“I Would Not Like To Be Typecast As An Actor”- Mayur Kumar

Jyothi Venkatesh

Why did you decide to be an ac tor?

I belong to a small village called Babula near Lucknow. I started my career as a body builder and became very popular in and around my village. Later ion when I took up acting in theater, my popularity increased. It was then that I was attracted towards acting as my career.

 You are making your debut with Shantanu Tambe’s film Gunwali Dulhaniya! What is your role in the film?

Yes. I am all set to make my debut as a leading man with Shantanu Tambe’s film Gunwali Dulhaniya opposite Kachan Awasthi as my leading lady.  It is my dream come true role because right from the time I was in college I have been nursing this desire to become an actor in Bollywood

How did you bag the break?

I know Shantanu Sir for a long time and when he sounded the idea of making Gunwali Dulhaniya, I told him that I would love to be a part of the project. He also promised to cast me in the second lead role but as luck would have it; my joy knew no bounds a month later when he decided to launch his film, and called me to inform me that he had planned to cast me in the lead role in his film.

What made you take up a female-centric film like Gunwali Dulhaniya as your debut film as an actor?

It was a boon to be cast in the lead in a female oriented film as I had faced several rounds of auditions and rejections in my career as an actor and was bidding for my time to get to show my prowess as an actor in a film. Frankly, I never ever dreamt that a day would come when I’d be cast as a leading man in a film.

Go on!

I have blind faith in Shantanu Sir and also know that he knows more about me and my talent than even I know

What is your role in the film?

I play the role of a young man called Sameer, who is dynamically different from what I am in real life. Sameer and I are exactly opposite poles. Sameer speaks very less, whereas I speak a dime a dozen. Though I have a theater background, I should say that playing the role of Sameer was quite tough. Shananu Sir called me to attend his work shop for about a month and a half before we went on the floors.

What is the USP of the film Gunwali Dulhaniya?

It is a new way of presenting a novel thought in the form of a brand new bouquet. We set out to drive home the message that in life we welcome anything which is new.

Were you skeptical about playing the role?

Initially when I started attending my workshop, I was not sure whether I’d be able to carry off the role ion my shoulder especially since Shasntanu Sir had invested his faith in my ability to get into the skin of the character of Sameer but a month and a half when I was attending the last day of workshop, I was an entirely different actor, brimming with confidence.

Which are your favorite Hindi films and who are your favorite actors?

I liked Bahubali, Badhaai Ho, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Badla and Andhadhun. The year 2018 has been a year of good content as far as Hindi films are concerned with content emerging as the King. My favorite actors are Sanjeev Kumar, Motilal and Manoj Bajpayee among the males and Tabu and Kajol among the females.

Which are the Hindi films that you liked a lot in recent times?

Who are in your dream list of filmmakers with whom you would want to work with?

Rohit Shettry, Anurag Kashyap and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are my favorite directors with whom I’d love to act, come rain, come shine.

As an actor, do you believe in cultivating any particular image for yourself?

No typecasting for me as an actor. I would like to follow in the footsteps of actors like Sanjeev Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee. I have also been inspired a lot by both Sunil Dutt in films like Muhjhe Jeene Do and Mother India as well as his son Sanjay Dutt in Khalnayak

What next, after Gunwali Dulhaniya?

I have been approached to act in two to three web series but am actually awaiting the release of my debut film as an actor- Gunwali Dulhaniya before I say yes to offers from makers of web series.

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Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, Mayur Kumar, Gunwali Dulhaniya