Not doing masala films wasn’t frustrating, says Sanjay
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), Jhankaar Beats (2003), My Brother Nikhil (2005), and I Am (2011) — actor Sanjay Suri’s filmography is distinct . He has never bothered doing masala films, and continues to stick to that. Last seen in Jhalki, which was, again an issue-based film, we ask what influences his choices.
“What happens is, you choose something. That choice gives you further choices, which are probably on a certain trajectory. That’s what happened with me in the initial days of my career. Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (his debut; 1999) was a biggish film, then came Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa (2000), Abhishek Bachchan’s second film. I realised somewhere, if this is the world, you are seen from a single person’s point of view… unless you’re happy doing something, you don’t do it,” says the 48-year old.
Sanjay, who was seen in Raazi (2018) in a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance, goes on to add, “Subjects which attracted me were Jhankaar Beats, Pinjar, a small film like Dhoop, basically content-driven cinema. I ended up producing them too. Mainstream works on different academics, and it never bothered me. It’s not like they don’t approve of your talent. A lot of times, it is economically driven casting, like speculation in a horse race. There’s a lot of money involved. I understood, and it never frustrated me.”
The web has come to the rescue of such talented actors, who dare to be different. “I did Bhram, a web series, recently. Then came Leila with Huma Qureshi. My next one is Mentalhood with Karisma Kapoor. The OTT world gives us a lot of opportunities to explore different stories and characters. I did a film called Pareeksha with Adil Hussain. I did think of producing a web series, but held back,” Sanjay says.
Why didn’t he go ahead? “It’s very platform dependent,” he says, adding, “I’ve been an independent producer for too long. I’m still evaluating the landscape. This world is how TV used to work, they (owners) own and decide everything. If it’s collaborative, it’s great.”
Mainstream works on different academics, and it never bothered me. It’s not like they don’t approve of your talent.
SANJAY SURI ACTOR