‘Films can flop, but I believe an actor should never flop’

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary is excited about his upcoming film Paltan, and that’s not just because he plays one of the four central characters in the film. The actor comes from an army family, and that made the experience extra special.

“My dad was in the army, I was born in an army hospital, and studied in army school. Main aadha fauji hoon aur aadha Hindustani,” he says, laughing. “I am very emotional when it comes to talking about our armed forces,” he says.

While Gurmeet’s Bollywood debut, Khamoshiyaan (2015) was received well, his next two films, Wajah Tum Ho (2016) and Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana (2017), did average business. The actor reacts, “Films with big stars also flop. I only believe that an actor should not flop. It’s dangerous if that happens. I am lucky that at least my work was appreciated. I have got this chance to work with established production houses. You can’t say [how a film will fare]. I was a superstar on TV and because of that, film producers took me in [these] projects. Saare stars busy hain, and sabko kaam karna hai.”

The actor is content with how things are shaping up on the career front. “It’s just been four years. [Mahesh] Bhatt saab launched me. In my fourth film, I am working with [filmmaker] JP Dutta. Every actor wants to work with good filmmakers, and he [Dutta] has worked with all the A-listers. I am thankful that I got this opportunity. Also, the biggest compliment that I got from him was the fact that a few days ago, he signed me for three or four of his upcoming films!,” says Gurmeet.

But this also means greater expectations, also because the film, based on the 1967 Nathu la and Cho la clashes, has been mounted on a grand scale. Is Gurmeet nervous? “I get nervous before a film’s release… You have worked so hard, now everything is in the hands of the audience. I never watch my own films, unless I am alone, on TV or OTT platforms. I know it’s weird, but I get too nervous,” he says.

Gurmeet Choudhary stars in Paltan