Sidharth Malhotra says thanks to the highs and lows he faced in his career so far, he is ‘fearless and confident’ now
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 10, 2019)

It’s more than palpable in actor Sidharth Malhotra’s demeanour that he is kicked about playing a “quintessential Bollywood hero” in his next, Marjaavaan. “It’s been a great experience, something that excited me a lot,” says the actor, who has been going through a lull of sorts, in terms of his box office standing. But the Delhi boy isn’t worried as he puts things in perspective. “Nobody knows the formula for a successful, hit film,” he says, as he talks about completing seven years as an actor. He also talks about his love life, saying he only wants the audiences’ love now. Excerpts from an interview:

This year, you completed seven years in the industry. How have things been?
I won’t say I am satisfied. I am still very hungry. In my head, I feel it’s just the beginning. I am grateful for the start I got because not many get that, especially since I come from a non-film background. I think during my initial years, I was just following the trends or going wherever I was getting pushed [around] in terms of films. Now, of late, when things are getting difficult, I feel challenged and so, I am becoming more independent and following my instinct.

From the outside, it looks like you have had a roller coaster ride…
Yes, I’ve had some amazing highs and lows, which moulded me as a person and an actor. I’ve pretty much gone through all emotions in the industry. At this point, I’m not thinking about the past — be it my hit or flop films. That has made me calmer and more aware of how this industry functions. I’m more charged, focused, and hungrier for work than I ever was. From now on, the attempt is to make films for a larger audience, for the middle class film lovers who are emotional people. If I can entertain them and create a niche, that would be great for me as an actor.

Talking of Marjaavaan, it looks totally different from what you have done till now?
I’d like to keep changing the zones and [kind of films] films that I do. Every time somebody says, ‘what you are doing is different’, I feel great that I look fresh, and am not repeating myself. With Marjaavaan, I go back to the zone of Ek Villain (2014) and Brothers (2015), but in a much larger-than-life way, with lots of action and dialogue-baazi. For the first time, I play a quintessential Bollywood hero like the ones I grew up watching — be it Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol or even [Amitabh] Bachchan saab’s films. It’s for the first time that I have been presented like a hero, who is beating up 50 people for love. Now, I am looking forward to the audiences’ response.

After a great start in the industry, things didn’t seem to go your way when your last few films didn’t do well at the box office. What does that do to you as an artiste?
Honestly, I feel it was important for me to experience the highs as well as lows in my career — from being praised to partly written off. For someone like me, who is not from a film background, it gives me immense strength as I have enjoyed the highs and also overcome the lows. Now, I know how both feel. Nothing is alien to me anymore. I feel the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. When that fear is not there, I look at things positively ke, ab kya darna hai, I have experienced everything. Now, there’s nothing unknown to me and that kind of relaxes me.

So, are you saying that failures have only emboldened you?
Yes, now, I am more fearless, confident. Also, there’s something that people like about me, which is why I am getting work. Producers are not my uncles and aunts who are putting money on me. I think the trick is to not look back. No major actor can say that all his/her films went their way. The ratio to hits and flops is off that way, and I am no different. But now, I am used to films that don’t go my way. The idea is to not let that fear dictate your present work and choices.

Your new film, Marjaavaan reminds a lot of the cinema of the ’70s-80s with heavy-duty dialogue-baazi etc. Was it interesting for you as an actor?
It was a totally new experience for me. I am a fan of that kind of cinema from the bygone era that would have larger-than-life heroes. And I certainly enjoyed this experience for the first time in my career. Our film that is a love story — despite being set in today’s day-and-age — will give you the flavour of the ’70s and ’80s. I feel that kind of cinema is actually the base of modern-day Indian cinema. Essentially, our film is an intense love story, wherein it was exciting for me to see one lover kill the other. But the big question is: how and why? And that’s why you have to see the film (smiles).

Also, till date, you haven’t had many stints with ‘massy’ movies…
In a way, Marjaavaan is an answer to that because in the film, I play to the gallery and appeal to the ‘mass’ audience. I hope that they come in [huge] numbers, like this kind of cinema and open up a completely new avenue for me. I have worked in Brothers and Ek Villain in the past too, and I feel I want to explore this zone even more, may be once a year.

By now, you have seen successes as well as failures in your career. Do you feel your highs and lows have enriched you as an actor?
You know, the other day, I was telling a friend that jab yeh light bulb invent hua tha toh Thomas Alva Edison ne kam se kam 170 times attempt kiya and he got it right the last time. When he was asked how he kept up despite being unsuccessful so many times, Edison said: ‘I learnt how not to make a bulb that many times, and figured out how to make it only on the final attempt.’ Likewise, there is no formula for hit films, but I believe in the concept of learning — in every department of filmmaking — from your failures. I have also learnt the importance of story-telling, writing, release dates, production and having a correct team etc. That’s the experience I take away from a film.

In the future, do you see yourself trying your hands at other aspects of filmmaking?
I want to produce [movies] in the future and will then use all the experiences that I have gathered from my films to — hopefully — make a smooth, correct and better product. Sometimes, you do spot certain alarming things in a film, which gives you an indication that it’s not correct, but as of now, I am only involved in my films as an actor and don’t have much control over things. But as an actor, I am still up for trying new things. So, looking forward is the only way. And the idea is to work harder, and try to entertain different people as much as possible, in different ways. That’s why I am equally excited about Shershaah as well, which is a biopic [of Kargil War hero, late Captain Vikram Batra].

You are an outsider in the industry. So, when you face setbacks, do they become difficult to handle? How do you keep your sanity intact?
I think it’s about learning from other people’s journeys. I remember going online and looking up big superstars and their big releases. I saw how Mr [Amitabh] Bachchan had biggies such as Zanjeer (1973), Deewar (1975) and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) in the ’70s but there was a lull before that and even after that. Even Shah Rukh Khan faced it towards the late ’90s. So, I feel every actor goes through such a phase, and I am no different. That gives me some kind of a semblance that I’m not the only one, who this is happening to. It has happened to the biggest of stars. Anyway, this is a highly unpredictable profession.

By now, you must have got used to the link-up tales? Or do you still get bothered?
You know, I come from a family where people are salaried, and for whom security at work is very important. I think a part of me is longing for that kind of acceptance at work and that’s consuming most of my personal time as well. I have nothing against all the beautiful women [that I am linked with], but not everything that you read is true. Right now, I’ve the platform and opportunity to create stuff and be remembered for that. Fortunately, I have the understanding also to modify my craft, scripts and stories. That’s taking most of my time and I am enjoying that part of my journey, wherein I am focusing on myself, my craft, my professional life, and my movies.

Of late, you have been linked with Tara Sutaria and Kiara Advani…
Right now, the only thing that I am longing for is audiences’ love. I have had my relationships in the past but they are part-and-parcel of our profession. I genuinely feel that at present, I am more hungry and focused than I was even when I was launched or was struggling as an actor. I am single and am only mingling with people professionally. I think of late, my personal life has taken a back seat as I am being written about only for my professional stuff. You can say that I want love from not just one girl but all my female fans and audiences in general (laughs).