GR8! Article on Sushant

TV is dicey, you never know what happens tomorrow'

…Says popular actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays Preet in Kis Des Mein Hai Mera Dil and Manav in Pavitra Rishta.


A
n engineer actor: Coming from a family of doctors and engineers, I'd never planned acting, and enrolled myself in engineering. I love physics and maths, and dance! And thus I also enrolled with Shiamak Davar. From there I went into theatre with Barry John in Delhi, assisted film director Mohit Suri, and landed up in Kis Des. Initially, my parents were not very supportive for they had no clue how to go about things. But once my dad saw me performing on stage in a Nadira Babbar play at Mumbai's Prithvi theatre, something changed. And now when people tell them that 'aapke bete ko dekha TV pe', they feel proud of me!

Kis Des vs Pavita Rishta: It was easy playing Preet because that's like playing myself – young, loving, funny, diverse. Whereas Manav is an introvert. Thus that was difficult and I really had to concentrate. But what is most difficult is doing both the roles and shooting for like 23 hours in a day!

Life as an actor: It's fun, better than generic. I've always loved performing on stage and am comfortable in front of the camera. There is a lot of competition too. TV is very dicey, you never know what happens tomorrow. It's very competitive, with hundreds of people eyeing the same role. If you give two-three consecutive bad takes, you get fired. And you have to work till four-five in the morning, and still give your best. On a personal level, people around me have changed. I have only changed in the sense that I have become responsible. When in college, we only used to hang out and party. But in Mumbai, I stay alone, and thus take care of everything from food to clothes.

Looking into the future: I've assisted Mohit so I know films are more professional than TV, more specific. After Pavita Rishta, I really hope to be able to go to the New York Film Academy before I give films a try.



First earning: Rs 22,000 for performing with Shiamak's troupe at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, which included a 26 day free trip!

First extravagance: A second hand Honda CVR in college. It was like the wildest thing to do back then.

Fav TV show: Friends.

Fav film: Cast Away.

Fav co-star: Harman in Kis Des.

Dream role: I love comedy. But I would also love to play a bad boy. Maybe a villain in a movie? I also loved Siddharth's character in Rang De Basanti.