Sidharth Malhotra stands for that classic Bollywood dream, where a rank outsider comes to Mumbai, and over time, builds a name for himself. Ten years in the industry and some hits later, the actor is chasing one thing — versatility. “An actor strives for love. We aren’t chasing box-office numbers,” he says, ahead of his Diwali release, Thank God.

“When 10 years after a film releases, people know your dialogues, you feel satisfied. In the past decade, the one thing that hasn’t changed about me is that I am never happy with my takes. I like to know that I can do better. When I see my filmography, I tell myself, ‘Let’s pick different genres.’ I don’t want any two of my characters to look the same. I have consciously worked towards that. But then again, no one knows how this business works.”

His turning point came last year in the form of Shershaah (2021). While the film’s success has taught him much, the actor says that his long run in the movies has been his biggest teacher. “These 10 years have transformed me. I have learnt so much about how a film is made. I feel more empowered to give my point of view to my directors. We all have to buck up and deliver so much in the next two to three decades. Success can’t be judged in 10 years. If in 20 years, I am still here, and people remember my movies and dialogues, I will know I have made it. At the moment, I am nowhere close to being satisfied.”

The actor’s desire to explore different genres has led him to Thank God, also starring Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh. Malhotra says he was keen to try his hand at comedy. “When you work with Indra Kumar [director], you learn so much. There is much to laugh about here, but the film says a lot about karma and life. This is not a leave-your-brains-at-home comedy. This film has the balance of humour and emotional graph. I’ve learnt about comic timing. Ajay Devgn is another great actor to work with.”

Malhotra’s personal life is making as much news as his professional life. We can’t let him go without asking him about his rumoured April 2023 wedding with Kiara Advani. “Marriage is a personal choice that as and when it will happen, people will come to know. Such things can’t be kept under wraps.”