“Destiny Takes Its Own Time, Whether It Is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Irrfan Khan Or Me” Prashantt Guptha

Jyothi Venkatesh

Actor Prashantt Guptha is quite excited that he has bagged a Hollywood film called A New Christmas back in USA. It is his first Hollywood film he says, and adds that it’s a unique project since it is the first ever Christmas film that stars ethnic actors, though normally Christmas films star actors who are American. The director of the film Dani Tenenbaum is Jewish, whereas Prashantt is a Hindu and the girl is from Africa. Dani has earlier made a few short films as well as a feature film which was shown on Amazon. He is doubly excited that the film has been shot in New York which is his place of birth.

Prashantt has added one more feather to his cap besides acting. He has paid a tribute to the late actor-singer Kishore Kumar by coming up with a music video in which he is singing Ruk Jaana NahiTu Kahin Haarke which has been picked up by the music company Sa Re Ga Ma. “I am basically an actor who can also sing and not otherwise, clarifies Prashantt. “I have been an actor all my life and do not at all belong to any film family. Thanks to the opportunities thrown at you by the digital medium today, you do not have to wait for a platform to act or sing.”

Over his favourite Single Malt, sitting in his spacious balcony in his well furnished apartment which he owns, Prashant tells you that last year he was part of a short film called Tu in which he played a double role. “The film is on YouTube. It is a motivational film of a man who is frustrated with his life and sees his spirit in front of him when he is about to have his drinks. His soul has all the answers because all of us in real life have our own alter egos – our own soul, which knows all."

Prod Prashantt if he is doing any Hindi feature films and he says with glee, “I am doing a film with Vivek Agnihotri and one with the legend of the South- Revathy.

In the same breath, Prashantt honestly confesses that he is not at all happy with the way his career has progressed over the last decade that he has been a part of the film industry. He clarifies that he has no problem at all about nepotism in the industry because he feels that though nepotism is a part of every industry, unfortunately the film industry has been blamed for it and victimized unnecessarily.

Prashantt is sad that the film industry has become the black sheep as far as nepotism is concerned. “Today every one wants to become an actor or some part of showbiz and envy creeps in when someone else gets into limelight and you get left out. If Anil Kapoor’s daughter SonamKapoor or Shakti Kapoor’s daughter Shraddha  Kapoor clicks in the industry, people tend to point a finger of accusation at them. But what needs to be understood is that they can easily get access to the industry but they can survive only if they have talent. And they do.

Prashantt says that he respects Sonam for having had the guts to take up a challenging role like in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Prashantt adds. “I should know because I have worked with her in Neerja. If she has been in the industry for the last eleven years, it is only because she has something which the people have liked in her as an actress, not just because she happens to be Anil Kapoor’s daughter.

Prashantt says that some of his best films are Issaq, Neerja and a small Kashmiri film called Identity Card. Prashantt says he is indebted to Jayantilal Gada for having given him a major break in Issaq even when the director Manish Tiwari was not in his favor.

I ask Prashantt to evaluate his growth as an actor over the years. Pat comes the reply, “I wanted to work with Karan Johar, Yashraj, Nadiadwala etc when I came but over the years, I could not even manage to reach them but yet I have done ten films till date. I was very technical when I came to Mumbai from America to try my hand at acting. Over the years I feel ek kismka tehrao aa gaya hai mujhmein. I remember what Naseeruddin Sir once said, "Actor jab budhaa hota hai toh uski acting mein jawaani aati hai."

Prashantt Guptha is practical enough to confess that he was never ever fascinated about working in TV shows. “A TV show goes on and on for five to ten years and you end up being known not for yourself but the character that you play in it. I wanted to do at least three films every year because my passion was to make a living by acting in films and not on Indian TV or else I would have been happy staying back in USA.

Destiny takes its own time. Didn’t Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Irrfan Khan have to wait for two decades? Some are lucky while some have to wait. On a positive note, I can say that my struggles have made me a better performer”, Prashantt Guptha signs off.

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