Over the past 23 years, Amit Sadh has transformed from a young, restless actor to someone who now understands filmmaking is a slow, deliberate process. This shift in his mindset has played a key role in shaping his outlook toward his career and life. In a candid conversation with BT, he shares his thoughts on his experiences, goals, and how he’s found peace in the chaos around.

The actor seems to have a clear understanding of the actor-audience relationship. Amit, who has the lines ‘Audience is my shopper’ sprawled across a wall in his home, doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that actors, in a way, are commodities.

He says, “The sooner you accept it, the better. Art is personal, but you have to sell the cake you make. Film chalegi toh bank mein paise aayenge aur kaam milega, nahi toh wapas jaao peeche line mein. That’s the game, and you have to accept it.”

Drawing a cricket analogy, he adds, “It’s like cricket: you score a hundred, but the next day, you might be out for a duck. You have to get up and perform again because someone else will take your place.”

Amit has worked across mediums and has a good mix of roles to his credit, but he’s hungry for more. He says, “I don’t think I have any place somebody can claim. I haven’t achieved anything in life, except for a few serials, films, and web series. I’m grateful for the love people have shown me, but I still have much more to do. I hope that more filmmakers will offer me good work. Position toh sab banana chaahte hain and I hope one day meri bhi bann jaayegi. I am in no hurry, as I have only been in the industry for 23 years. Jagah toh banaani hai, logon ke dil mein bhi, sab ho jaayega,”

His aspirations remain simple. He states, “I want to do more work, experience more love, and make more films. I have done good work. Breakfast miss hua hai na, dinner tak aa jaayega sab (smiles).”

Kai Po Che! (2013) was a turning point for Amit, Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkummar Rao. While he won appreciation for his role in the film, does he think he didn’t get his due and that he could have got better projects post that film?

He explains, “Uss samay toh yahi rehta tha ki main rent de paaunga time par…main kisi ke phase wagerah nahi dekhta tha. I was only looking after myself, and I was in a good phase. I also got hero roles, but those films didn’t work. I would be silly not to acknowledge that after waiting for so long, Kai Po Che happened, I got love from the audience, I earned money, and I could survive. As long as I am offered good roles, I will be happy.”

In an industry increasingly driven by social media and networking, Amit admits he struggled with self-marketing and ultimately realized it wasn’t his forte.

He says, “Main beech mein inn cheezon mein uljha tha aur ye valid cheezein bhi hain but I eventually realized I didn’t understand these things, so I stepped away. I believe that audience energy dekhti hai aur kuchh na kuchh sachhai dekhti hai. I am grateful for their patience with me, as they have allowed me to grow. Honestly, I feel lucky I didn’t enter the industry today, nahi toh bahut mushkil hota. Back then, actors were allowed time to evolve. I feel that today, everyone wants ready-made stars. Hamaara patience khatam ho gaya hai. If you don’t like a film or a performance, it’s fine, but why be nasty? Criticism can be polite.”

Amit emphasizes he has no interest in being part of any so-called camps in the industry. He says, “I have never been part of any Bollywood camps. It may work for some, and that’s great, but it’s not how I see my journey. After 23 years in the Bollywood industry, I believe opportunities should stem from merit, not affiliations. I don’t feel threatened or disrespected by not belonging to a camp.

Amit Sadh’s aim, amid the ongoing conversation about exorbitant production costs, is to be as supportive as possible. “I have also heard a lot about these things (actors demanding a lot). I will speak for myself. I have control over my work ethic. When I do a film, I am not the hero of the film, I try to become the engine. When you become that, you are bigger than the hero,” says the actor.

Recently, filmmaker Karan Johar said that young actors, who aren’t even able to get good opening numbers, charge a bomb as their fees. Sadh, 45, says, “I can never burden my movie. I am just a part. I feel people here need to be more disciplined and have more solidarity. We need to be united as a community. It’s nice to be a producer’s actor, because they are the ones putting in the money. I try to be aware of it.”

Talking about the importance of being a producer’s actor, Sadh adds, “Kabhi agar life mein laga ki sab kuchh phail gaya hai meri wajah se toh apne aapko sudhaara bhi hai. Hence, all my producers have repeated me in their projects. I have done three films with Vikram Malhotra (producer) and four with Tigmanshu Dhulia (filmmaker).”

For Amit Sadh, his three pets aka “four-legged people”, as he prefers to call them, are an “immeasurable” part of his life. On National Pet Day, Sadh opens up about what these pets mean to him and why.

The fact that the actor isn’t comfortable calling them ‘dogs’, and often sends them away to his mountain home to relieve them from claustrophobic indoors, only shows his unparalleled love for his furry companions.

Introducing Tango and Mike as energetic young pups, and Cocca, the wise elder member of the pack, the actor shares, “Tango and Mike are the youngest members of the troop, being only eight months old. Cocca, on the other hand, is 12 years old now. He is the most gentle and polite of the three.” He adds, “They are madly obsessed with me, and I, with them.”

Reminiscing about his past companions, Brando and Liam, the actor gets emotional and shares, “I lost Brando last year, and I lost the love of my life, Liam in 2020. I am grateful for the love they brought into my life.”

As a pet parent, the 44-year-old further shares how a major part of his daily routine is planned around his pets. “If I’m away for a shoot, I compensate for this by spending time with them once I am back. Especially with the big ones (dogs), if you don’t engage, their mental health gets affected, and they might end up feeling bored and depressed. I have a feeling they have taught me how to be a good father,” he quips.

When it comes to pet care, Sadh’s approach is rooted in respect and understanding. “It is my aim that they should not fear that they will be beaten. They might not have a voice, but still have a way of communication. Humans have so much to learn from their loyalty and affection,” Sadh wraps up.

For Amit Sadh, who grew up in Mukteshwar, the mountains have always had a special place in his heart. So, every time the actor gets a breather from work, he heads to his family home there and goes trekking and exploring. On the occasion of International Mountain Day (December 11), the Kai Po Che! actor spoke to us about growing up in the hills.

Talking about his childhood, Amit said, “I feel blessed I got to grow up so close to the Himalayas. You can see the Annapurna mountain range (in Nepal) from my house and when you go higher up towards Mukteshwar, you can see the Himalayan peaks — Trishul and Panchachuli. I have seen all this since childhood, but it’s still not enough for me. There is always that sense of awe.”

Remembering one of his first treks with his father, the Sukhee actor says, “We were heading to the glaciers and after a point, I felt tired. My father told me, ‘Change the focus and see the mountains, pay attention to the sounds of the river and look at the clouds. If you want to go to the summit, it won’t come easy.’ These words have always stayed with me and encouraged me. From Spiti, Kinnaur to Zanskar, I enjoy exploring India’s majestic mountains.”

Spending time in the mountains has been therapeutic for Amit. “Even after I shifted to Mumbai to become an actor, the mountains kept calling me back. There’s a lot of anxiety in our lives, especially in this business. From the mountains, I learnt how to be still and today, everyone around me sees this calmness in me. I think the closer we come to nature, the more we can understand humanity,” says the actor. “If I’m caught up with work, I make short trips to Matheran, Mulshi and Pune. I love the Sahyadri mountain range,” he adds.

Pointing out the importance of mountains, Amit says, “Mountains provide valuable resources like minerals, timber and fresh water. Today, they are facing a huge environmental challenge. There’s climate change, deforestation, unsustainable development and population explosion. We all saw what happened in Himachal Pradesh this year. There’s a threat to the mountains and the need of the hour is to create awareness.”

In Rohan Sippy’s head, the ending of Duranga’s first season is an interval point, and a gripping one at that. The Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami-led crime drama ended by revealing the true identity of Amit Sadh’s character. When Sippy was approached to helm the second instalment, he knew it would be an exciting starting point.

“The writing was so clever, with Amit Sadh waking up as the real Samit Patel at the end of the first season. I saw that as the right scene for an interval point of a film. So, there is a great promise of a second half,” he says.

The opportunity to reconnect with an old collaborator was another highlight for the director. “I worked with Gulshan in Dum Maaro Dum 12 years ago. More than their work, I am drawn to people’s nature, and Gulshan is a lovely person. He has built an [admirable] repertoire.”

In the past few years, Sippy seamlessly shifted to digital entertainment, helming The Office, Criminal Justice, and Aranyak. It has left the director, whose last film offering was Nautanki Saala (2013), with little time to focus on features. But he is not complaining.

“I’ve got so many fun opportunities in OTT in the last two years that before I know, six months to a year go by in making a show. Every time, I think I will start developing a film after finishing the series in hand. But that doesn’t happen,” he smiles, adding that he is toying with a few movie ideas.

With theatres back to their old glory, larger-than-life spectacles have worked wonders at the box office, as have sequels—from Gadar 2: The Katha Continues to Fukrey 3. Would he like to make a sequel to any of his films?  “Taxi No 9211 [2006] would be fun to reimagine. Its themes are good to revisit 15 years later. But I haven’t thought of it actively.”

When Ghuspaith: Between Borders first came his way, Amit Sadh turned it down as he was busy shooting for the second season of Breathe: Into the Shadows. But writer-director Mihir Lath was certain that he would make the short film—inspired by two-time Pulitzer-winning photojournalist, the late Danish Siddiqui’s coverage of the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis—only with the actor.

“After cancelling on Mihir twice, I told him, ‘I don’t want to delay your career. Please make the film with somebody else.’ But after Mihir waited a couple of months for me, I felt obligated to say yes. I’m a huge fan of independent cinema and short movies; they enrich the film industry. I did it for the love of cinema and shorts. When I saw Mihir’s enthusiasm and the story’s uniqueness, I wanted to support him,” smiles Sadh.

Through Sadh’s photojournalist character Manav, Ghuspaith explores themes of refugee crisis and human trafficking. While the actor prepped intensely for the role, he credits Lath’s detailed script for guiding him all along.

“In a short film, the story and script [set the path] for you. Mihir always shared notes and references from Danish’s life. The story has become more meaningful now that we have dedicated it to Danish.”

The short will be screened at the JioCinema Film Festival on October 6.

Sadh may not be seen on screen too frequently, but give him a complex character and he can’t resist the temptation of bringing it alive. Ghuspaith and his next, the second season of Duranga, deliver on that count.

“In Duranga 2, I play a psychopath for the first time. I am trying to push the envelope. I don’t want to become a boring actor who lacks courage and wants to do the same thing again and again.”

On a humid afternoon in Delhi with clouds playing hide and seek, actor Amit Sadh joined HT City on his bike as he completed the first phase of his month-long biking trip — Motorcycles Saved My Life. And the journey, he reveals, has been far from easy.

“On the very first day, after being on the bike for over 10 hours, I asked myself, ‘Why am I doing it?’ But then I passed a beautiful canal. The breeze, the sunset, a nice terrain to ride... I had answers to all my questions,” says the 40-year-old, who left Mumbai on August 25 and has crossed Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Delhi and Chandigarh, enroute to Leh (Ladakh).

“I have a knack of putting myself in danger,” quips Sadh, who has faced several life-threatening situations in his 25 years of biking. “In 2017, I was on my way to Manali, for which one has to cross Chang La (situated at an elevation of 17,688 feet). At that time, it was fully covered with snow and the temperature was minus 17 degrees. Nobody travels on that route during that time... As soon as we left, my bike slipped and then my friend’s bike slipped, followed by a puncture. As a result, we had to stay for a night there because the vehicle could not get fixed. Thankfully, the locals helped and we could move the next morning,” he recounts.

Sadh took a liking to adventure activities when he was just about five years old. Now, any free time he gets, he is ready to vroom. “That’s how much I love bike riding. It’s also my way of connecting back with life. I’ve not even finished this trip and have already planned my next one,” the Jeet Ki Zid (2021) actor says.

Passion aside, he also ensures he’s adequately prepped. Sadh, who has been to California Riding School, shares, “I’ve been to schools around the world to learn how to ride on mud, in snow etc. So, it’s also about testing my skills. While the reason for riding can be emotional, when I am on the bike, I keep my emotions aside and execute with discipline, knowledge and instincts to minimize the risk.”

Reflecting on all the biking expeditions he has been on so far, Sadh says these experiences of riding through different terrains and meeting new people have made him the person he is today. Citing a recent example, he shares, “On my way to Delhi this time, I met a truck driver at a dhaba and he told me about his life and I told him about what I’m doing. More than anything, these experiences keep me grounded. They make me fall in love with everything around me. They teach me discipline and resilience. I’m a product of all these experiences.”

This one!

In 2017, when I got stuck in Chang La

Train as much as you can. Learn about your bike before you go on a trip.

Start with places around you, within 100-200km

Mongolia

Every trip to Ladakh

First day of this trip. I rode the bike for 10 hours

Travelling for more than 200-300km a day

photos: Dhruv sethi/ HT Concept: Monika Rawal Kukreja

Amit Sadh is in the second leg of his month-long biking trip from Mumbai to Leh. The actor plans to halt in many cities to meet people and experience India in a new way.

On the fifth day of his biking expedition, Amit Sadh made a quick stop in the capital. The actor’s #MotorcyclesSavedMyLife trip is his first long-route ride post COVID.

With Himachal Pradesh being adversely affected during the monsoon, going to or via HP to other cities right now is not advisable. Ask Amit whether he reconsidered his trip, and he says, “No, I just knew that I had to go. So, we figured out the routes from Chandigarh to Leh. The route via Manali was a complete no-go, so we decided to go via Spiti. I have already been to Ladakh 10 times. I know people in those regions; I am almost a local (laughs). We did proper recce and locals told me it was okay to ride. From Chandigarh to Shimla, I might encounter a few roadblocks, but I’ll find my way around them.”

Talking about his love for biking, he says, “When I was younger, biking was an escape for me. I used to ride in anger. It meant running away, and this running away also taught me a lot. It has taught me discipline. Now I feel, since I am riding differently, life has changed and things are mellow. There’s happiness, there’s calmness – life’s better. When you are biking, you might either have a hundred thoughts racing in your mind or have nothing at all.”

The Jeet Ki Zid actor, who is a very private person, says, “I rarely share stories about my biking adventures with my fans, but this time I decided to share this journey with everyone. The hero of this trip is my bike. I am taking this trip to inspire myself, spread smiles, and experience India differently.” 

Amit travels to the hills quite often. He shares, "India is so beautiful, mann nahi bharta. As a child, I used to travel with my father to the hills a lot. Those memories have stayed with me. So, I travel to the mountains and apne dad ko bhi yaad karta hoon."

"Being in Delhi was always fun. We used to do a lot of biking and bike racing at India Gate. This was about 20 years back. Many of my biker friends are still in Delhi and the city will always be special to me," he says reminiscing about his time in Delhi.

It’s not every day you find inspiration in people, but writer-director Mihir Lath discovered that with Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui’s life when he documented the Rohingya refugee crisis. So much so that the director made it one of his life’s missions to retell the story of the photojournalist who was assassinated in 2021, with his short film Ghuspaith Between Borders.

The short, starring Amit Sadh, is the official selection for the Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival. The story revolves around the protagonist and his family, who are hunted by ethnic cleansing Mujahideen fighters. While navigating through the Indo-Bangladesh border, he finds himself hiding alongside the very group of extremists he feared.

“The film sheds light on the hidden complexities of the illegal cattle trade, human trafficking, refugee crisis, and ethnic cleansing,” explains Lath, adding that during his research of the “nationwide protests in India, triggered by a controversial bill aimed at curbing perceived infiltrations into the country,” he was led to the borders of Bangladesh, where he learnt about the plight of Rohingya refugees who were displaced from their villages in Myanmar due to communal violence and travelled to Bangladesh and other Southeast Asian countries.

“Siddiqui’s powerful photographs documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh became a source of inspiration for my film. I wanted to honour his legacy through my work,” says Lath, who sought help from his family and the Danish Siddique Foundation.

Lath, who found his protagonist in Sadh, commended the actor for going over and above to showcase the inner turmoil of the character. “Amit prepped intensely for the role, not just on the body language of photojournalists but even on the psyche [of the character], when faced with extraordinary situations every day. Amit’s passion transpired beautifully into the film, and that gave me some nuanced moments.”

Danish Siddiqui and Mihir Lath

The television industry has provided fertile ground for female protagonists to shine and to be the centre of the show. TV has given them a chance to get the same respect and recognition as their male counterparts. In fact, I agree that OTT platforms have also disrupted the traditional power dynamics of the Indian film industry. There is no doubt that we’ll be creating a level playing field for women to showcase their talent and creativity.

In television, whoever is the lead of the show gets paid more. Whoever brings in the most viewership for the show will be paid in accordance with that; it doesn’t matter what their gender is. I look at it in terms of, ‘Who’s running the show?’ I’ve never been in a situation where someone got paid more than me or when I’ve been paid more than someone. In the projects that I’ve been involved in, pretty much everyone gets paid according to what they bring to the table and they seem to be happy about it.

The TV industry is primarily a medium where actors, producers, directors and almost every artiste are women. If not more, female protagonists do get paid equally as their male counterparts. In a time when pay disparity has existed in mainstream cinema for years, the television industry is definitely paving the way for women to be equally valued and paid for their hard work. Time has surely taken a reverse turn, as women are far more valued now and are being paid better than they were earlier.  

The TV and OTT industries have been game-changers for female artistes. In most cases, female actors on TV get paid equally or more than men. This is a positive step towards gender equality in the entertainment industry, as it shows that women are valued for their work and talent. However, it is also important to remember that sometimes people are paid according to their experience and worth. It is not always a reflection of how hard one person has worked compared to the other. This is not the case for everyone and pay inequality is still a major issue in many industries. It is important to recognise and address this problem if we want to create a more equitable society.

I don’t think that female protagonists get paid more or equally in the OTT industry. Maybe it happened with Raveena Tandon (who starred in the web show Aranyak) because she’s already a Bollywood star. People also get different treatment because of their background. When you come from a mainstream cinema background, you come with the mindset that, ‘Oh, I’m already a star in Hindi films, and I’m moving to OTT, so I should get a higher pay’. I don’t think that happens with other actors; in fact, I don’t think I get equal pay. 

In television, now and always, especially since the whole Ekta Kapoor era started, women have been at the forefront. Since then, they’ve been getting paid more because they play the leading roles. It’s a commercial business and at the end of the day, whoever is in the driver’s seat will get paid more. Gender isn’t really the deciding factor here. Whoever can attract more viewers will have a higher price. It is a very clear business principle: whoever controls the market will control the price. 

I don’t think female leads are paid equally or more than their male counterparts in the OTT industry, unless the woman is a significantly bigger star. The pay disparity scenario has changed from what it used to be 10 years ago. However, I don’t think there’s been a blanket change across the industry. Also, it differs from one project to another. There are times when I get paid more, and sometimes my co-actors are paid more. And the inequality is not just about the actor’s fee but also things like hotel, vanity van, flight, etc. that again vary for different actors.

In this profession, no project will be similar to another because of the people attached to it. I’ve experienced the difference in storytelling, as we see a lot of stories being told about women in OTT. The characters for women on TV and OTT are quite empowering. But in terms of pay parity, I do feel that OTT still has a long way to go. With TV, it is definitely true that women are paid equally or even more than their male counterparts. I’ve worked on both mediums, so I can speak for both industries. If you’re headlining a project and you’re the biggest star, then you will automatically be paid more. And talent is, unfortunately, not respected as much in our industry as marketing is.

It’s true that women are paid equally or more in the TV industry and I’m sure of it because I started my career on the small screen. I don’t think, unless I was a star kid, I would have been given a role like Chandramukhi Chautala in movies. I was paid a bomb during my tenure on (TV show) FIR. In fact, I think I was the highest-paid actor on TV at that time. In films, less performance-oriented roles are given to women. However, in my 20 years of career, I’ve seen that women are always considered important script-wise on television. I’ve never done any mainstream Hindi films, and whenever something was offered to me, the payment used to be peanuts, like almost no money. 

In showbiz, there is no fixed pay scale or grade. An actor’s fee is negotiated based on the value they bring to a project through their skills and brand value. As much as we’d like to believe that it should be based more on the former, it’s mostly the latter — the belief that a certain person will bring in audiences and more eyeballs to the project. If my co-star is more famous than me (according to the producers), they’ll definitely be paid more, and vice versa. Since this value is subjective, it’s prone to biases and inaccuracies. No two actors will be paid equally in a project, irrespective of gender, unless they negotiate together, which is a rare occurrence. That is how this business works. 

Around 20 years ago, actor Amit Sadh won hearts as Aditya Bhargav in the TV show Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr. He has since gone on to do a slew of serious roles in web series such as Jeet Ki Zid and Breathe, among others. In his next, Main, the actor is playing an encounter specialist.

Is it a conscious choice to stay away from rom-coms or romantic roles? Sadh says, “I am not a cry baby, but I don’t really get so many movie options.”

He explains, “When I did Gold (2018), the role of Raghubir Pratap Singh was very charming. The audience liked it. I remember Reema Kagti, my director, asked me, ‘Why don’t they give you such roles?’ I said, ‘I can’t really complain’. I have only been in the industry for 20 years and still have 40-50 years to go. So, I will get more [romantic] roles, it’s not like I won’t be getting any such roles.”

Having cemented his position in the industry as a versatile artiste, is there a particular kind of role that he wishes to portray on screen? Sadh is quick to mention that he doesn’t have any kind of inclination and his only motive is to “entertain”.

“I have shown that I can play a hockey player, Army officer and cop. In Shakuntala Devi, I played a husband... I have been lucky that I got versatile roles,” he shares, adding, “I am an actor, I want to work. I want to entertain, make movies — I want to do everything! I want to do romance, jump off planes, play a psychopath... I want to entertain people, that’s my inclination. I just want to improve and work with great people.”

Going forward, the 39-year-old wants to challenge himself further with the roles he picks and wishes to mix it up.

“You just have to choose from what you get,” he says, adding, “I have a romantic role in the film Sukhee opposite Shilpa Shetty (Kundra, actor), which is also releasing very soon. I am playing a light-hearted role and I am sure my fans are not complaining. I am not sure what the future holds, but as an actor, I want to be versatile. I want to be challenged and I want to do different roles. Fingers crossed, I think things will be good!” he signs off.

Director Abhishek Kapoor feels nostalgic remembering his critically acclaimed film, Kai Po Che!. The movie marked the Bollywood debut of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput and also featured actors Amit Sadh and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles.

Ask if he has a knack for launching actors in films successfully, right from Rajput to Sara Ali Khan in Kedarnath (2018) and pat comes his response. “It is always instinctive. Sometimes, you also cast new people because you don’t get the actors you want. There is no recipe. I wanted to cast Sushant because I had known him for years.”

Talking about late actor’s first day on set, the Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021) director says, “He (Rajput) was like high voltage. Yes, he wouldn’t talk much. There are actors who talk about their craft. [However], this guy was the complete opposite. He was not articulate about his process when you spoke to him. It showed in his performance that he would transform [into the character]. He is no more today. He is highly treasured.”

Speaking about Sadh and Rao, Kapoor says, “Amit Sadh had the most complicated character. Rajkummar was just so easy in his role. All three of them had terrific rapport.”

The 51-year-old tells us that there is nothing planned as of now to mark the 10-year milestone achieved by the film. “I am just starting to shoot a new film. I am so consumed with that. I don’t have the time.”

The award-winning director adds, “Completing 10 years is, of course, a milestone. The fact that we are still discussing about the film means a lot.”

It has been an enduring romance with acting. Even as she went missing from Hindi cinema after Tell Me O Kkhuda (2011), Esha Deol Takhtani was seen in short films like Cakewalk (2019) and Ek Duaa (2021), following them up with her maiden web series Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (2022). Now, the actor is returning to feature films with director Sachin Saraf’s Main. The drama, also starring Amit Sadh, sees Deol as an encounter specialist’s spouse who transforms from a home-maker to an independent woman taking charge of her life.

What attracted Deol to the project was that it studied the emotional toll that an encounter specialist’s job takes on his family. “The film conveys a strong yet simple message that a woman can achieve the unimaginable, and depicts how she discovers her potential and excels in life. Due to certain circumstances arising in her life, my character gets an opportunity to know herself better and becomes more self-aware,” she says.

The unit wrapped up the first schedule in Bhopal last week. Sharing screen space with Sadh has been a joy for the actor, who is all praise for him. “Amit is a fantastic actor. I have seen many of his works, including the Breathe series.” 

Even though Main is centred on the female protagonist, it was an easy yes for Sadh. That the movie examined the criminal justice system through a new lens piqued his interest. “It’s intriguing when a script explores how the criminal justice administration works. Main is a cop drama [that offers] a look into the psyche of encounter experts. Human psychology is an interesting theme for me.”

The next schedule of the drama, which also stars Tigmanshu Dhulia and Seema Biswas, will be shot in Mumbai and Bhopal.

After the success of three seasons of the web show Breathe, Amit Sadh will be seen essaying the role of a police officer and encounter specialist in an upcoming film produced by Pradeep Rangwani. The film, directed by debutant director Sachin Saraf, will go on floors soon. The ensemble cast includes Seema Biswas, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Milind Gunaji.

Amit says, “I love a good cop drama. When I read the script, I was convinced it was not just the story of an encounter specialist, but had more to do with his complex psychology. I was moved by the authentic writing. When director Sachin Saraf shared his vision for the character, I knew I had to do this film.”

Sachin says, “It was Amit’s birthday when I spoke to him for the first time. He asked me to email the script as he was on a holiday, but to my surprise, he called me just after two days and told me that he loved the script. Paul (Pradeep Rangwani) always chooses socially-relevant subjects.”

Pradeep Rangwani, who is popularly known as Paul, founder of UV Films, is passionate about presenting meaningful and unique stories. He adds, “UV Films is working with the vision of creating four films per year, which adds up to 20 films in the next five years. These films will be relatable and reflect the present state of our society.”

Actor Amit Sadh is bidding adieu to the year by wrapping up his stint as Kabir Sawant in the Breathe universe, with no indication of a fourth season in the pipeline at the moment. But, while he might be ready to move on from the series, his fans are holding on to the hope of seeing more of Kabir through a spin-off — and Sadh is not shrugging off their hope.

“It is really flattering. I hope this noise reaches important people so that my producer and they (the makers) also think the same. I will break an arm and leg to have a spin-off of Kabir Sawant. I am still not done with the character. I have given it my all in these seven years,” says Sadh, who took the small screen route to enter showbiz, and is most fondly remembered for playing Aditya in the teen TV show, Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr.

When it comes to the digital space, the 39-year-old has had quite a ride with back-to-back releases, including films such as Shakuntala Devi and Yaara, and web series such as Avrodh: The Siege Within, Jeet Ki Zid, Saat Kadam and Duranga. Having observed the web scene closely, he credits it for blurring the lines and opening doors on many levels.

“OTT has allowed filmmakers to tell all kinds of movies, which could not get green-lit in Bollywood earlier. More creative people are getting to work and tell stories in different formats. Earlier, there were, say, 20 [big] actors in India. I used to get hurt listening to all the A-list, B-list, C-list stuff. I am glad OTT has removed all of this,” Sadh asserts.

But, as the web space gains prominence, there is a general sentiment of fear that the chase for quantity may compromise quality of content. To this, the actor says that the audience is smart enough to gauge when a show or film has been rushed. “Filmmaking is time-consuming. You can’t shy away from it, and if you do, it will show. The audience is very smart. Aisa nahin hai ki OTT pe log kuch bhi dekh lete hain. There are many projects in the OTT space, when they are not good, they are not watched. So, if it is not good, it is not going to work.”

Right now, Sadh is busy with the second season of Duranga. “After wrapping it up, I will shift my focus a bit on films,” reveals the actor, who has projects such as Sukhee and Pune Highway lined up. Explaining his decision, he says, “It just so happened that I have been offered a few films that I like... I would like to see if the audiences come out to watch my movie or not. It’s a big step. Main bahut mehnat kar raha hun that my project comes to the theatre. That’s my new challenge, let’s see what happens... Pehle theatre pe ayengi films and phir OTT pe.. I will be on both the screens.”

All eyes are on the ongoing FIFA World Cup, and if ardent football follower Amit Sadh wasn’t caught up with his film shoot, he would have been in Qatar watching the matches live. He is following the games on TV nonetheless. In a chat with Bombay Times, the actor spoke about the tournament, his favourites and his early memories of the game.

“I have an affinity towards certain players and I want their countries to do well. I loved watching the duo Maradona-Batistuta in the 1994 World Cup and I remain a big fan of the pair and will always be. I like Messi, but I also admire Ronaldo, so I want both Argentina and Portugal to do well. Both legends are meeting the massive expectations of their fans in the WC. The last few games have been terrific. It’s probably the last time we are going to see the two of them in a WC, so I’m praying for a Portugal vs Argentina final. My money’s on Ronaldo and Portugal. His hard work, grit and determination has made him in my eyes, the ultimate GOAT. He’s also a great human being,” says the actor.

Amit hopes we get to root for India in a football WC soon. “I can’t believe we haven’t qualified yet. There’s so much love for the sport here. Also, south Asians have been in places like the UK for over 70 years, and it’s shocking that we haven’t seen more south Asians in the sport. I spend a lot of time in the UK, and I’ve seen some amazing kids, how they have not ‘made it’ to the premier league is beyond me.”

Speaking of his early memories of the game, he shared, “My father loved football and watching the games with him was where my love for the sport began. He would encourage participation as it was good for one’s overall growth and mental resilience, beyond the fitness and health aspect. You learn team work, tactics, the social aspect of it. We used to play football at school and really enjoyed it. I was an active kid and sports were a great way to let out that energy. It was the start of my path to keeping fit and healthy. I started following Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson took over and loved watching them evolve into one of the biggest clubs ever. Watching the class of 92 turn from kids to great players was inspiring. One of my favourites was the great Eric Cantona — great player, passionate about the sport with a striking personality.”

The actor also hailed football’s unifying force. He expressed, “It’s the biggest sport in the world played by people from all walks of life. It brings us together. Every country is so different, but we find a common ground and celebrate this tournament to bring people closer to each other. We all share the same passion for the game and in the process, we learn about different people and their culture. Every four years we go to another country and the hosts teach us so much about themselves — the language, people, food, culture, landscape and history. It brings people closer to one another.”

Sharing his thoughts on the beer ban at the stadium he says, “Yes, they have a beer ban in the stadiums, but so do various stadiums in some other countries. They are a dry country and alcohol isn’t a part of their culture, but they have designated, air conditioned fan zones where people can drink responsibly. A lot of football fans believe that football has to involve alcohol if they are to enjoy it. In many countries, football is the one of the few sports which have to have separate entrances for the away team. They have to sit separately. The amount of policing that has to go into it, is insane. I’ve been to rugby matches, everyone mixes, they are trusted to drink in the stadiums, way less policing, children can watch in peace and at the end of the game, they shake hands with opposition fans and leave. I’m not saying alcohol is solely responsible, but it plays a big part. I think this World Cup, fans will realise that they can still enjoy the game this way — without getting drunk.”

Here, there and everywhere — social media is filled with celeb spotting. But you won’t see Amit Sadh getting papped outside the gym, airport, or any other place where celebs are usually seen. Why? Because the actor doesn’t connect with the idea of being “spotted”.

Recalling the time when Kai Po Che (2013) was released and when he tasted roaring success and fame, Sadh says, “My life changed overnight, and I didn’t know what was happening. A lot of things were being said. I got myself ‘spotted’ too. Ki main iss time pe iss terminal gate pe aa raha hoon. I did it one-two times,” he says.

However, the 39-year-old, who has since been a part of films such as Sultan (2016) and Shakuntala Devi (2020), adds that the audience can see through all these things now. “They are much more evolved now. They know what is happening. Wherever I am today, a lot of people have supported me and loved me just the way I am. That gives me strength,” adds Sadh, whose short film Ghuspaith - Beyond Borders has been making the rounds of film festivals.

He goes on to also say that, as an actor, you cannot create “a false perception”. “Aaj nahin toh kal pakde jaaoge. I try to lead a very simple life. A lot of people would ask me, ‘Tum kaise survive karoge?’ But I have,” he smiles.

Sometime in 2020, actor Amit Sadh accepted an offer to endorse an alcohol brand, which he calls his “weak moment”. Since then, he has decided to shun away all the endorsement offers, especially for products that cause health problems. “I won’t sell (endorse) protein shakes because they’re not good for your health. Even if they give me billions, I will never take it. I will never endorse an alcohol brand. You should not drink [alcohol]. It is not good for your health,” Sadh, who is currently in the US, tells us.

Following his heart, Sadh declined another deal with an international alcohol brand recently. “They even raised the offer... But I don’t need brands that cause unhappiness to my fans, [lead to] bad health and addiction,” he ends.

The 39-year-old adds, “I will never promote anything that is not good for your health. If after listening to this statement, brands don’t want to give me advertisement deals, then don’t. It’s fine. I’m an actor. Bahut kaam hai, aur bahut support hai.”

That’s because “as a human being and an actor”, he has a responsibility towards the people who look up to him. Here, the actor looks back at the slip in his judgement. “In 2020, all my projects including Breathe, Yaara, Shakuntala Devi, Avrodh: The Siege Within released, and I got so much love from everyone. Then I got Jeet Ki Zid, with which I got more busy, and then I got one commercial for an alcohol brand,” he says.

Sadh continues, “I even told the manager at that time that I was not convinced, but he told me that I was overthinking. But I went ahead despite my doubts. When it was released, he told me not to check Instagram because some fans are neutral, but some are upset. I spent the night reading those messages, and the next morning, I admitted my mistake. At that time, [I decided that] no matter how busy I am or whoever tells me, I’m going to be a man of my own and not get influenced by anyone.”