Coming from a non-film background, what attracted you to this profession?
I am a human emotions and psychology enthusiast. I love going deep into the human mind and that’s why I fell in love with acting. As a child, every time I saw Shahrukh Khan on the screen, I used to get goosebumps. I wondered how he could tell me so much with his own eyes.
Acting, writing, directing – which is closest to your heart and why?
Acting is my calling and it is closest to my heart as it gives me a chance to live different lives in one. My friends call me chameleon to tease me. Little do they know that I take it as a compliment!
You have chosen quite unconventional subjects for your short films. How did you come up with it and what inspired you to share it with the world?
I have a lot in common as an artiste so I made up my own stories to understand the whole process of acting and filmmaking and films a little more deeply. For me, it was all about getting better at my craft and understanding it in every way.
Are you looking for an actor or director in the industry?
I have some deep connection with Irrfan Khan. It affected me a lot when he passed away. I have always seen him as an artist.
Which of the actors you have worked with so far have you loved working with?
I was fortunate that I got a chance to debut with Rajkummar Rao and have worked with him twice so far. I loved his dedication and energy as an actor. Currently, I have finished a series with Zeeshan Ayyub and I think he is the funniest person I have known and very talented too.
There have been instances in the past when a film or series is boycotted for various reasons. While one section of the audience has become more acceptable, others have become quite intolerant. your thoughts…
I think there has been a sudden change in Indian content and people are getting used to a lot of things and stories that they were not used to seeing earlier. I think we should give our audience a little more time to understand that art can be of all kinds without hurting anyone. I am sure the audience will grow like the industry.
There has been an increase in female-centric content, especially on OTT. How do you feel about this as an actor and a filmmaker?
I think better roles are written for women today than in the past. Earlier female characters were a bit out of the fantasy space and now it is realistic so as an actor, I look for all kinds of different characters. I thrive only when there is scope to perform. I am fortunate to play characters like Rama (Bareilly Ki Barfi!) and Radha (‘Akkad Bakkar’) as they are very different from each other.
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