I feel very elated as a leading man after having acted as a child artist- UTKARSH SHARMA

By Jyothi Venkatesh

You are making your debut with your father Anil Sharma’s film Genius. How do you feel?

I feel very elated that I am making my bow in films as a leading man with my own father’s film Genius, after having acted as a child artiste in my dad’s films like Gadar and Apne earlier.

Is it true that it is just by coincidence that you were introduced by your dad in his Gadar as Sunny-Ameesha’s child?

Yes. It is 100 per cent true that it was by mere coincidence that I was asked to face the camera  for Gadar by my dad as they could not get hold of a precocious 4 year boy till the shooting was scheduled. It was when Ameesha, who ueed to come home as part of her workshop and the Zee guys suggested that he considered casting me as the child actor, that dad decided to cast me at the eleventh hour in the film

Do you remember your first shot?

Ha! How can I forget that shot? I had to rush towards Ameesha Patel who was very fond of me and hug her and plant a kiss on her cheek 

Is acting tougher as a child actor or as a leading man now?

Though it was a child’s play for me to play the character in Gadar, I realised that it is tough to play a leading man since you have to oscillate between different emotions effectively in front of the camera.

Why did you not continue to act as a child star in outside productions and restrict yourself only to Gadar and Apne?

It is only because my parents did not want me to get overexposed as a child actor and sway away from my studies. I did not even tell my classmates in school that I had acted in Gadar as Jithe and not many recognised me in the film because I was wearing a pugdi as part of my character.

Were you a genius in school?

Though I was good in computers, I have lost touch now. I admit I was not a genius as far as studies were concerned and was just about reasonably good.

You assisted your dad in his films!

Yes. I assisted dad in the Salman Khan starrer Veer as well as Singh Saab The Great. It was while assisting dad and observing Salman Khan that I learnt how to switch on and switch off from a character in front of the camera. The idea was to try to get a role on my own credibility instead of bagging a role just because I happen to be the son of a director like Anil Sharma. I was preparing myself continuously as an actor by working in school, plays in various roles which included even being a tree and an old man

How is your dad as a director?

My dad is extremely passionate about his job. If you are as passionate as he is, you can also survive upheavals and ups and downs in the film industry and emerge a victor. 

Okay. Coming back to Genius, what is your role in then film?

In Genius, I play a 17 year old young boy called Vasudev Shastri from Mathura in Vrindavan, who is referred to as a genius. He is an orphan raised by a priest. The best thing about him is that he has a photogenic memory. He goes to IIT and becomes a topper in the merit list. RAW hires him when he is just 21 because it feels that he will prove to be a big asset to the country as a whole.

How was the experience of working with stalwarts like Mithun Chakraborty, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the film?

Working with seasoned actors like them was a very enriching experience for me as an actor. When I was told by my dad that I had to act in some major scenes of mine with them, I got goose bumps. I confess I was not at all intimidated when I was acting with them for the simple reason that in front of the camera they  were grounded and converted themselves into their characters  instead of  projecting their legendary super star personas. No wonder they appeal to not only the masses but also the classes.

What was your dad’s brief to you on the sets?

My dad was very clear that I had to perform very realistically though Genius is a commercial film. I did not want to play to the gallery as an actor but my character to play to the gallery. I was glad when dad told that Sunny Deol also used to tell him that he wanted his character to play to the gallery and not himself as an actor.

Who are your favourite actors and actresses in Bollywood?

Aamir Khan, Sunny Sir, Shah Rukh Khan Sir , Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor are my favourite actors while Priyanka Chopra, who has pushed the limits as an actor and opened new doors to all the other actresses, especially as her determination is fantastic, Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma who are also too good , are my favourites among the actresses today.

What has your approach to acting been in Genius?

I have tried not to be loud in Genius. I have been loud only whenever the character needed to be loud in the film. I want to be appreciated for being convincing in my character

As an actor, what kinds of roles do you want to play in films?

I want to be a part and parcel of films which have high content as well as high entertainment quotient. You can have films which have both in a good measure, like in the films which were being made in then 70s, 80’s and 90’s. I believe that in today’s times, comedy need not be over the top. I want to etch characters which have different shades instead of limiting me to similar type of roles. I wish I can play mature roles. I want to play roles of people who are 70 or 80 though I am very young now.

You have done a course in filmmaking in Los Angeles. Dom you aspire to follow in the footsteps of your illustrious dad as a director eventually?

I had directed a short film as part of my diploma exercise abroad called Purpose. It was based on the Peshawar school kids’ massacre. It had duration of 12 minutes. I wrote the script and cast Indian actors who were in USA

What next?

I am right now in talks with some filmmakers though no role has materialized till now as I am still focussing on Genius and am waiting for the outcome of the film.

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Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, UTKARSH SHARMA, Interview, Genius, Anil Sharma