‘I HAVE NEVER FOLLOWED A TEMPLATE’
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput says nothing is crucial or frivolous for him
Although he made his Bollywood debut only three years ago, Sushant Singh Rajput has already created a niche for himself. While the actor is riding high on the success of his latest release, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, he is in no hurry to sign new films. As Sushant prepares for his next two films, HT Café catches up with him at his new abode in Bandra (W). Excerpts from the interview:
After the success of the MS Dhoni biopic, you have been under the radar.
I have been doing some interesting things. To begin with, my next two films are in their preliminary stages of preparation. I have been busy doing readings for a play. I have also been playing the guitar and reading a lot of interesting books.
Are you enjoying this break? How important is it for an actor to take a break?
Sometimes, you need some time to do nothing (smiles). We all are in such a hurry these days that we don’t know how to live anymore. Reading, travelling, pursuing your hobbies, or doing nothing, is the need of the hour. More so, as actors, we need a break. Without a break, we might pick up the habit of acting when the cameras are not rolling (laughs).
After the success of the Dhoni biopic, you don’t seem to be in a hurry to sign films…
Yes, that’s true but I am already preparing for my next two films. I start shooting for Tarun’s film (yet-untitled) in February. I have also begun training for the space film (Chanda Mama Door Ke; CMDK). Although I am reading scripts, I am not in a hurry.
But rumours about you signing a few films are doing the rounds…
None of those rumours are true. I have been going through a lot of scripts, but I am yet to sign one. I am doing Tarun Mansukhani’s film, Chanda Mama Door Ke, and a biopic on Murlikant Petkar (India’s first paralympic gold medallist).
Sometimes, you need some time to do nothing (smiles). We all are in such a hurry these days.. SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT, ACTOR
The fun that you have while doing the things you enjoy is the incentive, and that’s what life is all about. SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT, ACTOR
You have recently won the season’s first award for MS Dhoni: The Untold Story biopic. Do you feel content about it?
Yes, it always feels nice that the industry folks as well as the audiences have liked what they have seen. And, if they say that you were one of the best (actors) last year, you can just smile with humility and continue working with the same passion.
You are also learning to play the guitar now. Are you enjoying the new experience?
Yes, a lot. Though, I’m taking my own sweet time on each chord but I am like, ‘what’s the hurry anyway’. But yes, since, I had no connection with any kind of musical instruments before, this is a very new and fascinating experience.
Lastly, from quitting engineering to becoming an actor, you have come a long way. Does success make you lonely?
No, neither success or failure nor even the state in between is lonely. Usually, people have such a complaint [that success is lonely] because they think that the incentives one would get after becoming successful would change their lives, which is never true. The fun that you have while doing the things you enjoy is the incentive, and that’s what life is all about. All the extra amount of recognition and money is for your PR agency and your CA to handle. They aren’t meant to deal with your loneliness (smiles).