On the fear of being ‘stereotyped’
People tell me that I am getting stereotyped and I tell them I do not mind getting stereotyped. Everyone should have their market and do things that they are good at.It is like the iPhone is good, but that does not mean that they stop making better versions of it. It shouldn’t be like you played something similar in Gaslight and other films too, rather, it should be like you get better with each film. I am enjoying my journey. Initially, there was a lot of noise and I, as an outsider, had to learn the hard way. And so, finally I have cancelled all the noise around me and focused only on my work and doing what I like. If I fail, so be it.On finding his place
I don’t think you can ever ‘find your place’ and you should constantly keep growing and hustling, without getting comfortable. At the end of the day, cinema is akin to any other competition, although it is an art form made for commerce — the day that I find my place, I will close shop and go back to New Jersey.
‘Fighter’ teaser is out: Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s movie all set to evoke patriotism on Republic Day 2024
On Fighter
It has been an unbelievable experience for me. Siddharth Anand had made a show titled Flesh in which Swara Bhasker and I worked. Only about four people must have seen that show. Siddharth had told me that he would give me a big film one day, and at that time War also had not been released.
Today it is a big production and they gave me this beautiful role and had too much fun in the past year making this film. I play an Air Force Pilot and had a ball! I wore a uniform in The Test Case where I played an army officer, here it is the first time I am an Air Force pilot.
On the process of the movie
We had a lot of training and thanks to the Tezpur Air Force base and its top notch pilots, we had open access to whatever we wanted to know. We trained for about 10 days there.
On working with Hrithik and Deepika
This is my second time working with Deepika. The first time I had a small role in Piku, where I had a scene with her on a date and she talked about her father’s bowel movements, putting me off! With Anil Kapoor, I have done small parts in Thar and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.
And with my childhood idol Hrithik Roshan, it is like life has come full circle. Hrithik is an extremely hard-working person. They say, “Don’t meet your childhood idols”. But I am so glad I met him and got to work with him.