Short take - new Anuj interview

Short take
Jasmine Singh

With Haani, though Anuj Sachdeva graduated from being a model to an actor, the art of telling a story in just a few seconds through ads still fascinates him

One step at a time, no rush, no hurry! For model-turned actor Anuj Sachdeva life is not to be wasted in a rush. He lives each day in complete awareness. And from this awareness stems his decisions, subtle yet firm.

The actor, who made his debut in Punjabi film industry with Haani, plans to stick around to do more films. Haani is his one odd stint, but the good looking actor has much on his sleeves and heart!

"I would love to do more romantic and sensitive roles. In the end my character depends on a good screenplay, if it is strong so will be the character," shares Anuj who has all the praise for the director Amitoj Mann. "I was signed on for a Hindi film which Amitoj was directing. For some reason that did not materialise and he offered me a role in this Punjabi film. In fact, I am glad that I did a Punjabi film before a Hindi one," he adds.

Anuj is all prepared for Punjabi films. "And why not, I have a close connection with Punjab. My mother is from Chandigarh, so I feel at home when I shoot in Punjab."

Not for once does he laugh or raise an eyebrow, but this shouldn't be taken as a sign of arrogance. Anuj observes, values words and doesn't waste them. Having done umpteen print and commercial ads, this Grasim Mr Photogenic has an affinity with the word advertisement. Drop the word and watch the creative juices flowing. "I wish to be the creative person behind the ads. As a child I imagined how an ad could be made," puts in Anuj, who has worked with Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma and Sunny Leone and many others.

"It is not easy to tell your story in a few seconds, it is challenging." Anuj is also one of the few model actors, who asks for a storyboard before doing an ad. "People wonder why a model would ask for a storyboard and I tell them it should make sense, and what if I don't want to do it," he laughs. Or, we think he has laughed! No, Anuj is easy going, but respects his work and will go to any extent to do justice to it.

The actor went through his share of struggle when he moved to Mumbai in 2008. "I wanted to prove myself," he says. He wouldn't talk much about his upcoming Bollywood project other than this. "This role was offered to Salman Khan five years back, and now I am doing it. This film will go for festivals and also for commercial purpose."

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130910/ttlife1.htm#2