Arjun Rampal has been busy with three back-to-back films this year. After Rock On!! 2; he is now promoting his next, Kahaani 2.
How do you see your journey in the industry till now?
I would say in a grateful manner. I have gratitude inside me today to be in a position to choose and get the kind of movies that I want to do. I have a script that come to me which are not just easy, but complex characters and that’s what I work towards.
Was it easy to play a cop?
Well, I have played cops earlier. It was tough and not easy because I didn’t want to repeat the character, even if it was a great script. If I felt that the role was too similar to the characters that I have played in Chakravyuh (2012) as a cop and D-day (2013) as a RAW agent, I wouldn’t do it. I really liked the screenplay, writing and the attitude which Sujoy Ghosh wanted me to bring to the role, and it comes from him knowing me for many years. He knows certain quirks in me and he wanted me to incorporate those with the character.
He wrote this character keeping me in mind. When he narrated this subject, he didn’t tell me that it was Kahaani (2012), he just wanted me to hear it as a story. I usually love to read scripts but, he refused to give me the script as he wanted to see my reactions. Once he finished, I gave him a big hug!
When did you get to know that this script is for Kahaani 2?
After he narrated the story, I said to him, “So, what’s the title...is it Kahaani 2?” I didn’t know but, had felt it in my head and he said, “Yes, it’s Kahaani 2!”
How was it working with Vidya Balan?
She is amazing and a phenomenal actor. She has proved her mettle many times by not taking an easy path which most people choose. She is very child-like. I had thought she would be serious, who would sit in a corner and not talk too much but, she is so much fun, with lots of energy! The ease she brings on to a set is commendable...the way she absorbs the environment and becomes a part of it. She is playing a very complex character where she has got a lot of interaction with a child. I know how difficult it is to work with a child. The child has to be extremely comfortable with you and she makes everybody around her comfortable. This is the exact way I work.
How is Sujoy Ghosh as a director?
He is a mad man, completely crazy and I love that about him. He has got a tremendous amount of energy. He thinks he has got a great sense of humour but, if you take the ratio of the amount of jokes he cracks and the number of jokes which are laughable, he fails miserably (Laughs). But he is very quirky and wonderful for actors. Working with him was satisfying. All his characters are whacky and not straightforward and that’s what I really like about him. He really loves his actors...very caring, listens a lot. Then again he can totally throw you off because he is also very mischievous...always running around the sets! It was great because there were three big children on the sets.
Tell us a bit about Daddy, your upcoming film.
Daddy is a biopic on Arun Gawli which is again very content-driven. But, what’s good content is good entertainment. For me, when the audience participate with you is when you have made a good film, where they are in with the characters and not just watching it externally.
What would you be, if not an actor?
I would have been very unhappy. I don’t think I would have been anything else. You make a lot of plans but, sometimes the universe has a better plan for you. So, sometimes you just go with the flow and I am glad it did in my case and I am happy where I am.
Do you think the demonetisation issue will affect Kahaani 2 also?
Well, it has affected Rock On!! 2 and other films also. I do hope and keep my fingers crossed that things do improve and by the time Kahaani 2, releases people will be going back to the theatres.