April 16, 2018
Actor Ishaan Khatter, set for his big screen debut, comes
with no formal training in his field, but he is ready to learn on the job, to
listen to the call of his heart and to bat comparisons with his star brother
Shahid Kapoor.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Ishaan, I believe
you chose not to be a trained actor?
A. That's right. I never attended
any acting school, though I've done theatre workshops a couple of times and it
has been an extremely enriching experience. But beyond that, I don't want to
acquire the skills of acting and use them on camera. I'd rather learn on the
job.
Q. Yes, which acting school did Dilip Kumar go to?
Wasn't he
from a very humble background with no connection to cinema or acting? Even my
director Majid Majidi came from a very humble background. He trained to be an
actor and could've become a leading star of Iran after acting in talked-about
films like 'Boycott'. But he chose to direct films. Some of them, which are
today regarded as classics, had such a meager budgets there was hardly any money
for proper meals for the crew. But he stuck on. I believe it's always important
to listen to the call of your heart.
Q. Is that what you intend to do in
your career?
I will try. I don't think I can live a life of compromise.
If I did, I wouldn't be able to sleep properly. Not that I am getting much sleep
anyway (laughs).
Q. Are you planning to do as many films as possible? Or
would your output be meager like your brother Shahid Kapoor?
A. I will do
all the films that I want to do. If I like the script, I may end up doing five
films at the same time, though I think that would be too much overlapping. I
don't know how actors of yesteryears managed to do three shifts every day.
Q. Right now it is the release of one film and the shooting of the other?
A. Yes, while I am promoting 'Beyond The Clouds', we've almost wrapped up
the shooting of my second film 'Dhadak'. They happened one after the other by
providence. I could have ended up not doing one of them if my producer Karan
Johar had not been so supportive.
Q. How did that happen?
A. My
debut film was going to be Karan Johar's production 'Dhadak'. The date schedules
and everything was worked out. I was ready to shoot for 'Dhadak' when I was
offered "Beyond The Clouds".
Q. I believe you were the first and only
choice?
A. Majidi sir had considered others. But once Honey Sir (casting
director Honey Trehan) came on board, it was more or less me that Majidi sir
wanted. He saw my auditions and told Honey sir to cast me.
Q. Was there a
lot of preparation involved?
Well, I had to lose 8.5 kg almost overnight
before shooting for "Beyond The Clouds". Since I was playing a boy from the
chawls, Majidi sir wanted me to look undernourished. I stopped going to the gym
to get the physique required. This(not going to the gym) was very unusual since
it was an instinctive part of my daily routine.
Q. It is interesting that
both the characters you play in "Beyond The Clouds" and "Dhadak" are from a
strata of society far removed from you. Did you find it difficult to connect
with them?
A. The whole notion of acting hinges on assuming unknown
characters. Isn't that what I am here for? It was a challenge doing these two
films as my debut and post-debut. I hope I've done what was required from me.
Q. Did you use the same body type for both roles?
A. No. For
'Dhadak', (director) Shashank Khaitan sir wanted me to bulk up a bit to look
like an average guy.
Q. How have your brother Shahid and mother
(actress-dancer Neelima Azim) reacted to your performance in "Beyond The
Clouds"?
My mother is my best friend and my biggest critic. When she saw
my performance, she had one thing to say which said it all. "Who are you?" It
was her way of telling me I had disappeared into the character. I have to thank
my mother for bringing me up on a regular diet of Hindi and American classic
films. We've been travelling together extensively for the promotion and
screening of "Beyond The Clouds". It's an enriching experience. I feel I am
being exposed to all kinds of cinema at a very young age. It's helping me grow
as an actor.
Q. What was Shahid's reaction to your performance?