‘NOTHING IS ALIEN TO ME ANYMORE'
Sidharth Malhotra says thanks to the highs and lows he faced in his career so far, he is ‘fearless and confident’ now
It’s more than palpable in actor Sidharth Malhotra’s demeanour that he is kicked about playing a “quintessential Bollywood hero” in his next, Marjaavaan. “It’s been a great experience, something that excited me a lot,” says the actor, who has been going through a lull of sorts, in terms of his box office standing. But the Delhi boy isn’t worried as he puts things in perspective. “Nobody knows the formula for a successful, hit film,” he says, as he talks about completing seven years as an actor. He also talks about his love life, saying he only wants the audiences’ love now. Excerpts from an interview:
This year, you completed seven years in the industry. How have things been?
I won’t say I am satisfied. I am still very hungry. In my head, I feel it’s just the beginning. I am grateful for the start I got because not many get that, especially since I come from a non-film background. I think during my initial years, I was just following the trends or going wherever I was getting pushed [around] in terms of films. Now, of late, when things are getting difficult, I feel challenged and so, I am becoming more independent and following my
instinct.
From the outside, it looks like you have had a rollercoaster ride…
Yes, I’ve had some amazing highs and lows, which moulded me as a person and an actor. I’ve pretty much gone through all emotions in the industry. At this point, I’m not thinking about the past — be it my hit or flop films. That has made me calmer and more aware of how this industry functions. I’m more charged, focused, and hungrier for work than I ever was. From now on, the attempt is to make films for a larger audience, for the middle class film lovers who are emotional people. If I can entertain them and create a niche, that would be great for me as an actor.
Talking of Marjaavaan, it looks totally different from what you have done till now?
I’d like to keep changing the zones and [kind of films] films
that I do. Every time somebody says, ‘what you are doing is different’, I feel great that I look fresh, and am not repeating myself. With Marjaavaan, I go back to the zone of Ek Villain (2014) and Brothers (2015), but in a much larger-than-life way, with lots of action and dialogue-baazi. For the first time, I play a quintessential Bollywood hero like the ones I grew up watching — be it Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol or even [Amitabh] Bachchan saab’s films. It’s for the first time that I have been presented like a hero, who is beating up 50 people for love. Now, I am looking forward to the audiences’ response.
After a great start in the industry, things didn’t seem to go your way when your last few films didn’t do well at the box office. What does that do to you as an artiste?
Honestly, I feel it was important for me to experience the highs as well as lows in my career — from being praised to partly written off. For someone like me, who is not from a film background, it gives me immense strength as I have enjoyed the highs and also overcome the lows. Now, I know how both feel. Nothing is alien to me anymore. I feel the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. When that fear is not there, I look at things positively ke, ab kya darna hai, I have experienced everything. Now, there’s nothing unknown to me and that kind of relaxes me.
So, are you saying that failures have only emboldened you?
Yes, now, I am more fearless, confident. Also, there’s something that people like about me, which is why I am getting work. Producers are not my uncles and aunts who are putting money on me. I think the trick is to not look back. No major actor can say that all his/her films went their way. The ratio to hits and flops is off that way, and I am no different. But now, I am used to films that don’t go my way. The idea is to not let that fear dictate your present work and choices.