~*Sushant's Bollywood Journey#19*~

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Anushya Pandian

@Minion23

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Posted: 9 years ago

#891

Sushita at some party yesterday...

Guttu & Gang #abhishekkapoor #SushantSinghRajput #mumbai #travelogue #sinbadphguraphotography

- See more at: http://iconosquare.com/viewer.php#/detail/1165449907696499005_22704285

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Anushya Pandian

@Minion23

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Posted: 9 years ago

#892

Sushant S Rajput @itsSSR 11h11 hours ago

How beautifully u held your own in that stupid interview @SunnyLeone .Some1 should have taught him how to respect a woman when he was a kid.

Sunny Leone @SunnyLeone 10h10 hours ago

Sunny Leone Retweeted Sushant S Rajput

Thank you buddy :)

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Anushya Pandian

@Minion23

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Posted: 9 years ago

#893

Sushant S Rajput @itsSSR 2h2 hours ago

Sushant S Rajput Retweeted MensXP

Thank you @MensXP . Please watch the film, it's a lot lot better.. #2ndSeptember

Sushant S Rajput added,

MensXP @MensXP

Sushant Singh Rajput @itsSSR Apes Dhoni's @msdhoni Helicopter Shot And Absolutely Nails It -http://bit.ly/1Stirty

254 retweets497 likes

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Anushya Pandian

@Minion23

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Posted: 9 years ago

#894

Dhoni is my idol: Sushant Singh Rajput, on playing the cricketer in the upcoming biopic

by Subhash K Jha Jan 20, 2016 10:59 IST

#Ankita Lokhande #biopic #Dhoni #Kai Po Che #Paani #Pavitra Rishta #Shekhar Kapur #Sushant Singh Rajput

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Sushant Singh Rajput, who turns 30 on January 21, is the only actor of his generation to have done so little work and yet such a variety of roles in such a short span of time. He began with the role of the Gujju cricketer in Abhishek Kapoor's Kai Po Che in 2013, and moved to a playing the over-sexed small town boy in Shuddh Desi Romance. After the triumphant performance in and as Detective Byomkesh Bakshy last year, Sushant is now fully into his part as Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a bio-pic of the cricketer.

How difficult is it for you to portray a living icon like Dhoni?
I think for every actor the most challenging part of playing a character, specially a real-life one, is to convince yourself that you are the character. The moment you achieve that you are safe. With Byomkesh..., my director Dibakar (Banerjee) and I had to construct that character out of our imagination. I've been a fan of Dhoni for years. I've seen him playing for India for ten years or so. My biggest challenge was to convince myself I was Dhoni. Having done that, the rest just followed.

You come from a family of cricketers. Did that help?
Yes, my sister Mitu is a state-level cricketer. I did have an inclination towards cricket from a very young age. I too was a national-level player. I did think of taking up cricket as a profession when I was in Class 8-9. But it was too much family pressure.

What do you mean?
I was the youngest child and the only son. I was expected to shine in academics. It seemed like too big a risk to take up cricket as a career. I thought I had to live up to my family's expectations. Not that I didn't like academics. So I chose to be an engineer. I gave up my dream once. But I wouldn't let myself give it up a second time.

Sushant Singh Rajput. Image from IBN Live.

So cricket's loss was cinema's gain?
I hope I am a gain(laughs). It was the great Sunil Gavaskar who had once said , "Given a chance I'd like to be in the mind of Dhoni just once to understand what he is thinking." I guess I am going where Gavaskar sir wanted to.

Who is your cricketing idol?
There are many idols. Dhoni is definitely one of them.

How far have your preparations taken you?
As far possible. I am trying to walk on Dhoni's footprints in the sand, going wherever he has been. I've researched him as much as possible, gone wherever he had, stayed in the places that he has. Most importantly his personality has changed. He isn't the same physically or emotionally as he was five years ago. So I've to sit down with the man and figure out various phases of his life.

Would you be imitating Dhoni?
No. But the way he talks, walks, holds the bat, plays in the field...these are very important.

But if you imitate his walk and talk the performance becomes mimicry?
There is a very thin line dividing characterization from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry. Dhoni has millions of fans. When they go to see the film they must not get a visual jerk in the first few frames. There musn't be too big a gap between his body language, speech and mine. The moment that is sorted I'll have the audience with me. Then I can take the character forward in the way I choose to interpret it. I think I've done my homework well. I'll be able to communicate Dhoni's thought process.

Is it true that you are never bothered with who your co-stars are?
Oh yes, I am quite into my own work, too consumed by my efforts to do my best.

Do you regret that Shekhar Kapoor's Paani didn't happen?
I had prepped really hard for it. I had no reference points for the character. I built it through the imagination. One starts on a clean slate with every character and find a centre to it. By the time you do you become a part of that character. Of course you cannot BE the character completely because finally you are just acting.

So how far can you take the quest to BE a character?
It all depends on how many hours of practice you put in. I was reading an interview with Kevin Spacey about shooting with Al Pacino. Pacino would remember exactly how many takes he did on the 19th day and how many on the 52nd day. And he would ask the director take Take 3 from day 19 and Take 7 from day 52.That's the way to do it. Because the first few takes is just about warming up.

But many actors feel they lose their spontaneity after the first take?
I can't understand the talk of actors being brilliant one-take actors. If you do only one take you will never know what you can do in the second or third take. You can never realize your full potential. I think all actors need to open up their minds.

I agree with you. Most one-take actors are lazy actors.
(laughs) Maybe. Or maybe they don't know their potential. All I know is my reaction now can't be what it is an hour from now.

So you believe the more takes you do the better your grip over a character?
The probability increases for sure.

You come from television? Do you find cinema a better medium?
I gave my best to my TV show Pavitra Rishta. I stayed with the character Manav for 2 and a half years. My girlfriend Ankita stayed with the show for a 5 and a half years. She is even more emotional about the show. Ekta and the serial Pavitra Rishta would always have a very special place in our hearts. Ankita and I met and fell in love because of the show.

Is she more important to you than you are to yourself?
Ankita is the only factor in my life that makes me believe in destiny.How we catch what life throws at us is destiny.Ankita is my destiny.

Were you as passionate about television as you are about cinema?
As long as you're true to your character I don't think the size of the screen or the format on camera matters. Even of there is no camera I'd still play Manav and Dhoni exactly the same way. I'd give all of myself on stage. Or even a street play.

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Anushya Pandian

@Minion23

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Posted: 9 years ago

#895

I was a superstar in my head, says Sushant Singh Rajput

NAYANDEEP RAKSHIT | Thu, 21 Jan 2016-06:15am , Mumbai , dna

Birthday boy Sushant opens up on life, his choices and his desires...

Sushant Singh Rajput doesn't like being called a star just yet. He says he would prefer being called an actor anyday. He's casual, candid and quite witty. In between bouts of laughter, Sushant discusses his love for films, people's perceptions about him and turning 30.

Excerpts:

You've turned 30. Any change you would like to bring in more?
Well, there are quite a few things that I would like to change, but not because I am hitting a certain number age-wise, but maybe because I have become wiser and less stupid. For me, to become successful, famous or rich in order to prove a point to everyone that, 'Hey, look at me I am so good' was a great driving force, say seven to ten years back. Not anymore. It doesn't mean that I am no more excited about my work, but I have realised that the experience that you get in the process and what you become because of it, is what matters.

Any regrets?
I regret not playing enough, not spending time with my loved ones, not learning to play the guitar and not trying tuxedos enough till now. I am gonna go for them now (smiles).

How do you usually celebrate your birthday?
Oh, I generally work during the day and party with a handful of friends in the evening till either all of us pass out or end up in washrooms throwing up not knowing why we started the celebrations in the first place.

Any birthday plans this year?
Well, quite the same way but this year, I think Ankita is secretly planning a cute surprise party for me. Too bad she has been using my credit card and I got to know!

What's the best birthday gift you've received?
A Breitling watch last year. From a secret admirer. I just wish she remembers my birthday this time too. Sweetheart, are you listening? (laughs)

One birthday gift you want to gift yourself this year.
I want to gift myself a Rolls Royce this year. But too bad, I can't!

Does public perception about you matter at all?
There are only three things in the world. Atoms, spaces between atoms and opinions. They are just opinions. They need not be right or wrong opinions. I am not concerned at all. See, there are two things. One: if all the movies that I do, get appreciated, I get very excited. All the hard work pays off. Number one payback is me being satisfied by what I did in the film. Second is the appreciation from the audience. That's an added thing. Someone goes to the theatre, invests some Rs200-300 on my film and is happy. Third, is now the next one I do, I will have the power to choose my film and also get paid more. If the second and third don't happen, it doesn't mean that I will be really affected. The first thing is very important. There's no purpose or agenda, but it's convenient for me and acting is something that gets me excited. There's nothing else to it because it's not like I have to be the best actor here someday.

What if you lose everything you achieved someday?
Nothing. I can do many other things to support the way I live, but it will be boring. This is exciting and that's it. There's nothing else to it and I don't have to prove a point to anybody. If nothing happens, I will make my own film and I will watch it. I won't put it somewhere where everybody will not get to see it and I will still be happy.

So you mean no one's opinions matter to you then?
A lot of them do, which is why I have stopped listening to them. It doesn't mean that people sitting in front of me are telling me things and I don't listen. I don't meet them only (Laughs). I don't go on these spicy channels and websites anymore. I am in the happiest state right now. I am doing the films that I want to do. I have a very loving family, Ankita and big dreams, but I am not obsessed about my future.

Do you plan your life or are you a 'living in the moment' person?
Initially, when I lost my mom and everyone was writing me off, I was trying to prove a point to everyone. But when big things started happening. I became a topper and then I started taking big decisions in my life. Everything has happened so quickly. I had no money, I had dropped out of college, I was supposed to go to Stanford and I came to... Versova! (laughs) I was then living with six people in a one-room kitchen, making my own food, talking about the monthly contribution, waiting for the auto-rickshaw in the rain to suddenly becoming famous, writing autographs, buying two luxury cars on the same day and buying this bike which is insanely, stupidly expensive.

Hasn't stardom ever hit you?
Initially, yes. I was taking myself very seriously. I was looking at the mirror at least 20 times a day! (Laughs) That was just for about a few days. I thought after all this, it would be something else. Nothing happened. I don't know how much money I have in my bank account right now. Not that I have a lot but it's that much that I don't need to think about money right now. Money was always a very important thing in my life at that point. It was a strong differentiator between taking big decisions. So, now, when I don't have to think about money regarding every choice I make, for me that's like a quantum jump. But nothing changed in my head.

You have changed a lot as a person in the last one year...
I think I have become more talkative now. I was a lot more reserved a year back. I used to think a lot more and I don't do that much now. I have realised that thinking is such a waste of time. I am much more relaxed. I am extremely honest now and I just react to what people ask me.

Would you do a mindless masala film?
It has to make some sense to me. Is there a story to tell? If it's there, is my director sure of it or is he just assembling things to make money? If he's doing that, he's right in his place. I also want to earn money, become more famous. I love it. I am not deliberately not doing a '100-200 crore film. If it happens, great. I will party all night!

Does it ever hurt that despite giving some great performances, your contemporaries are tagged as commercial stars'?
You think about it sometimes. But at the same time, when things are right normally or are in the right places and you know exactly why you are doing what you are doing, then it's just a matter of time. That's why we generally make quick opinions.

Would you like to work with a superstar in an ensemble film ever?
I worked with Aamir Khan in PK, although I didn't have any scenes with him. So why not? I definitely can. I am not against the idea of working with a bigger star. They should be comfortable working with me.

No fear of being overshadowed?
I have been overshadowed for the first 25 years of my life when I was nobody to the world. But I was a superstar in my head! (Laughs)