Tanuj Virwani and I talk between bites of delicious open chilli cheese toast and whooping exultant cries let out by him while watching the Mumbai Indians vs KKR IPL match on a giant TV set in his palatial sea-facing house.
At the very onset the son of famous actress Rati Agnihotri and businessman Anil Virwani, asserts, One Night Stand is not a sleaze fest; I won’t do any film that I can’t watch proudly with my parents.”
He talks candidly about one-night stands (both on and offscreen), being directed in intimate scenes by a woman, casual sex and where he draws the line ... all this while his dog Snow badgers him to vacate the seat that he feels rightfully belongs to him.
What was your first reaction when you were approached for a film called One Night Stand?
I wasn’t approached, I screen-tested for the film. The director and producers were happy with my test; I was really stoked once I heard what the film was all about.
Were you aware that you were replacing Rana Daggubati?
I would be silly to claim I didn’t know this; I was not living under a rock. I am sure he had his reasons; I guess his loss is my gain.
What about your character in One Night Stand fascinated you?
I have been aching to play a character with shades of grey. I don’t approach a film with the mindset of being a hero or villain. Urvil’s character gave me a lot to play with.
What is your take on one-night stands?
I am absolutely fine with the concept of one-night stands as long as both concerned parties are on the same page. As long as you are single, it is fine and should not be frowned upon. However, if you are in a relationship or are married, it’s definitely not the done thing.
Are we becoming increasingly casual about sex?
Yes, we are. Earlier, the focus would largely be on relationships and their longevity, but now, unfortunately, it is more about getting laid and having the hottest catch. Earlier, it was test cricket but now it is the age of T20.
Where do you draw the line ... what is your level of comfort with premarital sex, threesomes, going to strip clubs etc?
I don’t see a problem with premarital sex but one should not lie to get laid. I am fairly conventional as a person and threesomes, strippers etc is not my cup of tea ... but I don’t judge people; different strokes for different folks.
Do you believe in life-time relationships?
Yes. Marriage is for keeps; and even if a couple decide not to get hitched, they should try their best to make it work for good once they commit. Trust and friendship are the cornerstones of any successful relationship.
Were the lovemaking scenes in the film a challenge to shoot?
It’s all in our head -- if I were to psyche myself, it would have been a whole lot more difficult and would have come across as unnatural; but I treated it like any other scene.
Did Sunny Leone have trust issues while shooting the intimate scenes with you?
Luckily, we hit it off from the first day. She is a thorough professional and very easy to work with. Besides, we were provided with rough story boards for the lovemaking scenes so we knew exactly what needed to be shot. It boils down to teamwork between the actors, the director and the DOP.