cinefan film festival in New Delhi. His film “Mohandas” directed by Mazhar was screened at the festival to a good response.

“Bollywood is not an easy place to survive. Actors like me are forever caught in a dilemma. I know if I reject every ‘masala’ offer, I would keep sitting at home. I have often accepted films which I knew wouldn’t do well. Yet, out of sheer frustration, boredom, insecurity and to sort of rehearse acting, I did them.” Talking about his forthcoming films including “Idiot Box” where he is making his debut as a comedian, Sushant says: “It’s for keeping your brains home and laughing your heart out.” He is banking on “Lahore” and “Mukhbir”. “For ‘Lahore’, I learnt kickboxing for three months and in ‘Mukhbir’ I play a powerful, negative role.

It is not challenging to shine in a film which has a good story, good director and good supporting cast. The challenging films are those in which all these factors are not present and yet you make your mark.”

“In big banners, even small roles are done by big actors. They don’t need actors to run their films, they rely on stars. So, offers of small roles in big films also don’t come. Good directors want to give me big roles.

For instance, when Pradeep Sarkar was making ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ for Yashraj, he came to me and said hesitatingly. ‘There is a very small role for you. See if you want to do it.’ I loved his honesty. My non-film friends, who are my best critics, said that my role didn’t look small.”

On bitter experiences with big banners he says, “One of them called me and for four days he kept on auditioning me through his assistants. Fifth time when they called me, I asked them to talk to my secretary.

He felt offended and didn’t call me again. That film flopped.” Though “visibility matters” for Sushant “but not the page 3 way”. “Only those who need films are desperate to show on page 3.”

Sushant is often pitted against new heroes with little acting skills. It doesn’t offend him.

“I can’t expect a 20-year-old to act as well as his seniors. People love Salman Khan and his sense of humour though he isn’t considered a serious actor. Akshay Kumar was criticised till he floored the audience with his comedy. I admire both of them. Important thing is that they learnt on the job. Even stalwarts like Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar learnt on the job.”

“Not too happy with the film stories”, Sushant is all geared up to make a film through his own production house. “The story is finalised and it is about to happen”.

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