This year, Vicky Kaushal was on a roll with back-to-back releases that allowed him to showcase his versatility. He began the year with the rom-com, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (ZHZB), followed by the comedy, The Great Indian Family. He acted in Sam Bahadur, a biographical war drama, and ended the year with the social drama, Dunki.

“I genuinely feel hungrier than ever before,” says the 35-year-old, adding, “Sam (Manekshaw, former Field Marshal of the Indian Army) was the toughest role and film I took up. Now, I want to push the envelope further. As an actor, I want to plunge myself into even tougher situations. I feel charged for the journey ahead.”

For Kaushal, 2023 has been “gratifying”. He says, “In the first quarter, I was shooting for Sam Bahadur and it was an enriching experience. Zara Hatke Zara Bachke worked wonderfully at a time when people were saying it won’t do well in theatres. Sam resonated with the audience and, of course, Dunki is doing well, too.”

Over the years, he has established himself as an actor who acts in powerful yet meaningful roles, with Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019). Sardar Udham (2021) and Sam Bahadur: “There is a certain responsibility towards the character you play [in these films]. These types of characters bring out the best in me. But, as an actor, you are hungry to explore different genres.”

This is what the actor strived to do with projects like ZHZB, The Great Indian Familyand Govinda Naam Mera (2022). Many called them a risky proposition, but Kaushal went ahead with them: “As an artiste, I am on a quest to take up varied characters as that’s how I will grow. I focus on if a film resonates with me, be it the story, character or director’s vision. These films excited me with the conversation they were trying to have with the audience.”