‘Being an assistant director made me more efficient’

Actor Arjun Mathur has come a long way from being an assistant director in films such as Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and Rang De Basanti (2006) to an actor in Barah Aana (2009), Luck by Chance (2010), My Name Is Khan (2010) and many others. Having made this transition a decade back, the actor feels that working behind the scenes has been an advantage in his case.

“Being on the other side of the camera and at the receiving end to all the possible problems that an actor might give a production, I think all this has made me a bit more efficient as an actor. My years of training as an assistant director helped me become a better actor,” says the 37-year-old actor, who was last seen in web series Made In Heaven.

The actor recalls that the journey from being an AD to an actor wasn’t a cakewalk. “I was so used to being an AD. It was a lot of fun working behind the scene, though it is a thankless job. I didn’t have to think about my physique or how fit I was. I was just having fun. But after turning an actor, I have to ensure that I look like one. It was hard because I was taking auditions and suddenly I was in front of the camera giving auditions. People start to perceive you differently as an actor,” Arjun says. Though he is now working on the other side of the camera, Arjun continues to be as curious as an AD. “When I’m on shooting on the sets, I’m constantly trying to find out from the ADs and the production team ki kya ho raha hai. Kahaan pe problem aa rahi hai and I help in resolving it,” he shares.

There is so much to learn from Mohnish Sir. I love his work and the aura he has on screen. MOHIT MALIK, ACTOR

Being an AD, working behind the scene was a lot of fun, though it is a thankless job. I didn’t have to think about my physique or how fit I was. I was just having fun.

ARJUN MATHUR, ACTOR