“My career as an actor-producer is a roller coaster ride and gives me adrenaline rush”

ANIRUDH SINGH tells JYOTHI VENKATESH in this exclusive interview for bollyy.com and Mayapuri at his posh apartment in Goregaon that after acting in several TV serials, and producing three short films, he has now produced a film in Marathi titled Niwaas

Meet actor cum producer Anirudh Singh, who , in spite of being from Lucknow, has produced a feature film in Marathi titled Niwaas besides three short films in Hindi and is right now thoroughly engrossed acting in a web series for Amazon Prime Video, after having completed acting in a film in Telugu. Thoroughly mind boggling isn’t it? Now read on!

You came from London relinquishing a lucrative career and loads of money to pursue a career in acting in Mumbai. Why?

Yes. You are right as I left London almost 11 years ago to pursue a career as an actor in Mumbai after quitting a lucrative job there because the acting bug bit me very badly.

Initially, as I had no one to guide me what to do, I decided to go to different shootings and observe the crews at work to gain an understanding of the craft and to understand what exactly the rhythm of the shootings was.

Did you crash and any film?

As I said, I had no one to guide me and I bagged an offer to act in a serial for Doordarshan titled Mere Apne where I played the role of the main lead character of Rocky. It was my debut as an actor. I did not at all face any problem and I feel it was a very good break for me as an actor.

How did you prepare yourself as an actor?

I joined theatre stalwart Lalit Parimoo and learnt what acting is by doing rigorous workshops with him and acted in all his plays. I knew theatre does not pay an actor at all but I do not regret my association with Lalitji because I learnt a lot about the stage and understood the craft of acting.

In fact, that exactly was my payment. Before Covid lockdown, I was doing Shakespeare’s Lovers play under Shakespeare Company of India and playing the role of Othello and Prince Troilus.

Then?

Then I did shows like Khwahishein and Chajje Chajje Ka Pyar and my actual journey started in showbiz. I also did a show called Pratigya and bagged a break in a show called Ram Leela for Life OK in which Ajay Devgn was the sutradhaar while I played the role of Lakshman while Rajniesh Duggal played the role of Lord Ram

Go on!

The show was shot at the iconic R.K. Studios way back in 2012.It was a show with a 12 to 13 camera set up and had six episodes in all. It was indeed a big learning experience for me and after that I really knew where I was destined to go. Uske baad maine sahi disha pakad liya.

You have been part of several TV serials. Isn’t it?

I did Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut TV show Saraswatichandra, Sasural Simar Ka etc. I was getting offers to do TV shows regularly but did not realize that I was getting overexposed on TV at the risk of my career in films at that point of time because, as I said, I was not getting proper guidance from my peers. Raasta Katin tha magar mujhe aage badhna tha because acting has always been my passion

What did you do then?

Four years ago, I decided to join hands with my friends like Kushal and my mom Neerja Singh and formed the production house Eeffronn Entertainment and made three short films under our banner but then there was absolutely no revenue.

I did not get my share of money too though the short films garnered a lot of appreciation from various quarters.

Why did you say that the short films did not generate revenue? Didn’t you pitch them to any renowned OTT platforms?

Who says that OTT platforms buy your short films? They do not come forward to touch your short films even with a barge pole and set out to buy your projects if and only if there are renowned stars in them and not otherwise.

Which are the short films that you have produced?

They are Life Syndrome, Little Star and Love, Life & Regrets. Life Syndrome was directed by Kundan Sad while Little Star was directed by Subhash Jaiswal. Love Life & Regrets was directed by Arun Mitr.

You have also acted in a Telugu film though your mother tongue is Hindi!

Why did you decide to produce feature films, first in Punjabi and then in Marathi?

Yes. I got an offer to act as a main character in a Telugu film called Korangi Nunchi (Who Will Marry Thomas) directed by K. Jayadev. After we managed to get a lot of exposure after making short films, we felt that it was time to explore newer horizons and what better than making films?

Initially we decided to produce films in Punjabi but backed out when Mehul Agaja came to us and pitched the script of Niwaas and promised to direct it for us in Marathi.

Marathi audiences were accepting new content with open arms and we had wonderful content ready with us to jump onto the fray. Also my career started in Mumbai and I felt I owed it to Mumbai.

We signed on a top actor like Sayaji Shinde and produced Niwaas in a span of just 28 days in places like Saputara, Mohpeda, Nasik, Jodhpur, Mussoorie and Rishikesh.

We have already showcased the film at various International film festivals including IFFI in Goa and Pune International Film Festival and we are planning to release the film all over Maharashtra very soon.

How would you describe your career as a producer and actor all rolled into one?

I’d say with pride that my career as an actor and producer has been a roller coaster ride and it gives me an adrenaline rush when I set out to act or produce. I aim at a career as an actor in Hindi films.

Name some of the directors who are in your wish list?

Rajkumar Santoshi, Anurag Kashyap, Rajamouli, Dibakar Banerjee and last but not the least Mani Ratnam

Are you open to acting in web series or do you have any apprehension about going nude in them?

I am doing a web series for Amazon Prime Video. Content has become very good as far as web series is concerned and also nudity is not mandatory at all for all characters.