In a bid to prepare for the part of a man belonging to the royal family for Pavan Kirpalani’s Gaslight, Akshay Oberoi dug his head into a bunch of mystery novels. “Those books included all the information I needed. I understood the perspective of both the victim and the murderer. And, since I have always been an avid reader, it was a bonus for me to have got this change,” says the actor, adding that it was the genre of murder mysteries that led him to cultivate love for reading.

“I was a big fan of the film Clue, directed by Jonathan Lynn, and starring Tim Curry. They made a board game based on it, and I used to play it all the time. Then  I would try and create my own kind of whodunits with my friends,” he says, adding that he admires the works of Agatha Christie and Stephen King.

Kirpalani, says Oberoi, is among the most capable filmmakers to helm a movie belonging to this genre. “[My character], Rana, is a unique person, and comes from a different space. His personality has many shades. I had to study him, and what aspects made him unique and intriguing. I had a great time playing the part and collaborating with Pavan.”