READY FOR A NEW HORIZON

After spending five years in Bollywood, actor Sidharth Malhotra is immersing himself in other aspects of filmmaking

It has been five years since Sidharth Malhotra started his career with Student of The Year (2012), and like every other actor, he has seen his share of ups and downs in Bollywood. Right now, it’s up — his latest film, Ittefaq, has been received well. “I look at my career as a journey,” says the 32-year-old Delhi boy, as he basks in success and prepares for the release of Aiyaary.

You’re now five years into your Bollywood career. Does anything make you feel awkward?

I won’t say ‘anybody’ or ‘anything’ makes me awkward, because it’s a matter of knowing and understanding people, especially when you work with senior actors and technicians. You have to understand that it’s a business where you make relationships. And these people are at their most intense and at their peak when you’re working with them. When you don’t work with someone for a long time, [the strong connect that you have] goes away.

I understand that working with certain actors is a high point for me, and I should cherish and enjoy that.

You have to understand that [cinema] is a business where you make relationships. And these people are at their most intense and at their peak when you’re working with them

SIDHARTH MALHOTRA ACTOR

What are the biggest learnings for you from the film industry?

I now understand that everyone has [their own] work to do. And it did take me a while to get that. Now, not understanding [things] or being awkward about them is not an issue at all, because I know that we all lead very busy lives. However, we’re still emotionally connected with the people that we have worked with.

You have a strong equation with many of your costars, isn’t it? Yes, that’s true, and I feel it happens only because of the intensity of the moments that one spends with them. After all, you’re working alongside them 24/7. It’s all about understanding that, and it comes with experience and teaming up with different people. As for your craft, have you changed the way you work?

I want to excel and try new things when it comes to playing characters. I also feel that since I’m not a trained actor, I learn a lot of things on the job. Now, I love getting into the screenplay and dialogues.

I now believe in doing more background research [for my characters]. So that is the top priority, and as we have seen this year, content is king.