“I HAVE NEVER MANIPULATED MY WAY INTO CAMPS BUT IT IS NOT THAT I AM NOT HUNGRY FOR GOOD ROLES”

SANJAY SURI tells JYOTHI VENKATESH

The last film in which you were seen in a pivotal role was Brahmanand Singh’s Jhalki. What memories do you have of your association with the film?

Jhalki was a film about the journey of a 9 year old girl in search of her 7 year old younger brother. It was basically about child trafficking base d on a folk lore where a bird loses a grain and goes from the pillar to post to retrieve it. It is about the different people that she meets in the journey.

What did you play in Jhalki?

I played the District Collector. It is a real character and you cannot brand it as positive or negative. The girl comes to me with a lot of hope. The District Collector wants to help her but he is burdened by the bureaucracy and find that he cannot help her because of the system as the implementation of the remedial measures is very tough but eventually he becomes a facilitator. The role was written by Bramhanand and was tight and did not at all require any digressions and there was room to bring characterizations and also varied nuances

How did you approach your character in Jhalki?

The idea is always bigger than any film. I had to bring the needed elements and nuances to my character to make him real, especially because I played a family man with two kids. Divya Dutta played my wife. I decided to play the character because Brahmanand’s idea intrigued me immensely. He has given a scale to the parameters. The script also moves you and stays with you after evoking certain kinds of emotions in you and also succeeds you sensitization wise and your approach towards the children undergoes a change.

What do you feel when you look back at your career as an actor in films?

When I look back, I just cannot believe that I have put in over 20 years as an actor right from my debut film Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, which was released way back in 1999. I am glad and also proud that I have survived in this fickle industry without even a single 100 crore film to my credit as an actor. I would say that I am still waiting for my right break as an actor.

Which are your five best films as an actor till date?

Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, Raazi, Jhankar Beats, Pinjar, Dhoop and last but not the least Jhalki are my five best films till date.

In what way have you evolved as an actor over the last 21 years?

I have evolved in many ways over the year as an actor. An actor emerges from the human being that you are. A human being evolves with the experience and though you remain at the core, your highs and lows change. Here, not only your desires as a person, but also your own perspectives change for the better or for worse.

Can you elucidate?

Twenty years ago, my focus as an actor was to sustain for three months after Pyar Mein Kabhi Kabhi was released. It was the city of Mumbai that has given me not only name but also fame for the next twenty years. Though the film industry has welcomed me, I still feel that I am only in the periphery, especially because as an actor, I feel that I am underutilized as yet, though I confess I am busy as an actor. I am practical enough to be aware of the fact that only if one film of mine clicks in a big way at the box office; will producers and directors flock to sign me on as an actor in their films. Not otherwise.

You turned 50 on April 6 this year. How would you describe yourself?
I would say that I came from nowhere and learnt how to act, produce and distribute, though I’d say that direction is still pending. Other people’s journey inspires me as an actor and creative juices flow. Whatever I have done till today, I have done only for the sake of my soul. I remain natural as far as my off screen persona is concerned. I am glad that I have acted in 37 films till date in a span of 21 years and produced 7 films though I am not originally from the film industry. I’d say that there is something in me that I continue to work in the film industry.

Is it also because you are not manipulative as an actor?

I have never manipulated my way into camps but it is not that I am not hungry for good roles. I am not greedy and I have absolutely no ego at all and I have expressed my latent desire to work with certain directors without any hesitation. It could mean that I have been a victim of short sight. It could also be due to economic casting in some films. Let’s face facts. You are not cast only because you are talented. It is necessary to back a running horse too. What you see is what you get ultimately. I have always focused only on my work.

How has your experience of turning a producer been?

It was way back in 2004 that I turned a producer with My Brother Nikhil. Since then I have produced quite a few films including I Am, Sorry Bhai and My Birthday Song. My experience has been satisfying though I would not call it spectacular.

What triggers you to produce a film?
I produce only if I am convinced about a project, not otherwise. I am my own first audience. I am not at all choosy but I have not learnt how to hound directors. I feel that if there is a requirement and the directors want me, they will come to me with the roles. I have also dabbled in distribution of International films! I have a tie up with Vakao and have distributed three films. I have also distributed Chinese and English films. Distribution of International films is a growing market today though nowadays it is not at all economical like it was earlier.

You have also been part for web series!

Yes. I have acted in web series like Season One of Inside Edge, which is till date, India’s first ever web series, Mentalhood with Karisma Kapoor, Brahm with Kalki Koechlin, Laila etc. Today a 16 year old or a 50 year old is watching the OTT platform and it is a very exciting time for storytelling, whether it is a film or for that matter an OTT platform. OTT is a great landscape and a great time to cater to without the undue pressure of the box office and you reach out to 192 countries in one stretch and also it is not an identified audience like in TV. Like Narcos, the character in an OTT platform is always bigger than the star. Take it from me, OTT as well as the film industry will co-exist, with different price points, though it may seem that there is a setback for films because of the extended lockdown imposed recently.

You have still not tried your hand at direction!

Though I can multi task as an actor, I feel that I should take up direction shortly, because I have a lot of my own things to say as a director. It will require a certain kind of dedication and departure from other things.

Which are the directors who are in your wish list today as an actor?
A lot of directors today are doing exciting and great work. Like Mani Ratnam, Ritesh Batra, Krishna D.K and Raj Nidimoru and Raj, Neeraj Gehwan, Sujoy Ghosh, Neeraj Pandey and  last but not the least Rajkumar Hirani (though I do not thing that I’d fit into his scheme of things)

Can you clarify the rumors that you and Onir have fallen out?

All that I can say once and for all is that Onir is a dear friend of mine and I have not fallen out with him though I am not producing any film with him as of now.