Sushant Singh Rajput talks about success, regrets and the choices he’s made in life
Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 24, 2016)

MS Dhoni: The Untold Story may have been a huge hit with the critics, audiences and at the box office but the tragedy is that the industry is not ready to cheer for Sushant Singh Rajput. His phenomenal performance is what made the film work, and not the subject of the biopic. The film worked because he became Dhoni, otherwise it wouldn’t have. Sitting in his tastefully done up bachelor pad in Bandra, we chat about everything — from the hits to the misses, his success to his regrets. Excerpts...

In your previous interview right before Dhoni, you had claimed the Rs 100 crore-mark doesn’t matter to you. Does your film’s successful run change that?
There’s no difference in terms of what I feel about what I do. I would still say the same, maybe. But there’s one thing I have realised after sitting with so many people who are trying very hard to make me realise that it’s a big thing, there’s that one thought that came. It means that next time, when I do a Byomkesh, maybe it will do slightly better at the box-office. That’s a good thing. Except for that, I don’t think it changes anything.

Have you started feeling or thinking like a star now?
I don’t understand how to be a star. I don’t know what this word actually means. If that means people would come and watch your film irrespective of how your film is, I don’t wanna be one. It depends on what your definition of star is. I don’t know what it is, I don’t know how to and I don’t intend to become one.

Do you feel Brand Dhoni has helped better Brand Sushant?
Of course, if you look in that context, then yes! Look at the kind of opening we got. I have no shame in admitting that it was because of Dhoni and also because of Neeraj Pandey’s trailer. People wanted to know their hero’s story. That was the reason why we got the opening. People were anticipating it to be Mahi’s story and went in for that. But it would not have done so well had Neeraj not made it so well. It’s both. The way Neeraj looked at the subject and also, Dhoni’s popularity. Let me punctuate this again. I don’t matter because I have worked equally hard in Byomkesh Bakshy or my other films, but not all of them did the business this one did. Does that mean I’ve not worked hard enough for those films? No! I am equally proud of all those films as I am of this one. My excitement doesn’t change. Whether the film does 50, 100, 200 crore or if I do theatre, TV or make my own films — I will still be as excited.

What was the best compliment you received for your performance?
I have slightly more respect for people who pay to watch you and give you a feedback. Not because they are your fans but because they think of the film in a certain way. Some messaged to tell me that they are Mahi’s fans and they didn’t go to watch the film because I’m there in it. They made sure I knew that. But in the last shot, ‘we got to know we were not watching Mahi throughout’, they’d say. So that says a lot.

You watched the film recently with your entire family. What did they tell you?
Yes, I watched it with my sisters and my dad and this was one of those rare times when we were together and were watching my film. They were so excited and they knew that this event is happening. Now was the time that we were together after a while. It was their Sushant’s film so they were all emotional. They were happy, they kissed me and a lot of things happened. (Smiles) They said that after 10-15 minutes of my entry in the film, they felt they weren’t watching me, but Dhoni.

You have surpassed all your contemporaries in the opening day race.
I’m very happy with the numbers but it doesn’t change the idea of my skills. The intent, the honesty towards work is always there. But sometimes, it doesn’t work. I do a film because there are a few things I understand and few things I don’t. To understand what I don’t is why I do the film. So sometimes, I will get it, sometimes, I won’t. If I’m bad, I’m worse than the worst actor on this planet. But if I’m good, nobody can beat me. So it changes every time you do a film, not with every number that you get.

Don’t you feel that you are a much better actor compared to your contemporaries?
I don’t take myself seriously, so I don’t get affected actually. But if you ask me if I would take out two hours of my time tomorrow and who I would watch, I would say Ranbir Kapoor. And maybe to a point, Ranveer Singh. Although my favourite actors are Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rajkummar Rao. But I still don’t mind giving my two hours for Ranbir or Ranveer. I can’t think about doing it for anybody else. So I guess that answers your question.

Have you raised your fee?
Fortunately or unfortunately, I already had around five films before Dhoni released. So there’s no point renegotiating anything. (Laughs) But if I decide to go and attend shaadis and all, I would take a bigger chunk. But not for films. I do other stuff because I take too much time for one film. So I’ll do everything else for money, but I would do films only to find that ‘why’ I told you about. Money is not a consideration for me. But it’s only up to my management who has to decide dates. So how do we decide? If I’m offered five films and I like two, but I can do only one. It will come down to money offered. That’s my management’s job. I don’t know how much money I have or my bank balance.

Now that’s my headline...
(Laughs) Honestly, money was a very big differentiator when I was growing up. I belonged to a middle-class family and had four sisters. Everyone was educated, but I wanted to go to a university and couldn’t. Thankfully, I was good in studies and got through on my skills. I never liked money too much. If I have the skills to study in this university, I should. But why couldn’t I go? Because of this stupid thing that I could not have earned back then. All I know right now is I have at least that much money — not that I have a lot — but it’s enough that I don’t have to think about it!

Will you now veer towards more commercially viable films?
What is that? There’s nothing like a sure-shot box office success. If a film does well, people would say this is the genre, this combination works. Next time, it doesn’t work, you will come up with something else. We like to tell ourselves that we know s***. But nothing can guarantee you box-office success.

Still feel like an outsider?
No, I have started getting invited to these parties, so I guess I’m improving a lot. (Laughs) It took some time. (Smiles) I am an introvert, so I cannot hold a conversation for too long. I’m not interesting enough. Never in my dreams also, can I see myself walking up to a stranger and talking. I can’t see myself being the centre of attraction at any i party.

Sushant picks
One film among the contemporary actors you would have loved to do:
Ranbir Kapoor: Rocket Singh- Salesman Of The Year because it was a very layered character and I think he gave his best in that film. The nuances were in place and you need eyes to appreciate what he did. And unfortunately, that film didn’t do as well at the box office. So these numbers don’t explain anything. Unless I’m the producer of the film. Then it would mean everything. (Laughs)
Ranveer Singh: I’m still to watch Bajirao Mastani but the kind of appreciation he got from insiders of the industry, I would like to believe that he did an amazing job. I’m planning to watch it so probably that one!
Arjun Kapoor: 2 States because he played an MBA student. I know that world and I also fell in love with a girl back in college. So maybe I would understand those emotions well.
Varun Dhawan: Badlapur. Again, a very layered character sketch!
Aditya Roy Kapur: Fitoor (Smiles). I don’t need to give a reason for this one, I believe
Sidharth Malhotra: Again I want to watch his Baar Baar Dekho which I’m planning to watch now. At the idea level, it sounds interesting.