Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; July 21, 2015)

From Bittoo Boss to Bangistan, Pulkit Samrat has had a chequered filmi career. His debut film Bittoo Boss didn’t do well, but he got a fresh lease of life with Furkey that was a big hit. His subsequent films O Teri, Dolly Ki Doli also turned out to be tepid fares. Now, again the makers of Fukrey have given him another film Bangistan that might just do the trick for Pulkit. Here he talks about his film choices, his equation with Salman Khan and clears the air on his link-up with Yami Gautam...

Your last couple of films Fukrey, O Teri, and now Bangistan saw you playing a parallel hero and not a solo hero, which is how you started. Comment.
All my films are solo hero movies simply because I believe the hero of the film is always the story! I am not concerned about the length of the role or what the other person is doing. If I am convinced about my role and see myself in that particular character, I do it. Other things are secondary — who is the producer, the director, whether it will be marketed well or get a good release. If you think of only solo hero films then there wouldn’t be a Dil Dhadakne Do, Dil Chahta Hai which are great films or for that matter Rang De Basanti.

What did you like about Bangistan?
It’s a fun film. I flipped out when I heard the story and the way it was going to be narrated. It’s about these two people who hail from a country called Bangistan, which is divided. Riteish’s character is from North Bangistan and mine is from South Bangistan. Both have their own fundamentalist groups and we have been brainwashed by our leaders to become suicide bombers. We are terrorists who land up at the same place in Poland to carry out some bombings. It’s a hilarious ride from there. It is completely satirical — conveying a deep message, but in a funny manner. It is quirky and cool.

Though your debut film Bittoo Boss failed, you managed to get a big break again with Fukrey. Do you consider it your second launch?
No. I think of it as my first commercial success. Every film has its own journey, its own fate. If I look back from where I came, I think I have had quite a fair innings. I have grown with every step. Yes, my debut film didn’t do well, but that got me Fukrey. The producers saw the promos, the songs and thought of contacting me.

Since Bangistan is from the same producers as Fukrey you must be banking on it...
They are known for their quirky, out-of-the-box humour and sensibility. They do things differently. It’s got Riteish with his impeccable sense of comic timing and I have done my stuff.

There have been reports about you and your co-star Yami Gautam getting too close off-screen. What is your reaction to that?
It’s great to see the film getting promoted nicely. Time and again we have seen that whenever a romantic film is being shot, there is a tendency to link the lead actors and promote the film.

Are you saying somebody is promoting it knowingly?
Well, if somebody is writing about it, then somebody is promoting it!

What is your equation with Salman Khan?
I admire him a lot and I am lucky he adores me. That’s the equation we share, but it’s a personal thing and I don’t like to talk about it.

Watching you on screen, one gets a feeling that you ape him...
(Cuts in) I always say I would like to be the kind of person Salman is off screen, but I don’t think I ape him on screen.

Now, that he is a producer, will he cast you in any of his films?
I don’t know. If a film works for everybody, then he might. But my love for him is unconditional.