Hrithik Roshan has been hugely appreciated for his performance as Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania in Fighter. The aerial action film, which sees him sharing screen space with Deepika Padukone, is his third collaboration with director Siddharth Anand. In a conversation with us, Hrithik talks about getting a glimpse into the world of the Indian Air Force and pushing his limits as an actor. Excerpts:

There was an equal amount of mental, emotional and physical prep that went into bringing Patty to life. Firstly, Patty is a character I share no real-life similarities with in terms of personality. The emotional and mental prep was harder than anything I did physically to achieve the frame and fitness level of a fighter pilot. My physique had to mirror the body of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI jet – so I had to be lean, sharp and agile. As for the mannerisms and body language, I spent a lot of time observing and interacting with a real-life Fighter Pilot named Allan at the Tezpur Airbase.

Additionally, I practised the Fighter lifestyle while shooting at Assam’s Air Base and Dundigal Air Force Academy in Hyderabad. I lived, trained and exercised there and exchanged notes with the cadets, who were all a huge help. Getting the voice of Patty right was important too, he talks at a certain decibel in a very cocky manner. He is younger and less evolved than the other recent characters I have played. He is more spontaneous and quicker to react as opposed to respond. The voice isn’t heroic like Krrish or mysterious like Kabir (from War), I took inspiration from the banter between cadets. I had to keep it real. No extra bass. Just say it like I do.

Shooting at real locations always enhances the scenes and adds to the overall performance for me as an actor. Each location – be it the Airbase in Assam or Air Force Academy in Hyderabad lent its distinctive flavour to the scenes and progression of the film and its story. The majority of the fighter jet scenes from the first half of the film were shot at Assam’s Tezpur Airbase. Shooting on the runway, tarmac and hangar with the Sukhois next to us will always be an unforgettable experience for me. I was like a wide-eyed child completely blown away by the world of the Indian Air Force.

During these schedules, we had to adhere to all the operational guidelines and codes of conduct. Security protocols had to be followed at these real locations. Electronic devices, including smartphones, were not allowed, so the entire crew switched to an analog way of life. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am truly honoured to have collaborated with the Indian Air Force and had the opportunity to be a part of an ambitious film like Fighter.

I’ve known Sid for over 10 years now, and our bond goes beyond films and film sets. I would say that Sid and I balance each other out in many ways, while sharing a similar drive to venture into the unknown or path less travelled. The equation that we share is of real-life fighters. We are not shy about putting up a fight with each other to try and test out new ideas. What largely helps our collaboration is the mutual respect we share. It’s a bond beyond egos and all about testing limits. When we talk, it’s almost like playing verbal table tennis and hitting one another with whacky ideas.

It isn’t a conscious process or a strategy, I simply follow my instincts when it comes to selecting characters and films. The role or subject has to be something that excites me as an actor first, and then, as an audience. As an actor, I am fearless, and my choices are only motivated by creativity.

Yes, I am someone who enjoys consuming content, be it on the big screen, TV or streaming online. So, I understand and respect all forms of consuming content. While OTT gives you a very personal experience of watching films, series or documentaries, cinema halls give you a community-watching experience. In India, community events are occasions that call for celebration, and I’m extremely happy to see the audience get entertained by a film over a shared experience of collective viewing. While family entertainers, rom-coms and films that deliver a unique theatrical experience have a certain mass appeal, I’m particularly happy to see content-driven films, too, being celebrated in cinemas. Films like 12th Fail and Sam Bahadur are having long legs in theatres, solely due to their content and strong performances by Vikrant Massey and Vicky Kaushal.