Showing posts with label Siddhant Chaturvedi interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siddhant Chaturvedi interview. Show all posts
It took 6 months for Dhadak 2 character to leave me. In those 6 months, I didn’t take up any work-Siddhant Chaturvedi
10:21 AM
Playing a Dalit man in Dhadak 2, Siddhant Chaturvedi draws parallels with his life in the absence of a lived experience and about how he approached the role with empathy
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 21, 2025)
Stepping into the world of Dhadak 2, which examines casteism in the country through the story of two lovers, can be an emotionally demanding experience. Siddhant Chaturvedi, who plays a Dalit man in Shazia Iqbal’s directorial venture, says that shedding the character was an all-consuming process as well. “It took at least six months for the character to completely leave me. In those six months, I didn’t take up any work. I was just travelling,” says the actor.
“[Such stories] leave an impact on you. It pushed me to an extent where I always desired to be, as an actor. That’s why I wanted to stay with it. At the same time, when I was dubbing for it recently, it all came back and I tried to finish dubbing as soon as possible because it haunts me.”
Chaturvedi, who stars opposite Triptii Dimri in the love story, was aware of the emotional weight of playing a Dalit character, especially as someone who does not share that lived experience. His approach involved understanding the world and drawing parallels with his life, he says.
“I won’t say there is a process to it, or try to be pseudo about it. I could say that I locked myself in the room for four days, but no, this character wouldn’t come like that. You have to understand the world first. I was not a cricketer in Inside Edge; I was not a rapper [in Gully Boy, 2019]. If it’s not a lived experience, I draw parallels. I try to go as close as possible to that in my own life, take out certain emotions, and try to match them. When I read a script, I don’t want to see the character from a lens of sympathy because then you’re adopting a third-person view. This is not a life I’ve lived, and I’ll never be able to achieve that fully. What I do is I never fall in love with my characters,” he reflects.
Every actor aspires to be bankable at the box office, but Chaturvedi’s metric is different. “People like us, who come from outside the industry, are grateful to be getting work. We’re always searching for stories that move us. Since we have lived a life before Bollywood happened to us, we’re drawn to stories that reflect that life. Both Triptii and I have made it here on our own, and that journey grounds you. There is always a little voice that tells us, ‘This feels right, this does not’. In the end, we follow our morals and instincts.”
When Khesari Lal Yadav and Pawan Singh's Bhojpuri songs are played at home, my thumkas come out-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:37 AM
Shourya Jha (BOMBAY TIMES; October 20, 2024)
From playing a rapper Gully Boy, to charming the audiences as Zain in Gehraiyaan and recently turning on his action avatar in Yudhra, Siddhant Chaturvedi has dabbled in a variety of genres in a short span since his debut. In the city for an event a while ago, the actor spoke to us about doing action sequences, trying different roles and more. Excerpts from a chat:
'Want to surprise the audience with whatever I do’
Siddhant says he’s on the lookout for a variety of roles. He has stuck to that thought and will continue to, through his upcoming films. “I just keep trying to do different things,” says the actor, adding, “There’s a risk of failure as well because people might not like or accept you in a certain role. But sometimes you have to fail when you're trying to go into unknown territory. I'm young, I want to understand failure. I don't want to reach a height and then fail because that would be too big of a fall. I am fine taking a step in a new direction, failing, getting up and trying again.”
Siddhant believes that trying different things also helps him evolve as an actor. “I want to surprise the audience with whatever I do. Acting is like being a magician. The audience should not know what you're going to pull out of the hat. That’s the feeling I want to give the audience,” he shares.
'I’d get restless while shooting action scenes’
Siddhant recently did a lot of action in Yudhra and got to work with international stunt director Nick Powell, who has projects like Gladiator, The Bourne Identity, RRR and Kalki to his credit.
Speaking about getting into the action mode, Siddhant says, “If you're doing long sequences without cuts, it's highly important to understand each moment, along with the breathing pattern. When you start doing action, you are pumped but Nick asked me to slow down and do it all at a 20% speed. I would get restless but then he told me how he trained other actors, including Tom Cruise, like that.”
Recalling the climax shoot Siddhant adds, “When we finally shot the scene, I could see all that Nick had told me coming together automatically. It felt like a magical process. I think I'll follow this every time I do an action scene.”
On wanting to do roles that reflect his upbringing…
Originally from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Siddhant has fond memories of being raised in a small town. However, He is yet to get a chance to portray such a character on screen. “I have an urban image because of the films I've done. Barring Dhadak 2, I never got a role which was rooted in a smaller town. My roles have been very aspirational. I want to be aspirational, but I also feel sad about not getting to play roles that reflect my background. When Khesari Lal Yadav and Pawan Singh's Bhojpuri songs are played at home, my thumkas come out. No one has seen me like that and I’m waiting for something like this to come my way.”
Any other producer would have backed out-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:46 AM
Siddhant praises Yudhra producers Farhan and Ritesh’s gumption for backing a relative newcomer like him despite the post-pandemic volatility
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; September 20, 2024)
Yudhra might be Siddhant Chaturvedi’s sixth film in his eight-year career, but it was the first one he signed after his big-screen debut with Gully Boy (2019). Producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani had zeroed in on him for Ravi Udyawar’s directorial venture, but with the development taking long, the actor made a request to the makers.
“They were still working on the script. Meanwhile, I was offered Bunty Aur Babli 2 [2021] and Gehraiyaan [2022]. So, I told Ritesh sir, ‘You need some time to prep. For an action film, the actor needs equity. Since the responsibility on me is huge, let me go out and get some equity,’” he recalls.
By the time the actor was ready to face the camera for Yudhra, which also stars Malavika Mohanan, the pandemic delayed the project. It, however, didn’t stop Chaturvedi’s prep.
“I knew the weight of responsibility on me. I was also scared. Because of the pandemic, the industry’s commerce went upside down. In such a scenario, any other producer would’ve backed out because it’s all about the returns. But Farhan sir, Ritesh sir and Ravi sir had immense faith in me and the script.”
For this, he remains grateful to the makers. Akhtar and Sidhwani showed gumption as they backed a relatively new actor like him, just as they had in Inside Edge, Gully Boy and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023).
“When the market is so volatile, they could think, ‘We are making this film with this new boy. What if it doesn’t open [well] at the box office?’ It takes guts [to bet on new talent]. That’s why Farhan sir and Ritesh sir are game changers.”
While he made his debut with a supporting role in Gully Boy, Chaturvedi has quickly graduated to lead roles. In the pipeline, he has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s yet-untitled production, and a Karan Johar film co-starring Triptii Dimri.
“My dreams were always big, to be a Hindi film hero. At the same time, I am attached to my craft and won’t do things for the heck of it. There were films that I could have done, but I always need gravitas in the story.”
In that pursuit, the actor has turned down some movies, including Brahmāstra: Part One—Shiva (2022). His criteria while choosing projects are simple. He explains, “There should be substance. I need to control my craft, the rest is not in my control.”
Ayushmann Khurrana told me, ‘Right now, phoonk phoonk ke kadam rakho’-Siddhant Chaturvedi
9:01 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 29, 2024)
After a long period of not being on screen, Siddhant Chaturvedi got a much-needed hit in the form of Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan last year. A direct-to-OTT release, it fetched him good reviews, something the actor had been craving for since Gully Boy in 2019. In the actor’s next, “both the male and female protagonists have become so relevant in the last three months”. However, he is waiting for the official announcement to take place.
With things finally looking up for him, ask if his industry peers supported him when his movies failed to connect with the audience and the 30-year-old says, “I don’t keep personal expectations from the industry, only professional ones. Everybody has been very nice. When I went to parties, they spoke to me and said, ‘It happens to everybody’.”
Chaturvedi adds, “I spoke to Ayushmann (Khurrana, actor) and he said that the one good thing is this phase happened at such an early age, now I will know how to handle things [at a later stage]. He told me, ‘Right now, phoonk phoonk ke kadam rakho’.”
“Surprised” by actors Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor’s support to sail through tumulous waters, the actor shares, “Ranbir doesn’t go to parties. But, he spoke to me at length when he called me over to [his house] to chill, I told him, ‘I don’t know bhai, kuchh chal nahi raha’. He said, ‘Keep working, Don’t get agitated about other people doing 100 other things or being seen’. That is his way of doing things. Ranbir and Alia (Bhatt, actor) are the only two people who messaged me after Gehraiyaan (2022).”
Kapoor told Chaturvedi that he thought his film, “Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009) would be his Munna Bhai MBBS (2003)”. However, the film did not make it big at the box office. So, Kapoor shared one piece of advice with the Phone Bhoot (2022) actor: “He said, ‘Jab tu expect nahi kar raha hoga, tab chalegi film’. I was not expecting much from Kho Gaye... I said, ‘Okay, we have made it for a target group, those people will give it love’. I didn’t know so many people would like that film,” he ends.
Everybody had high expectations saying I am the ‘next big thing’... I felt I let people down-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:12 PM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 10, 2024)
It’s been some time since Siddhant Chaturvedi won appreciation for his performance until his 2023 film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (KGHK). After the Gully Boy (2019) fame, the actor saw a bit of a lull in his career. Then, he went MIA for a year with no media interactions and rare public appearances. In a free-wheeling chat over a video call from his holiday, the actor bares his heart, but refrains from sharing one thing — his holiday destination. Excerpts:
Is ‘relieved’ the word for KGHK working and getting good reviews?
It was long due after Gully Boy. I needed some motivation again... it’s been a while since it released, followed by Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2021), Gehraiyaan and Phone Bhoot (both 2022). The pandemic happened, I thought we were kind of losing touch with what was working. I had been working for three-four years, things were not happening. And especially after Gully Boy, everybody had high expectations saying I am the ‘next big thing’... I felt I let people down. I would also not blame my choices. Consumer behaviour changed. Big-scale films became front-runners, no one was ready to invest so much money on a newcomer. What I had shot for was just right before the pandemic, the films released after that. I was disappointed with myself, (and thought) where was it going? I finally needed a push like KGHK.
You decided to stay away from everything for over a year. What prompted you to do this?
I thought mere paas kuch hai nahi baat karne ke liye, aur mera kaam bolta hai. Jab kaam nahi bol raha with the audience, who has moved on to some new kind of cinema... and then there are YouTube influencers, creators. As a newcomer, you are put between 360 degrees of entertainment, where you have to compete with so much. I felt that putting stuff out on social media and being spotted is not who I am. I felt I need to work harder to choose the right things.
Weren’t you bothered about being out of sight, out of mind?
I feel overwhelmed with the love right now, but if people are scattered away, I am not going to stand and shout ‘I am spotted, I am going to the gym, I bought a new car’ — that’s not the kind of actor I am. There are so many of them already; everybody has a great life on Instagram. If everyone is an influencer, then who is influenced? I understood my vision is to be there on the screen — be it digital or theatrical. Obviously, the dream is to be at the box office, but whatever it is, cinema is my way of communicating with people. What would I have talked about? I can’t put pictures of my vacations or go to award shows who are just giving me one. Initially after Gully Boy, I loved the attention (on social media) as there was chatter, I was excited. Later, I realized I needed something substantial.
But social media is also looked at as a means of being in touch with fans and solidifying a fan base...
I have nothing against people who do that. Out of sight was on purpose. If I was out of mind and then came with an unexpected performance, it would blow your mind. I have faith in myself. I was nowhere before Gully Boy... suddenly people saw me on the map, I wanted that same effect.
Social media has two sides to it — a powerful tool and a breeding ground for trolls. You must have faced negative comments too. How do you look at it?
I saw them on Reddit. I go and read the gossip and blind articles. It is really disturbing.
They call it ‘spilling the tea’...
Yes. Pehle achha lagta tha padh ke, before I had made it, maza aata tha. Par jab khud ke baare mein hota hai toh aankhein khulti hain. They call me arrogant, cocky, overrated. I was underrated before Gehraiyaan (2022), overrated after it, and then they said ‘he has disappeared, bada aaya tha’. That really hurt. I take it in a good way, but after reading (such comments), I am not able to sleep at night. I sit at the same window where I sat and dreamt, and decide, I will show the world. Earlier, I almost wrote a reply defending myself from fake profiles, but just before sending it, I would be like ‘no yaar, let the perception be, it’s good to break it with work’. I don’t expect people to be soft on me because I have got the hard way in life. It is not easy to make it and even harder to sustain it.
Mid-Day Exclusive: Cast of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan gets honest about social media influence
8:26 AM
Adarsh Gourav, Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi star in the upcoming Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, a film that explores the trappings of the digital age. Seen here with Avanti Nagral
In an exclusive interview with mid-day and creator Avanti Nagral—Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—come clean on being the generation that controls, and is slave to, social media
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; December 24, 2023)
We are at the Netflix office. The cast of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan—Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav—who play Ahana (an MBA corporate professional in love), Imaad (a stand-up comic) and Neil (a fitness trainer)—are checking their phones and hair in between interviews. “I don’t even have to pretend for this photo,” says Pandey as she poses with her phone, typing away. The movie, which releases on Netflix on December 26, follows the lives of the three friends as they navigate work, love, self-worth—all while living in a world that is slave to social media.
And so, we got creator, influencer and singer Avanti Nagral to sit down and speak to them about some of the major themes in the movie—stalking, comparisons, trolls, and identity. Nagral has a dual degree from Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music, and uses her social network to talk about gender and youth issues. What ensued was a “therapy session” as Chaturvedi put it.
Avanti Nagral: So how’s life? Do you feel khoya hua in life right now?
Siddhant Chaturvedi: Actually, I haven’t felt so found before.
Adarsh Gourav: I feel like I always space out… every 10-15 minutes, I space out.
Ananya Pandey: What? I have been thinking you are such a good listener…
AN: Is your online personality similar to who you are offline? Where do you draw that boundary?
SC: I keep it private. I also feel that I don’t have much to show, I am boring! Everything is through my characters, through cinema. That’s how I would like to be remembered. Otherwise, I am a boy next door, ordinary.
AN: But you do share some thoughts with small snippets as @siddychats on Instagram.
SC: Yes! More than my pictures, I like to write so I share my thoughts. I validate my thoughts, but I also connect with the [ones in the] world who relate to them. It’s a conversation through text. That’s the maximum I can go. There was a point when I was doing a lot—after my first film (Gully Boy). I was receiving a lot of love, and so I was like, let’s be out there. But I got done with it soon. I said no, I need to work on myself as an actor, and the more I keep myself private, I can do that. Anyway, we have so much competition from creators like you who are killing it. I can’t do that so well—the way you guys do. I have taken a back seat. I will talk to people through cinema; that’s my thing.
AP: I think the attempt has been to be as real as possible—without giving away too much of my personal life. But when I am on it, I am real. So many young girls come up to me and say they relate to me, and that’s a win. I have always owned up to my mistakes, and not been afraid to mess up, or say something wrong. I am like cool, I said the wrong thing, I will be careful next time.
AN: You had started a movement as well—Be Positive—what was that about?
AP: It was much of the same. Cyber bullying is so rampant but no one was talking about it at that time. Most people didn’t know how to deal with things—numbers you could call if you were being bullied at school or something. It was about starting a conversation.
AN: Kudos to you, Ananya. Adarsh, your first film was 13 years ago. You have been in the limelight…
Did you have to work on your persona?
AG: I came into the limelight after The White Tiger… I was more interested in being a singer before.
AN: Do you identify as an artiste? Or do you feel an identity crisis as an artist and a person? Is there a separation between the two?
AG: You try to find yourself in every character you play, but I also try to play characters that are different from me. When life gets hectic, you can escape, and adopt another person’s problems. That’s exciting. I need to be constantly stimulated and get bored easily. Being an actor and singer fulfills all my needs.
AN: Even in the movie, social media becomes a form of escape and scrutiny. It’s a hard line because you have to find what is real and what isn’t. Have any of you ever stalked anybody? As a public persona, is it harder?
AP: It’s always easy!
SC: Unless you like someone’s picture as you are stalking…
AN: Maybe the hard line is keeping parts of your life personal. Do relationships feel unreal unless they are on social media?
AP: The more we keep our dating lives personal, the more real they feel. That’s one of the only parts of my life that I can protect; everything else is out there. Adarsh is very open about his relationship and comfortable doing that. I am somewhere in the middle—it depends on who you are with. It depends on the day too! Some days you want to scream from the rooftops, and some days you are like, no one can see this.
AG: There is not much to hide! It’s chill only.
AN: I had a really public relationship, and a public break up, so I am curious. As I was going through it, I realized how hard being in the public eye is. Do you think twice before you go on a date at a public place?
SC: All the time! I make sure that I do not. I do express myself on social media, and I do say what I feel bending the front of poetry. There is no name, no picture, and people can connect to it. I channelize my need for expression towards my partner in art so that other people can connect.
AN: Siddhant, you play Imaad— a stand-up comic who uses real life as material. Is there a line that one needs to draw while using inspiration from our own lives?
SC: There is an ethical and legal line for sure!
AN: Where is the moral grey zone?
SC: As an artiste, everything is always a grey zone. There is no black or white—and that’s where the fun is. There is no way to be preachy about it; you can explore as much as you can. Sometimes it may be wrong, but if I need to derive something from my life and out it through a character, I use it. For example, I don’t smoke [in real life], but in this film I do.
AG: (Laughs out loud)
SC: Okay, okay. For Gully Boy and this film, I had to start smoking. So, I did. And it’s hard to let go of that—and I am struggling with that. I am being honest. But whatever is needed for the character, I do it. Even Ananya had to.
AP: Yes. We were all given tasks for the movie—Adarsh had to build his body, Sid had to learn to [do] stand-up [comedy]. I had to smoke. And I couldn’t light a cigarette!
SC: There were so many bodily changes. Adarsh can speak about those...
AG: I kept farting! I had to eat so many eggs and have so much chicken! But after I stopped working out, I became dysmorphic. Before, I think about my body so much, but now I wonder why I am not as ripped as I was in the film. But I am not playing a trainer in my next movie. However, your mind gets so used to that beautiful image… it’s the best you have ever looked.
AN: As women, we experience body dysmorphia every day. Ananya, how do you deal with that?
AP: Before social media, it was school, where people would say you are too hairy or too thin. My only attempt is to be kinder to myself. When I started out, I was on a very strict diet. I would cheat on Sunday, and I would fall sick because I ate so much. I thought I had to look a certain way and was depriving myself. But I became kinder to myself. When I look at my younger sister, I never want her to feel the way I did, or for that matter, any young person. The only thing I can do is be positive about my body, and hope people get inspired by that.
AN: Which character from the movie did you all relate to the most?
AP: I related with Ahana. If you think I was natural, it was because it wasn’t acting. I miss Ahana. She helped me deal with so much that I was going through in my own personal life.
SC: For me, it was Adarsh’s character, Neil. The family dynamic he has in the movie, is very close to my own family. When I read the script, I called Arjun (the director) and asked him, how did you crack Neil’s character. He is from London, how could he have know all this? The details are so minute—that’s when I knew he was going to be a great director. My own character was great, but I choose characters that are not close to who I am in real life. I can’t play myself in a movie.
AG: It’s boring na!
SC: Yes, it’s boring.
AG: By the way, Ahana is not like Ananya at all. I related to Neil and my client in the movie, who never wants to work out.
AN: What do you want young people to take away from the film?
AP: Just go hug your friends, and don’t let go. Like, in a non-creepy way.
SC: Leave them eventually.
AG: Please celebrate your birthday with your family. Don’t abandon your birth givers.
SC: Just be yourself, guys. The world is very noisy. Just chill and be yourself. There is so much gyan on Reels anyway. Tum log bas maje karo.
For me, OTT is like 20-20 and theatrical film is like a test match-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:13 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 15, 2023)
At a time when audiences are back to watching movies on the big screen, Siddhant Chaturvedi says he would like to balance it out between OTT projects and theatrical releases. After making his debut with Gully Boy in 2019, he had a couple of theatrical releases like Phone Bhoot as well as films like Gehraiyaan, which were released on the digital medium.
‘Right now, the focus is just to be out there to entertain people’
Sharing his views on working parallelly on both the mediums, Siddhant shares, “For me, OTT is like 20-20 and theatrical releases are like one day game or test matches. I will balance it out. There are certain kinds of films and subjects that you choose for OTT. Those films might not perform as well in theatres. I can keep switching and I don’t mind doing that, but right now, the focus is just to be out there to entertain people, to be seen more and to have a voice. I want to have a conversation with the audience through cinema, that’s all; the medium doesn’t matter.”
‘The divide between conventional and unconventional cinema is fading’
Siddhant has been able to explore the unconventional space through digital mediums. Early on in his career, he was seen in the web show Inside Edge. However, the actor believes the divide between conventional and unconventional cinema is gradually blurring.
He shares, “Because of OTT there’s an influx of content from all over the world. With each passing day, it’s getting tougher to keep the audience engaged. Now, we also have social media content like reels and videos. I think the divide between conventional and unconventional cinema is fading away. People just want to see something new, exciting, intriguing and different. The challenge is to offer them the best content. We also have competition from all over the world, and we have over 100 years of conventional Bollywood cinema there, and you can’t beat that. I’m trying to step out of the mould, push the limit a little bit and redefine the conventionalism of the industry. I’m trying, but I need some time.”
‘I want to play youth-centric roles because you’re young only once’
Talk to him about how he selects his roles across mediums, and he says, “As much as I’d like to make it sound like it’s branding or a strategy, I just choose films based on the things which I see, the life that I’ve seen and the life I’m living. I want to tell the story of my age, and the times we’re living in. We are constantly evolving with social media, relationships and love. Everything is evolving, so I just want to catch on to what’s currently going on and the state of people’s minds. My focus for some time is primarily the youth. I want to play youth-centric roles because you’re young only once.”
I would love to see Shah Rukh Khan as Iron Man-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:28 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 12, 2023)
Bombay Times took Siddhant Chaturvedi, a diehard fan of the superhero universe and comics, on a special tour of Mumbai Comic Con. The two-day pop culture event taking place this weekend in the city is a haven for comic book and superhero lovers of all ages. At the event, the actor lived it up to the T and spoke to us at length about his love for spectacle cinema, superhero powers, assembling his own dream team of Bollywood Avengers and more. Read on...
How excited are you to be here with us at Mumbai Comic Con?
I’m super excited because it’s been a while since I attended one. I came here years ago with my brother who’s a huge Marvel fan. The energy and frenzy is bringing back a lot of memories from my college days.
You are a superhero fanboy. Who have been your favourite superheroes over the years?
I’m a big fan of the X-Men series, especially Wolverine. I used to watch its animated series after school every day. Another favourite is Batman, I love the series Batman Of The Future. I am waiting for DC to make a film on that soon.
Take us through your childhood memories — to the time your fascination for superheroes and comics began...
When I was younger, I used to travel to my native place, Ballia (in Uttar Pradesh) a lot. On the way, I would buy Raj comics at the train station. Indian superheroes like Doga, Nagraj and super commando Dhruva became my heroes, before any of the rest came along. I still have a collection of these comic books and they are my most prized possessions and memories. I also have a soft corner for Shaktimaan. If given an opportunity, I would love to play masked vigilante Doga on screen. It’s my childhood dream. I am also drawn to Chakra from the Marvel universe, who’s an Indian character. I’m hoping that they make a film on him, and cast an Indian actor.
If you were to possess a super power, what would that be?
I would love to be blessed with the power of teleportation! Imagine the time I will save and as you know, time is money. If I have that power, I can do far more things simultaneously. Probably do several film projects at the same time and also travel to my favourite places.
If you were to assemble your dream team of Bollywood Avengers, which actors would you choose?
This is interesting. I would love to see Shah Rukh Khan as Iron Man. He’s suave, witty, charming and after Pathaan, he can actually invest in making his own Iron Man suit! (laughs). Hrithik Roshan will be great as Captain America given his physique, agility and looks. Sunny Deol would be solid as the Hulk. He’d smash and smash, because he can give the Hulk a run for his money with his dhai kilo ka haath. Katrina Kaif would be perfect as the Black Widow because she’s one of the fittest people ever. She’s agile and her moves will knock out the enemies. John Abraham can be Thor. Everyone knows why. He’s the only one who’s worthy of playing that part.
Superhero films are dominating the big screens globally. What do you think has been the reason for its longevity and massive success over the years?
I think technology has played a huge part. These films have been able to convincingly immerse the audience with its visual effects and storylines that aren’t limited in scope. It’s opened a whole new dimension, the multiverse and crossovers. You’re giving the audience an escape unlike anything done before. The characters are interesting. The comics have a huge recall value and being able to see that material come alive on screen is any fan’s dream come true. The viewer is able to identify with these superheroes because they’re also portrayed as being human, which makes them more relatable.
We have our own homegrown Krrish and Brahmastra now. Do you want to see an Indian superhero gain global recognition too?
Our heroes and stories are no less. Anyone who empowers the common man is a superhero and our actors and crusaders do that everyday without costumes or gadgets. It’s all about the power of love.
A few days before the music launch of Gully Boy, I faced an injury while playing football-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:06 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; December 13, 2022)
Siddhant Chaturvedi is all set to represent India in a new FIFA World Cup anthem, which he shot recently in Qatar. The actor will be seen with American rapper Lil Baby in the video, which will be released closer to the finals.
Talking exclusively to Bombay Times, he says, “I feel this one’s going to be the most catchy anthem of the season. It is about the journey; it’s about taking control and winning. It’s also about hustling and coming from nowhere and making it big! The anthem seems to be totally aligned with my journey (in Bollywood). It features young artistes from all around the world. In the video, you will see me rapping and vibing with Lil Baby.”
Siddhant, who’s a die-hard football fan, got to shoot at places he never imagined he would be at. The Gully Boy actor shares, “We filmed the video at a stadium in Qatar, on the field, where footballers play matches. It was quite surreal as I walked through the tunnel, just like they do. I also shot inside the dressing room.”
Siddhant says, “I can’t get over the fact that I shot on the same pitch where Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi played and the same dressing room where they chilled during the matches. I am just going bonkers!”
He is also thrilled about the fact that the video is shot by Director X, who has worked with international artistes like Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Drake, among others. As he parked himself in Qatar for a few days for the shoot, the actor also took the opportunity to watch two matches live.
“It was like a dream come true as this was the first time I saw a football World Cup match live in a stadium. I was there for four days and could watch two matches — Brazil vs Cameroon and Denmark vs Belgium. During the Brazil match, I saw Neymar. Though he wasn’t playing, I am happy that I got to see him. During the Belgium match, I saw Romelu Lukaku. Since I was there to shoot the video, I got a great seat. As I walked towards my seat, it felt like the ground was getting bigger and bigger as the seat was so close to it. I could see the players closely. It was such a thrilling experience,” says the actor.
This year, he feels quite aligned with the match results. He shares, “This time, the FIFA World Cup has been all about the underdogs. Japan played extremely well and Saudi Arabia shocked the world by beating Argentina in one of the matches. I am an underdog myself, so I kind of relate to these victories.”
The Gehraiyaan actor, who played football while growing up, is also a part of a celebrity football team in Mumbai. Having had injuries multiple times while playing the sport earlier in his life, Siddhant was skeptical about taking up football after becoming an actor. He says, “I joined the club recently. I didn’t want to take a risk. I have had four ligament tears during my football matches earlier. So, it was tricky for me to go back on the field even though I was missing it a lot. In fact, I remember a month before the national finale of the Bombay Times Fresh Face in 2013, I had a football match where I tore a ligament. I won that competition despite the leg injury as I performed with bandages around my leg. Even a few days before the music launch of Gully Boy, I faced an injury while playing football.”
Ask him to name his favourite players from the celebrity football club and he shares, “I like Tiger Shroff and RK (Ranbir Kapoor); he has a great game sense. He is as crazy about football as one can be. Tiger toh ek chalti phirti machine hai. His game is really good. I gel well with Ahan Shetty. He has recently joined and he’s this silent beast.”
During visarjan, my friends and I would dance barefoot on the streets-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:12 AM
The actor gives a glimpse into how he and his family celebrated Ganeshotsav along with the members of their housing society in Goregaon
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 8, 2022)
Even if work keeps him busy, Siddhant Chaturvedi makes it a point to actively participate in the annual seven-day Ganpati celebrations at his housing society in Goregaon. The actor and his family participate in the various events organised during the festival, including live performances, bhajans and the visarjan, which he was a part of on Tuesday night.
Sporting an ethnic kurta, Siddhant performed a puja at the pandal and danced to the tunes of dholtaasha before the visarjan took place. Unlike in the past, this year, the residents had installed an artificial pool in the premises of the society to immerse the idol.
“This experience was very different from the earlier ones when we would take the idol from Goregaon to Powai in a truck. Through the journey, my friends and I would dance barefoot on the streets to the tunes of Nashik dhol, smear gulal on each other and have vada pav on our way back,” shares the Gully Boy actor, adding, “This time around, the visarjan was in the building premise, but it went on for four hours, during which we did the puja and danced a lot before seeing Bappa off. We bid Ganpati Bappa adieu with a heavy heart and look forward to welcoming him back next year. ”
Talking about the festivities this year, Siddhant shares, “This year, a few members staged a play around the birth of Lord Ganesha, and I was amazed by the production set-up. It looked so professional. My mom paid a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar by dancing to her songs. My brother, a singer and musician who has been learning Hindustani classical music for the last seven years, sang bhajans every morning. Meanwhile, I did the evening aartis and even joined the aunties in my building for community dinner. It was a lot of fun.”
He further adds, “I have a lot of respect for the stage here as this is where I was groomed. While I did theatre, it was on this stage that I danced, hosted and acted in plays while growing up. It also taught me teamwork. In these seven days, you feel like you are a part of a community... there’s this feeling of belonging and being rooted.”
Though Siddhant has his own space in Juhu, that hasn’t stopped him from joining in the celebrations at his Goregaon residence. “My place in Juhu is meant for get-togethers with friends and work meetings. Otherwise, I park myself here. My family is here. It feels good to come back home, where my mom opens the door for me. I also get to have home-cooked food. I can’t let go of this. So, while the Juhu home is like my creative space, I enjoy family time here.”
Main thoda darr gaya ke itna kya hai picture mein jo intimacy director ki zaroorat pad gayi-Siddhant Chaturvedi
7:29 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 5, 2022)
On the surface, Siddhant Chaturvedi is a confident newcomer, well-aware of his potential. A writer at heart and a firm believer in eternal love, he finds the cynicism of contemporary times hard to connect with. It was thus tough for the actor to keep his thoughts aside and dive into the complex layers of love and infidelity, as observed by director Shakun Batra in Gehraiyaan. In Gully Boy, Bunty Aur Babli 2 and now Gehraiyaan, which drops on February 11 on Amazon Prime Video, the actor holds his own onscreen, no matter who he shares screen space with. In a chat with BT, Siddhant talks about romancing Deepika Padukone, his career choices and more. Excerpts:
In a recent interview, Shakun Batra said that love has been oversimplified in Hindi films. You’ve been extremely filmy right from your college days. Do you agree with him?
Be it love, choices or consequences, you are conditioned to think a certain way based on the films you watch. I am a diehard romantic who adores Shah Rukh Khan. I am a huge rom-com fan. Our idea of love is shaped by the films we like. For me, it was waiting for that one person your whole life philosophy. Love for me is forever. I always wanted to do a quintessential rom-com, but times have changed. Such love stories aren’t made that often these days. I was on the lookout for an out-and-out love story, and no scripts were convincing enough. I later realised that the stories I expected were nostalgic, but not reflective of the current times. When Shakun offered me this film that gets under the surface of love, I thought to myself, this is a film that begins after Raj and Simran ride off into the sunset. What happens after they get onto that train in the end? Do they feel stuck after the initial heady phase of romance? Do you not feel loved anymore? Gehraiyaan touches upon that layer. It starts off where most romcoms end. It shook me. I had to unlearn everything personally and also as an actor. I had to stop judging because you realise, we all are messed up in our own ways. He made me look within. Having said that, I will never stop believing in the made-for-each-other notion of love.
Be it love, choices or consequences, you are conditioned to think a certain way based on the films you watch. I am a diehard romantic who adores Shah Rukh Khan. I am a huge rom-com fan. Our idea of love is shaped by the films we like. For me, it was waiting for that one person your whole life philosophy. Love for me is forever. I always wanted to do a quintessential rom-com, but times have changed. Such love stories aren’t made that often these days. I was on the lookout for an out-and-out love story, and no scripts were convincing enough. I later realised that the stories I expected were nostalgic, but not reflective of the current times. When Shakun offered me this film that gets under the surface of love, I thought to myself, this is a film that begins after Raj and Simran ride off into the sunset. What happens after they get onto that train in the end? Do they feel stuck after the initial heady phase of romance? Do you not feel loved anymore? Gehraiyaan touches upon that layer. It starts off where most romcoms end. It shook me. I had to unlearn everything personally and also as an actor. I had to stop judging because you realise, we all are messed up in our own ways. He made me look within. Having said that, I will never stop believing in the made-for-each-other notion of love.
How unnerving was it to portray that intimacy with Deepika and make it appear so casual and real on the screen?
In my head, I was like, ‘Wow’ she’s Deepika! How am I going to romance her! She has worked with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor. Look at my competition.’ It is a romantic film and I didn’t want people to say, ‘Nahi kar paya.’ When I was heading to Goa, you had asked me about the intimacy workshop. I was panicking at the time because I didn’t know, and you were the first person to tell me about it. I didn’t have an idea at all. Of course, Shakun narrated the story to me and since I was eager to work with him, I said I am on. We knew there was intimacy, but we didn’t know to what extent. The screenplay didn’t particularly mention that because it wasn’t erotic poetry or something. The workshops and readings happened later. Then I got to know that to make ourselves comfortable, we had an intimacy director, Dar Gai, on set. Pehli baar jab maine suna toh thoda darr gaya ke itna kya hai picture mein jo intimacy director ki zaroorat pad gayi (smiles)! But I realised that’s how Shakun likes to work. His portrayal of intimacy isn’t just physical, but emotional and nuanced. The camera doesn’t tell you that look, two people are kissing. It flows organically.
A lot has been said about these rehearsals. How did they help exactly?
It was a team-building exercise, something I even did in Mithibai College when we did theatre. In Goa, all of us did yoga at 7 in the morning, followed by breakfast at 10 am. At noon, we had a body coach who trained us to loosen up, and then we had Dar, who made us understand comfort and consent. These experts should be on every set. There are so many things that I didn’t know about myself. I am extremely shy, but this one month in Goa with all of us staying together and eating together, broke my inhibitions.
What did your parents think of the film and were you comfortable watching it with them?
I didn’t sit with them. I was sitting in one corner and they were in the other. After watching the film, I returned home in my car. I didn’t even travel back with them. I rushed to my room and went to bed. Dad knocked and came in. He wanted to talk about the film because he loved it, but I just wanted this day to pass (laughs!), so we did speak about it later on the phone. That’s when he said, ‘Yeh film samaaj ka darpan hai. Ismay kuch sahi galat nahi hai.’ (It holds a mirror to the society). Koi message nahi de rahe hai hum. The world has changed and these kinds of stories exist.
You have already worked with directors like Zoya Akhtar and prominent banners like Dharma, in a relatively short span of time. As an outsider, are you getting used to the life of a movie star?
I am working with those people who I have looked up to my whole life. I am still in my learning phase, but I want to be approachable and accessible even in the future. Banna toh mujhe hero hi tha pehle se, but I want to avoid the negative parts that come with it. I love it when people love my work and they should be able to tell me that. Actor ban gaye toh, sir ke paas mat jao, unka mood nahi hai... that kind of stuff I don’t like.
Aditya Chopra called after Gully Boy and said, ‘Tu toh hero hai!’ I told him, ‘Toh phir bana dijiye’-Siddhant Chaturvedi
7:46 AM
Revealing that plan B was to become a sincere actor over star, Siddhant says his craft has earned him a footing in Bollywood as he fronts Bunty Aur Babli 2
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 19, 2021)
He captivated the audience with his honest performance in Gully Boy (2019). But to Siddhant Chaturvedi, Bunty Aur Babli 2 is where the real journey begins. “It’s my debut in a way,” he starts off, sitting at Yash Raj Studios. “Gully Boy wasn’t my film. The pressure wasn’t on me. The audience found a hero in me.”
He remembers Aditya Chopra calling him after the musical drama released. “Adi sir said, ‘Tu toh hero hai!’ I told him, ‘Toh phir bana dijiye.’ He assumed I’d want to do something intense after Gully Boy. I was only being offered alpha-male roles. It was important to break that perception. I wanted to show my comic timing, boyish charm, dance, and action.”
The con caper allows Chaturvedi to do all that and more, alongside Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji and Sharvari. As he joins Khan to become the new-age Bunty after Abhishek Bachchan’s act in the 2005 instalment, he says comparisons are out of the question. “The original is too iconic to be touched. What works for us is that it has been 16 years since the original. Love stories have changed, as has the game.”
Aspiring to be a Bollywood star since his teenage years, the actor, 28, says his plan B is bearing fruit. “My plan A was to have a big-label launch at 19. The film would have had me, the heroine and no ensemble. [I had pictured it] as an action film with bike chases. But such launches don’t happen in real life. I was sitting at home jobless for four years.”
Which then made him devise plan B — to work on his craft. “The lure of becoming a Hindi film hero was replaced with being a good actor. I did okay in my plan B. I am a Yash Raj Films hero today alongside Saif and Rani. My next with Dharma Productions has me opposite Deepika Padukone, and there’s another film with Katrina Kaif. I also have a web series with Zoya Akhtar. Now, I like plan B better because plan A wouldn’t have earned me respect. I have proved myself.”
I was nervous about sharing screen space with Deepika Padukone-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:13 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; February 12, 2021)
After his fine performance in Gully Boy where he played Ranveer Singh’s mentor, Siddhant started enjoying quite a fan following and came to be known as MC Sher, his character from the film. While the young actor is confident about his talent, he admits that working with an artiste like Deepika got him nervous. He said, “Deepika is extremely talented. She is one of our senior actresses and the prettiest, and yes, I was quite nervous to share the screen space with her. I was wondering how it would go before the shoot commenced, but it went off really well. She is extremely simple and we got along well. On days when we were not shooting, we had dinner together. It was a great environment on the set and I eased into it. It’s lovely how she brings in her own flavour to a script or a story.”
He further elaborated, “Shakun as a director believes in more of a natural approach to work, and so does Deepika. She is spontaneous, so to watch her react to something is special. She submits herself to a character wholeheartedly. This is the reason her performances tend to be real and special. To observe her act was really interesting.”
There’s no rivalry between Ishaan Khatter & me, there’s bromance-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:11 AM
Siddhant Chaturvedi says he shares a healthy competition with Ishaan Khatter and their relationship comprises friendship and brotherhood
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; December 10, 2020)
Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khatter are two of the most promising young talents in Bollywood. The boys are good friends, but given that they both belong to the new breed of actors, there’s obviously talk of competition between the two. And interestingly, they will be seen together for the first time in the horror-comedy Phone Bhoot with Katrina Kaif.
Siddhant, who has been shooting for his upcoming film co-starring Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday, finds the healthy competition flattering. He says, “I am glad to know that we are being looked upon as these upcoming talented actors. Rivalry between us? Yes, on the football field (laughs!). Beyond that, there is no rivalry; he is like my brother. There’s more bromance. Also, there is competition, but it’s very healthy. If he knows something, he’ll help me with it and vice versa. The relationship we share comprises friendship and brotherhood.”
Siddhant also shared how the two enjoyed hanging out in Goa recently. He said, “Ishaan was also in Goa when I was shooting there, so we hung out almost every day. We played football on the beach and had a great time. He is a fitness freak, so we worked out together as well.”
I want to live all the characters that crowd my imagination-Siddhant Chaturvedi
7:56 AM
Siddhant Chaturvedi, explaining why he is moving from a con caper to a domestic noir, a horror comedy, and an action film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 24, 2020)
He is still remembered as Gully Boy’s rapper, MC Sher, but now Siddhant Chaturvedi can look forward to the release of his second film, the sequel to the 2005 comedy, Bunty Aur Babli, which pairs him alongside Sharvari Wagh and also features Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead. He reveals that Part 2 bridges the generational gap between two con couples. “It’s been around 15 years since the original and a lot has changed since. A family entertainer, it is about aspirations and corruption, and appeals to all age groups. I can’t wait to con everybody,” laughs Siddhant, who has five different guises in the film which involved a lot of prosthetics.
Meanwhile, the actor has been busy filming Shakun Batra’s next, which pairs him with Deepika Padukone and also features Ananya Panday. Shooting in Coronavirus times, he admits, is a different experience because everyone, including the director is masked. “It’s a little weird not knowing how your cameraman or light dada looks, but I’m glad to be back on the sets,” he exults, describing the yet-untitled film as a domestic noir, which captures the nuances of people and relationships. “The scale is quite big and Shakun is trying to push the boundaries of Indian cinema,” he points out, admitting that while he has grown up watching Hindi films, he was more inclined towards world cinema over the last five years. “This film is in that space. Shakun and Zoya (Gully Boy director, Zoya Akhtar) come from the same school of filmmaking, but both have their own vision.”
Quiz him about working with Deepika and he admits that despite his nervousness, the shoot was smooth. “She submits herself completely and makes the character believable. I am living out my dream in every possible way,” he raves.
After wrapping this film around mid-December, Siddhant will jump into a horror comedy, Phone Bhoot, which pairs him with Katrina Kaif and also features Ishaan Khatter. “It’s a hilarious script; we had a blast during the readings, there’s going to be some solid jugalbandi between the three of us. We want it to be the next pop culture,” he exults, excited to enter this world with a completely different look.
He also has an action film lined up in the new-year and admits that it’s his favourite genre. “I’ve trained in mixed martial arts and taekwondo and it’s difficult holding back from sharing the training videos. The film was supposed to be announced before the pandemic, hopefully you’ll hear of it soon,” he says, unwilling to divulge more. Is he open to negative roles too? “How do you know I am not playing one in any of these films?” he laughs, quick to add, “I want to be a hero first, then, I’ll think of negative roles.”
It’s interesting to see him switch genres and Siddhant says that he’d be bored repeating himself. “I want to try new things, live all the characters that crowd my imagination. I don’t want people to slot me, I want them to experience something new every time they enter the cinema halls. The real Siddhant Chaturvedi will be discovered only through interviews,” he shares, adding that he rediscovered his love for training at home and healthy home-cooked food during the lockdown. “I went back to my roots. Kicking, Boxing and taekwondo helped me get in shape.”
I have to look like a Dharma boy-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:51 AM
Siddhant Chaturvedi on shaving off kilos to attain urbane look for Shakun Batra's next that is expected to go on floors next month
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 28, 2020)
Siddhant Chaturvedi had a busy 2020 charted out before the pandemic disrupted his plan. Amid buzz that he will kick off the shoot of Shakun Batra's yet-untitled drama in Goa in September — six months after it was originally scheduled to roll — the actor says he has been toiling away at his home gym for the past eight weeks to achieve a lean frame for the movie.
"I have to look like a Dharma boy," he chuckles, before adding, "My character in Bunty Aur Babli 2 is that of a boy-next-door and has a desi flavour. In Shakun's film, I play an urban and contemporary character. I weighed 84 kilos when doing Bunty Aur Babli 2, and had to shed four kilos to fit into the part Shakun envisioned me in."
Even as the physical prep has brought him a step closer to inhabiting the character, Chaturvedi says the workshops conducted in March with co-stars Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday helped him understand the universe of domestic noir — a genre that has rarely been explored in Hindi cinema. "Before the lockdown, we had readings with Shakun and the cast. We sat together and cracked the zone that the film was set in. We had started doing our homework for the parts."
After the Karan Johar production, the actor is expected to headline an action film that will reportedly be helmed by Mom director Ravi Udyawar. "That is one of our passion projects because fronting an action film is every guy's dream. I aim to touch 78 kilos for the actioner. The good thing is the lighter I am, the fitter I am."
My society’s Ganpati celebrations gave me my first stage to perform-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:29 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 25, 2020)
Like many Mumbaikars, Siddhant Chaturvedi, too, celebrates Ganesh Utsav along with his housing society members. For over two decades now, the actor and his friends have been organising community festivities in his residential complex. The actor, who gained immense popularity with Gully Boy last year, gives full credit to this festival for giving birth to the filmi keeda in him. In an exclusive chat with BT, he shares his childhood memories associated with the celebrations. Read on…
It’s been over 20 years that your residential complex has been celebrating Ganesh Utsav. Tell us all about these seven days of festivities...
I was just five years old when we moved to this building (in Goregaon) in 1998. Since then, we have been organising this seven-day affair where people from different cultures get together. We plan a drawing competition and sports day, which includes cricket and football matches. We play a game of housie and do dance-offs, too. Considering I was a good dancer, the society members would keep my performance for the last day, like a cherry on the cake (laughs!). My society’s Ganpati celebrations gave me my first stage to perform. It is on this stage that I got appreciation and won confidence. It gave me a feeling that at least apne mohalle ka main hero hoon.
From then till now, how involved have you been in the process over the years?
It’s like a ghar ka Ganpati for my family. I have been one of the main members organising the event. I usually direct skits and plays, and also participate in the dance. Last year, my involvement went down a bit because of work. So, my brother who is 16, did a solo performance. Otherwise, since childhood, we have been performing together. I have danced on Shankar Mahadevan’s Ganpati songs like Shree Ganeshaya Dheemahi, which was my first attempt at classical dance. I also remember one year, where I danced on Kajra Re with all the aunties of the building and then the uncles joined in, too. Last year, I was busy with a shoot, and so, I came in very late for the event. They called me on stage, and one of the society members interviewed me. I was grilled with questions, like who I was seeing, my line-up of movies and also a rapid-fire round.
How has the Coronavirus pandemic affected your celebrations this year?
This year, we are organising performances and competitions, but through video apps. From drawing to dance, everything will happen through video conferencing. I will be hosting a game of housie, too, through the app.
The visarjan is also a huge part of the celebration, which will obviously be missed this year...
You cannot imagine how much I would dance on the streets during the visarjan. From Goregaon, we go to Powai for visarjan. During the journey, which would last for three-four hours, we would dance like crazy on Marathi songs like Wajle Ki Bara, Vaat Majhi Baghtoy Rickshawala, etc. I would dance along with my friends, full-on Tshirt faadke (laughs!). I would go down on my knees and dance on the road… joota kidhar hai, chappal kidhar hai, gulaal aankh, kaan, naak mein udd raha hai…total madness. After this intense cardio, with hungry stomachs, we would hop onto the truck and have garma garam vada pav.
My dad is learning new things about social media from me and is becoming borderline cool-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:35 AM
On Father’s Day today, Siddhant Chaturvedi reflects upon the life lessons he has imbibed from his father Laxman Chaturvedi, how there’s a role-reversal in their relationship when it comes to technology, and more
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 21, 2020)
There’s no denying that Siddhant Chaturvedi is a spitting image of his chartered accountant father, Laxman Chaturvedi. The two have a lot in common, but Siddhant says what he admires most about his father is how he never forgets his roots. “The trait of my dad’s that I value the most is how he always sticks to his roots. From him, I have learnt that you need to be real and can’t get carried away by this big city,” he said.We tend to think that we know more than our parents, but wisdom comes with age and experience. The Gully Boy actor explained, “Though he doesn’t belong to the industry, I feel that he knows more about it than I ever will. I tend to get carried away with everything around at times, even the scripts or the characters that I’m playing, but he keeps me level-headed all the time.”
Having said that, it’s also true that after a point, the child-parent roles are reversed. Children eventually end up playing guardians to their parents and Sid is no different. “I look after his health, fitness and nutrition. Having a desk job, he tends to get lazy and he also loves sweets. So, I have to keep that in check. Technology is another area. He takes the back-up of everything on his office computer, be it pictures or data, manually. I often get irritated and try to make him understand how ‘the cloud’ functions, but he just doesn’t trust it. He resists certain changes. For instance, he still prefers maintaining a handwritten diary to typing it out on his phone. Also, he doesn’t get memes. I have to explain it to him most of the time. However, he tries to keep up with social media, and learn how to get the emojis right. He’s learning these things from me and is becoming borderline cool,” Siddhant shared.
“My father likes certain items to be bought personally, though we often get cheaper stuff online. Recently, I ordered a clothes drying stand online. What was delivered was quite different from what it looked like online, so dad makes sure to taunt me about it all the time (laughs!),” the actor ended on a funny note.
I am confident because I know I am good at what I do-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:32 AM
Siddhant Chaturvedi, aka MC Sher, talks to us about his journey in films, why a relationship is not his priority and the lessons learnt during the ongoing lockdown. Excerpts...
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; May 3, 2020)
Gully Boy’s MC Sher catapulted you into the limelight suddenly, making many people assume that yours is an overnight success story. But, the truth is, it took you over six years to get here, after winning the Bombay Times Fresh Face finale in 2012...
It might look like my success was overnight, but it took nights, days and years in the making. I changed my career from CA (chartered accountancy) to acting when I was just a few months away from my CA final attempt. Bombay Times Fresh Face was the first platform where I tested myself to know if I have it in me or not. Winning it nationally boosted my confidence and since then, there has been no looking back. Auditions and rejections became a part of life. It was a chaotic mix — of responsibilities as the elder son, the pressure to earn, the desire to pursue my dreams and the longing to see myself as the leading man on celluloid.
The critics and the audience unanimously felt that you performed so confidently in Gully Boy, it didn’t look like your debut…
I am confident because I know I am good at what I do. It also stems from the fact that I cleared my CA exams in the very first attempt. I tell myself, ‘Maine woh kar liya jo mujhe karna nahi tha. Toh socho, jo mujhe karna hai usme toh main phaad doonga’. That’s my motto and I have no insecurities.
All of us have been confined to our homes for the past few weeks. What has been your biggest learning lesson during the Coronavirus lockdown period?
I feel more connected to my roots. My parents are happy that I am spending more time with them, which I couldn’t in the past few months. Also, I am comfortable in isolation, as this is pretty much what I did before my film came out. Preparing for CA and unemployment taught me a lot of patience. So, the lesson is mostly internal.
It seems like you have been using your time fairly constructively at home...
I am most creative when I work at midnight. I write, paint, and sing to the silence around me. I am also catching up on some good indie films. Video games keep me occupied, too. I have got a launchpad, so I am learning to make beats and music. I am getting used to this life, but I hope it’s not for too long.
Do you envy celeb couples in quarantine, whose Instagram pages are flooded with lovey dovey posts?
(Laughs!) Yes, a little, but apna time bhi aayega. Abhi ke liye my focus is sirf my passion for films aur parivaar. Pyaar can wait.
The times are changing, thanks to actors like Ayushmann Khurrana-Siddhant Chaturvedi
8:31 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 1, 2020)
Siddhant Chaturvedi probably had one of the most unconventional debuts in Bollywood as the rapper MC Sher in Gully Boy (2019). However, the actor now wants to show his commercial hero side to the audience in his upcoming slate of films, which includes Bunty Aur Babli 2.
“The year 2019 will always be special for me because that’s when it all started,” says the actor in reference to his debut film. Siddhant essayed the role with such conviction that some of the audience assumed him to be a rapper in real life.
“Bunty Aur Babli 2 is a family entertainer with action, comedy and a lot of dancing. I always wanted to do something like this — a typical Bollywood masala film. That’s what I grew up on. I’m getting to do what I always wanted to. The line-up is pretty strong. I’ll surprise a lot of people with my performance. I’m shooting for three films and it’s really exciting,” says the 26-year-old actor.
Siddhant will be seen in a romantic drama with Deepika Padukone and in another project, he will work with Katrina Kaif. Both the films are backed by big production houses. So, will he opt for small indie projects, too? “It depends. There is nothing indie anymore. Actors pick up content. If you’re bankable and commercial, you become a mass entertainer and take it to a larger scale,” he says.
Explaining his point, Siddhant further says, “Gully Boy was kind of an indie subject, but it became a mass entertainer. The divide isn’t there anymore. The times are changing, thanks to actors like Ayushmann Khurrana, who are choosing amazing content.”
With changing times in the world of cinema, the definition of hero is also fast changing. However, the actor disagrees, stating, “In Bollywood, the proper mainstream commercial hero will always exist and it should. I’d love to do such roles. I’m a fan of Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan films. The only difference is that those heroes now have a broader spectrum.”
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