‘I don’t think it’s all about talent in the film industry’
At just 24, actor Ishaan Khatter has managed to create his own space with films such as Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds (2018) and the latest being the series A Suitable Boy with acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. He has literally grown up being surrounded by the art form (his parents are actors Rajesh Khattar and Neelima Azeem, and Shahid Kapoor, his brother). While he has come so far in such less time, Bollywood itself is seen as a place where there are not equal opportunities for everyone, and talent maybe isn’t the only thing required to make it big.
And not mincing any words the actor says, “No, of course not, there are so many factors and things that weigh in to your success, or your positioning or recognition, whatever it is that people define success by. Opportunities are not always equal, but everybody has their own journey. Sometimes, people are given opportunities before their time, or above their capabilities, and they are not able to make much of it. Sometimes, people get opportunities despite the fact that they deserve more than what they’ve been offered. They make their place through their hard work and consistency.”
Adding that “it’s not one’s business to mull and cry too much about opportunities”, Khatter adds, “Anyone could do that, and could be like ‘mujhe yeh nahi mila, woh nahi mila’, but I feel what’s more important is to make the most of what you get. And eventually yes, if you really have the legs you will get your space and light, your moment. That’s what I believe. But no, I don’t think it’s all about talent, there are many other factors.”
Elaborating more on these factors, the actor says he has personally seen people who are hard workers, surpass talented people. “I know of people who are talented but didn’t quite develop it into a skill. So yes, it depends. While there is a lot of judgment outside, I don’t think people fully understand how things work. It’s really an amalgam of so many factors — hard work, luck, being at the right place at the right time and preparation — that result in you getting your space,” reveals Khatter who has Khaali Peeli opposite Ananya Panday, and Phone Bhoot with Katrina Kaif lined up next.
Currently garnering praises for his act in A Suitable Boy opposite Tabu, he reveals that at one point, he was almost not going to be able to do it. Khatter tells us, “I was in talks for another thing when this came around. It was one of those things destined to happen. It all started when I was called in to audition for the part of Maan. This was back when my first two films hadn’t released. I think it was in March of 2018, just before Beyond The
Clouds. I was asked to read for a part and I auditioned. I didn’t know very much about the book, I only knew Mira Nair was directing it. After the first audition, my second meeting was with Mira di. She decided she wanted me to play the part. It always started off with the opportunity of working with her, and then Tabu playing
Saeeda Bai. It was a very exciting opportunity.”