"Stereotyping does happen a lot, and it happened with me too" - Suhail Nayyar

It has over a month and a half since Sharmaji Namkeen released on Amazon Prime Video which marked the final on-screen appearance for the late legend, Rishi Kapoor. The film managed to attain a lot of love from the critics and viewers alike. And while obviously everyone would keep talking about it being Rishi Kapoor's last film, it has also turned out to be a turning point of sorts for actor Suhail Nayyar, who played Rinku in the film.

For Nayyar, the journey has been tough where even though he was loved for his performances in films like Udta Punjab and Ginny Weds Sunny, he seemed to have gotten typecast playing the 'bratty Punjabi munda.' In an exclusive interview with us, we asked him about this and multiple things.

When asked as to inspite of doing multiple projects so far, it seems like Sharmaji Namkeen has become the film where he is truly noticed. Does he feel that too? To this, he answered, "Ya I feel so. I did get noticed with Hotel Mumbai also. But with Sharmaji, I feel it is an entirely different kind of role, the way I did. And in fact, this is my longest screentime when it comes to films. So, I definitely feel that this is the film, I would truly get noticed by."

Further asking him about being stereotyped as the 'punjabi munda' in multiple films, he feels that Sharmaji has broken that mould and led others to notice him that he can do other roles as well. To this, he said, "Yes, I think so. When you're Punjabi and you have done such characters, it becomes a constant. I do feel that it is difficult for those people to imagine you in something else but thankfully, a few do. Hitesh Batra imagined me as Rinku for Sharmaji Namkeen. I, then auditioned for it and he really liked it post which I bagged the film. But I agree, stereotyping does happen and it happened with me as well. However, now I have and am doing other things also where I have broken this stereoptype and I think with Sharmaji, people saw that the character is very much in control. Because earlier, whenever I have done any character in terms of intense or eccentric, the energy they had was literally out there. But Rinku in Sharmaji is a very much controlled and matured character. People can see it and I hope things will change even more ahead for me."

I agree, stereotyping does happen and it happened with me as well. However, now I have and am doing other things also where I have broken this stereoptype.

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When we asked as to if the actor has any dream roles he aspires to do ahead or any filmmaker he wants to work with, he answered, "I love bringing layers to characters in general. And if the character is written like that, it is a lot more fun. So, if there are characters that have layers and shades, I love to do the same. And there is obviously a long list of dream directors I want to work with. From Zoya Akhtar to Anurag Kashyap to Vishal Bhardwaj to Karan Johar, I really want to work with all of them. I really hope they see my work, like it and cast me in their films."

Concluding talking about his upcoming projects, Nayyar said, "I am currently shooting for an Amazon Original, the announcement of which was done only recently as known. I am also shooting for another show but about that too, I cannot talk much about right now. All I can tell you is that it is a dark comedy and it is super fun. Both these things I am working on are entirely different from not just each other but anything I have worked on in the past as well. I am really excited."