Vicky Kaushal on Chhaava - I Never Believe in Plan B

Vicky Kaushal on Chhaava: Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal is currently in the spotlight for his upcoming film Chhaava. In this film, he plays the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, alongside pan-India actress Rashmika Mandanna. Vicky recently gave an interview where he spoke about his journey in the film industry and his experiences. Let's dive into what he had to say.

Vicky Kaushal on Chhaava, Stardom & Journey in Bollywood

Your stardom didn’t come suddenly, it came slowly and steadily. Your 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike changed everything for you, and since then, you haven’t looked back. But you always say, “I haven’t earned that title (star) yet.” Why do you say that?

I think in today’s time, we often associate stardom with trends. Every week, a new star emerges because a new actor is trending. I believe stardom should be linked to legacy, not just a hashtag. The day a bad trailer or poster drops and still a lot of people go to watch that actor on screen – that’s real stardom. I feel stardom should be cultivated over a body of work, not just instant fame. This year marks my tenth year in the industry, and I still have so much to do and learn. Ten years ago, I never imagined my journey would be this beautiful.

You once said that you never had a Plan B. Were you confident that you would make it this far?

I never believe in a Plan B, and it’s not a calculated decision. It helps me give my absolute best to Plan A. In today’s world, giving everything to what you want to do is the bare minimum. If you’re doing less, then you’re doing too little. Having a Plan B to fall back on only makes me weaker. Also, the role of a leading man came much later for me. Back in 2009, when I finished college and enrolled in an acting school, heroes were launched in a very different way. But right now, it’s such a beautiful time because any new actor who has done great work, even if it’s just two scenes, gets noticed and is offered better opportunities.

You gave hundreds of auditions at the start of your career and waited for hours. Did you ever feel like “This is not going to happen for me”?

There were certainly tough days, but I never thought this wouldn’t happen for me. Every day I would think, “Today is a new day, today is a fresh start.” Looking back at my journey now, I think, “How did this happen?” There were so many auditions I didn’t clear, but somewhere deep inside, I had faith that one day it would happen.

Today, you are at a point where you feel success, popularity, and stardom, but there is still something so real and grounded about you. What keeps you so grounded?

I think credit for this goes to my parents. Who I am today and how I am is all because of the teachings from my parents, which were instilled in me through their upbringing. They truly deserve all the credit for this.

How do you view your challenges and how do you overcome them?

When you go for auditions and knock on the door, you don’t know what kind of shooting is going on inside. You don’t know if it’s a soap ad or a toothbrush commercial. When you ask if you’re fit for the audition, they look you up and down and say, “Okay.” Then they hand you a paper with multiple names already written on it, and after you, there are more names to be written. You also see people who look much better than you, and that moment can make you feel insecure. When it’s time for the audition, you don’t even get a chance to do a retake. After one or two shots, your chance is over. Earlier, we would wonder if we passed the audition or not.

You have been seen in serious films like Masaan, action films like Uri, and now the biographical Sam Bahadur. But how do you see yourself as a comedy actor?

I believe comedy is very challenging. It has to be kept simple, that’s when humor comes out. The problem is, an actor’s mind never stays still; it’s always thinking about how to make the character better.

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You have seen humble beginnings. Having seen your father (action director Sham Kaushal) struggle, did those experiences make sure you never take stardom or success for granted?

Absolutely, that’s where it all stems from. When you’re born in a chawl, in a 10x10 room, and your father was a stuntman, setting himself on fire and jumping from the 10th floor of a building just to earn his daily wage, you start seeing things from a different perspective. My parents never shied away from sharing their struggles to make us realize what’s important and how difficult things were. So, subconsciously, I think everything started from there. Moreover, in this profession, everything is so fragile – your stardom, love, recognition – it’s all so fragile that you can never take it for granted. It’s one film at a time, and you keep moving forward.

You and Katrina have both had fascinating journeys in the industry. She’s been a huge star for a long time. Do you both learn from each other’s experiences and creatively feed off each other?

Katrina’s journey has been much longer and more magnificent. She’s a massive star. I learn a lot from her journey because she’s worked so hard and struggled through it all. When she focuses on her goal, no one can take her focus off it, and that’s why she’s where she is. Also, whenever I discuss anything with her, whether it’s a script or creative matter, her perspective is always objective, which is not easy in a relationship. She always provides a great perspective that really helps me.

Your dancing is loved by everyone. How many marks does Katrina give you for your dancing?

She doesn’t give me any marks, but yes, she likes my dancing.

 Is Katrina your most honest critic?

Yes, she is, and sometimes she’s too honest, and I tell her, "Please sugar-coat it a little!"

 Vicky Kaushal has delivered many outstanding films in his career, including Masaan, Uri, Sanju, Raazi, Sam Bahadur, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Bad News, Govinda Naam Mera, Lust Stories, Gangs of Wasseypur, Manmarziyaan, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Bhoot, Bombay Velvet, Sardar Udham, Love and War, Dunki, The Great Indian Family, Love Per Square Foot, Psycho Raman 2.0, Zubaan, and the short film Geek Out. Vicky won the Best Actor award at the 66th National Film Awards in 2018 and has also received three Filmfare Awards.

Vicky's highly anticipated film Chhaava will be released in theaters on February 14. The film is directed by Laxman Utekar.

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