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‘If I don't offer anything new, the audience will lose interest’
It has been over a year since Aayush Sharma made his Bollywood debut with LoveYatri (2018) and currently, he is busy shooting for his next film,which is expected to release this year. Interestingly, there were even talks of him being part of a Marathi film remake, which didn’t materialise.
Ask Aayush what took him time to bag his second project, Kwatha, and the actor sounds unperturbed saying that he wanted it to be different from his first film.“I didn’t want to rush into things. As an actor, if there is nothing new I can offer, then the audience might lose interest in me. With this film, people will get to watch me in a new avatar,” says Aayush, who stars with Katrina Kaif’s sister Isabelle Kaif in the film that marks her Bollywood debut.
But isn’t taking so much time a risk given that out of sight means out of mind? “When I sit for a reading session, the first criteria is whether I want to tell the story or not. Kwatha is based on real life events, and I could connect. I play an army officer in the film and I’ve been working on my physique. This is different from LoveYatri where I had a chocolate boy image,” he adds.
While Aayush goes by his “gut and instinct”, he does “run the ideas” by Salman (Khan) before taking up a project. “Bhai knows so much and is supportive. So, once I like an idea, I discuss it with him. He had once explained how at the end of the day, we all have our own journey and I know I need to choose my way, make mistakes, taste success and slowly discover myself in the way. That’s important. So, he’s there for better clarity, but the journey is mine,” says Aayush, adding, “I want to continue experimenting with new things. There’s enough time in hand, so, I would rather take time to do good work than other way round.”
I won’t do a film now if it doesn’t add value to me. I have a sense of maturity towards my career. As an actor, you shouldn’t waste yourself…
ACTOR
AAYUSH STARS WITH KATRINA KAIF’S SISTER ISABELLE KAIF IN THE FILM THAT MARKS HER BOLLYWOOD DEBUT
Mugdha Godse prospered in the world of fashion and had a successful stint as a model. However, when she switched to acting, things weren’t as smooth as she would’ve expected. Instead, she faced a lot of rejections before getting her first break. While some said that she’s “too dusky”, some found her “too tall” and even referred to her face as “unconventional”. And, not just acting, Mugdha was told that she doesn’t fit the part at auditions for commercials as well.
“The casting team would say, ‘We need a fair actor or we’re looking for a shorter person. We are looking for a conventional face, someone like a heroine material.’ After so many instances, it started to sound like a joke,” shares Mugdha.
However, after spending over a decade in the world of showbiz, the 33-year-old feels that the film industry has become much more acceptable towards dusky actors with unconventional looks. “Some actors are doing the best of the work. So, getting back on the radar and saying, ‘Oh we were here first who tried to break the stereotype’, and that we’ve gone through a lot of struggle is disappointing. It’s part and parcel. Sometimes, you arrive early and at times, things take time to change. It’s also to do with luck,” she opines.
After her successful debut with Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion (2008), Mugdha would get flooded with glamorous role. “We were always the glamour dolls and whenever there was a need for actors who were too sexy or can do bold scenes, our names would always come first — be it the character of a prostitute or a model. The makers wouldn’t consider us to be the girl next door in their films,” she says. .
But the actor is quick to add that she has no qualms in playing glamorous roles on screen, just that she has defined certain limits for herself. “I’m not comfortable doing too many bold scenes. I
We were always the glamour dolls and whenever there was a need for actors who were too sexy or can do bold scenes, our names would always come first — be it the character of a prostitute or a model. The makers wouldn’t consider us to be the girl next door in their films.
MUGDHA GODSE ACTOR
do what I feel is comfortable for me, while flaunting my glamorous side. I made the most of it, and I’m quite happy to be able to do work in films that I believe in,” says Mugdha.