Amit Sadh had all that makes a 'celebrity'. But a creatively challenging career is what his heart desired, and thus he took the leap from small screen to big screen to satiate the actor within. He shares his journey with Pratishtha Malhotra...
You were very active in sports and wanted to join the army. How did acting happen?
I don’t know! It just happened by default. One fine day I decided I wanted to be an actor and I just picked my bags and came to Mumbai. It was a very impulsive decision. I was just 20 then and threw myself into this ocean of madness. At that time some of my friends also mocked me and said that you can’t do it.
How did you keep yourself going despite being mocked about your decision?
I am a masochist. I enjoy it when people are mean to me. I like it when people talk shit about me. I like it when people say that you cannot make it because the more I hear that, the stronger I come back.
How do you feel when you look back today at your journey from TV to films?
It has been beautiful. As a creative person, time is something you don’t have to comprehend to. Nothing is time bound. It’s creativity. Till the time you’re honest with your thoughts, you grow. It’s not that easy though because people see the outcome of a certain event as success. It’s a journey in which you have to succeed.
How different is TV from films?
There is a huge difference. In TV, I don’t think there is any creativity because the objective in TV is not content or as an actor, to create something. People know you as the name of the character. Once your character goes, you go. In films, the creativity is to create a character, to live a character. So the emphasis is on the content and creativity. I don’t have anything against TV, but the kind of role and kind of characterisation I looking for, is only available in films.
When did you decide to give up on TV and try out in films?
I got bored doing serials. I was making a lot of money, but then I thought I’m not here to make money only. I am an actor and I am not acting. I was cheating myself and I wanted to grow. You can’t just go to a studio at 7am and come back at 10pm, get a pay cheque every month, drive a fancy car, live in a fancy house and think you’re growing. So that’s when I decided to make a move.
Was being a part of a bigger canvas challenging?
Yes. One tends to carry the same aura and the same mentality to films. When I left TV, I left my baggage. People knew me. I had done Guns and Roses, Nach Baliye and a lot of stuff on TV, but when I came to films I realised that I am a newcomer here. I was aware that I had to break my ego. I told myself that I am going to wait for three hours and I will get a lot of rejections. I prepared myself for it. I was ready to become zero again. I lost all my money, lost everything that I had, but it made me a better actor. Now I have realised that if you want to be a good actor, the more ‘zero’ you are the more you can pick up. The moment you get in awe of yourself, get arrogant or egoistic, you’ll die out.
Who has been your inspiration all these years?
It’s Amitabh Bachchan. If he’s not your inspiration then you can never be inspired. Then there’s Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan. There are many other people too I get inspired from.
How has life been post Kai Po Che?
Oh! Brilliant (Laughs). It’s nice to get so much appreciation. Especially after failing miserably for five years, to get the kind of attention, love and acceptance with just this film is very humbling. I am living my dream.
How did you end up getting the film? We’ve heard that you, Sushant and Raj landed up together at Mukesh Chhabra’s office…
Mukesh Chhabra called us and whatever we did there, I think Gattu Sir ( Abhishek Kapoor) liked it and he gave me the film. I owe my life to him. There’s so much you can learn from him. He was a great source of inspiration. I got a lot of appreciation from a lot of industry people and I would not have done this without him. He told me that I would not get this kind of a role in years and I said, yeah! You’ve spoilt me.
Had you ever imagined that Kai Po Che would be such a huge hit?
We knew it from day 1. Not in an arrogant or an over confident way, but we knew what we are making. When we were making the film, the kind of hardwork and focus we put in, and when we saw the first cut, we knew that we had made a special film.
Did you in any way identify with the character you played?
I have nothing in common with him and for me acting is when you are not you. It was very difficult for me to disconnect from Omi even after the film. He was big, so I actually had to think differently. I became a bull even while thinking! Now Omi is gone so I am back to normal. It gives me a kick to portray or be somebody else.
What according to you is the best thing about being an actor?
It’s the learning. You’re continuously learning. That is for what I am here. Apart from that everything else is a by-product… the appreciation, fame, money. It’s not that I don’t want all that, but I am not headed for that. I wish to focus on my work and the rest will follow.
You were very active in sports and wanted to join the army. How did acting happen?
I don’t know! It just happened by default. One fine day I decided I wanted to be an actor and I just picked my bags and came to Mumbai. It was a very impulsive decision. I was just 20 then and threw myself into this ocean of madness. At that time some of my friends also mocked me and said that you can’t do it.
How did you keep yourself going despite being mocked about your decision?
I am a masochist. I enjoy it when people are mean to me. I like it when people talk shit about me. I like it when people say that you cannot make it because the more I hear that, the stronger I come back.
How do you feel when you look back today at your journey from TV to films?
It has been beautiful. As a creative person, time is something you don’t have to comprehend to. Nothing is time bound. It’s creativity. Till the time you’re honest with your thoughts, you grow. It’s not that easy though because people see the outcome of a certain event as success. It’s a journey in which you have to succeed.
How different is TV from films?
There is a huge difference. In TV, I don’t think there is any creativity because the objective in TV is not content or as an actor, to create something. People know you as the name of the character. Once your character goes, you go. In films, the creativity is to create a character, to live a character. So the emphasis is on the content and creativity. I don’t have anything against TV, but the kind of role and kind of characterisation I looking for, is only available in films.
When did you decide to give up on TV and try out in films?
I got bored doing serials. I was making a lot of money, but then I thought I’m not here to make money only. I am an actor and I am not acting. I was cheating myself and I wanted to grow. You can’t just go to a studio at 7am and come back at 10pm, get a pay cheque every month, drive a fancy car, live in a fancy house and think you’re growing. So that’s when I decided to make a move.
Was being a part of a bigger canvas challenging?
Yes. One tends to carry the same aura and the same mentality to films. When I left TV, I left my baggage. People knew me. I had done Guns and Roses, Nach Baliye and a lot of stuff on TV, but when I came to films I realised that I am a newcomer here. I was aware that I had to break my ego. I told myself that I am going to wait for three hours and I will get a lot of rejections. I prepared myself for it. I was ready to become zero again. I lost all my money, lost everything that I had, but it made me a better actor. Now I have realised that if you want to be a good actor, the more ‘zero’ you are the more you can pick up. The moment you get in awe of yourself, get arrogant or egoistic, you’ll die out.
Who has been your inspiration all these years?
It’s Amitabh Bachchan. If he’s not your inspiration then you can never be inspired. Then there’s Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan. There are many other people too I get inspired from.
How has life been post Kai Po Che?
Oh! Brilliant (Laughs). It’s nice to get so much appreciation. Especially after failing miserably for five years, to get the kind of attention, love and acceptance with just this film is very humbling. I am living my dream.
How did you end up getting the film? We’ve heard that you, Sushant and Raj landed up together at Mukesh Chhabra’s office…
Mukesh Chhabra called us and whatever we did there, I think Gattu Sir ( Abhishek Kapoor) liked it and he gave me the film. I owe my life to him. There’s so much you can learn from him. He was a great source of inspiration. I got a lot of appreciation from a lot of industry people and I would not have done this without him. He told me that I would not get this kind of a role in years and I said, yeah! You’ve spoilt me.
Had you ever imagined that Kai Po Che would be such a huge hit?
We knew it from day 1. Not in an arrogant or an over confident way, but we knew what we are making. When we were making the film, the kind of hardwork and focus we put in, and when we saw the first cut, we knew that we had made a special film.
Did you in any way identify with the character you played?
I have nothing in common with him and for me acting is when you are not you. It was very difficult for me to disconnect from Omi even after the film. He was big, so I actually had to think differently. I became a bull even while thinking! Now Omi is gone so I am back to normal. It gives me a kick to portray or be somebody else.
What according to you is the best thing about being an actor?
It’s the learning. You’re continuously learning. That is for what I am here. Apart from that everything else is a by-product… the appreciation, fame, money. It’s not that I don’t want all that, but I am not headed for that. I wish to focus on my work and the rest will follow.
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