‘Auditions test whether you are fit for a role’

Actor Amruta Khanvilkar — who has been a popular name in Marathi cinema — is returning to Bollywood after eight years since her last film Phoonk 2. And she reveals that landing a role in her latest film Raazi wasn’t tough.

“I gave my audition in the afternoon, and by night, I had got a call to go and meet Meghna Gulzar [the director] next morning. I went and Meghna told me, ‘I liked your Urdu, and the way aapne sur pakda character ka. Welcome on board.’ Some things are just like that,” says Amruta.

So, having been an actor for more than a decade now, is Amruta still comfortable in giving auditions today? “It doesn’t bother me. I think people get uncomfortable with the term audition. It is not about whether you can act or not, it is more to see whether you fit into the character or not. I audition every second day. For me, it is about living that character for that moment and portray what you can so that the director gets convinced,” says Amruta, adding that if a big filmmaker wants her to audition for a film, she is not in a position to refuse.

Sharing an incident, Amruta adds, “I know about a renowned actor who had to audition for a Mani Ratnam film. So, if a Karan Johar or Mani Ratnam wants me to audition, I will not tell them that I am not going to do it! Auditions are about testing the ability of the person. For my other film Satayamev Jayate (starring Manoj Bajpayee and John Abraham), too I had given auditions. But I also remember director Milap Zaveri telling me later, ‘We are glad to have you, audition toh formality hoti hai’.”

In Raazi, Amruta plays Alia’s elder sister-in-law and she’s all praises for Alia. “Definitely, it’s a tailor-made role for Alia. She is such a brilliant and secure performer. It’s a treat to watch her proving herself in every film. There’s nobody else who could have played the role of Sehmat the way she did,” says Amruta.

PHOTO:VIRAL BHAYANI Amruta Khanvilkar played the role of Alia Bhatt’s sisterinlaw in Raazi