Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 28, 2020)

Even though shoots have been postponed indefinitely and uncertainty continues to loom large in the film industry, Sunny Kaushal is in no mood to sulk. Two of his films are on hold but he’s trying to keep a positive mind. “Showbiz is a luxury industry. People spend money to watch a film for entertainment. That’s why our industry has received a severe blow. But I don’t sit and mull over it and destroy my sanity. The more I think about, the more upset I’ll be,” he says.

He asserts that accepting the situation is key. He says, “Once normalcy restores, we’ll be able to chalk out a plan as to how to go about with the shoots and releases. The months ahead are going to be very different and challenging.”

Kaushal points out that the best way to fight the fatigue of staying at home is to look at the brighter side of the situation. He elaborates, “We thought that science can conquer everything and we can travel to space. But the Coronavirus pandemic is like a reality check. We might have planned so many things for this year but we now realise that we’re so tiny before nature. We can’t control it no matter how much we try. It’s important to not abuse the planet. Once we come out of the pandemic, I hope we’re more compassionate about the environment and each other.”

The Gold (2018) actor has been enjoying his time in the kitchen and with his family. “Earlier mom used to complain that we hardly stay at home. When we used to be at home, she would ask us to not step out to meet our friends. But once we resume shooting, she might just ask us to stay out of the house, not wanting to see our faces for a while,” he concludes with a laugh.

Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 15, 2020)

Sunny Kaushal believes that taking it slow and not making productive use of the Coronavirus lockdown is no vice. He confides that he’s in no mood of “coming out of the lockdown with a new skill”. He says, “I began doing sneaker painting but I outgrew it. Just because somebody else is doing something to keep them busy doesn’t imply that you need to do the same.”

The actor adds that he and his brother, Vicky Kaushal, are bonding over cooking. “We’re forced to spend 24 hours together (laughs). He’s somebody who would never step inside the kitchen. But now he makes his own eggs,” he says.

Talking about the time when his building was sealed, Kaushal says, “When an 11-year-old in our building contracted the virus, they sealed it. We were, of course, sad that a child was tested positive. When she came back, we gave her a warm welcome.”

Stressing on the importance of keeping oneself updated with the correct information at a time when fake news is spreading like wildfire, he says, “Given the circumstances, it’s natural to feel scared but I don’t panic because I try to keep myself educated. Once you start panicking, you begin to believe every rumour that you read. It’s important to verify even if there’s slightest doubt about what you read. Education plays a very important role.”

Charting his own career away from the shadow of his famous brother, Sunny Kaushal discusses his biggest project to date and the challenge of comparison
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; January 21, 2020)

It's a homecoming of sorts for Sunny Kaushal, who kicked off his career with the web series Chukiyagiri before being big-screen bound. He will soon be seen in Kabir Khan's ambitious digital offering, The Forgotten Army, on Amazon Prime. A man of few words, the actor discusses why a film wouldn't do justice to the subject and the dilemmas of being compared to actor-brother Vicky Kaushal.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

What was your brief for The Forgotten Army?
I had to portray a real-life character. Kabir [Khan, director] had made a documentary 20 years ago, which became the backbone of the research for this series. I watched it on YouTube, which helped. While the show revolves around Azad Hind Fauj, it is an interpersonal story about the characters. There was nothing larger than life about them.

Considering the series also focuses on the love story between Col. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, how much of it is fictionalised?
The chapters [and events] that you see are exactly how it happened. The only fictional part is that it is a story told from the perspective of Maya [Sharvari's character] and Surinder Sodhi [his part]. Sodhi is the amalgamation of several [real-life] characters. Similarly, Lakshmi Sehgal and Jaanki Thevar's characters were amalgamated for Sharvari's Maya.

Did you do any research as prep for the historical drama?
Kabir sir did extensive research on the subject and that was enough for us. I remember asking him about Dhillon saab because he lived with him for several days. Kabir sir knew about their bungalow in Kolkata and what their child was named — these are personal stories that you can't find on the Internet.

Do you think a theatrical release would do more justice to a subject like The Forgotten Army?
I think the subject needed a long format. If it had to be made into a film, it would have to be made into three parts because it is such a vast story. You cannot contain it in a two-and-a-half hour film, which is why Kabir sir chose to make it a web series.

At the start of your career, your father Sham Kaushal stated that he will not build inroads into Bollywood for you. Your take?
My father is a self-made man. [Similarly] once I decided to become an actor, I gave auditions and did everything required to realise my dream. [I put in] years of struggle and hard work. It's the same for anyone in any other field. There is nothing extraordinary.

Are you bothered by comparisons with Vicky?
Not at all, but it irks me when someone asks me what [acting] tips he gave me. I recently finished promoting Bhangra Paa Le, and I used to be asked the same question every day. In this profession, you cannot sustain on a tip; you need to have your own opinion. I feel proud when I am compared to him because he has reached a stage where he is considered the benchmark.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 28, 2018)

“The praise has been reassuring,” says a relieved Sunny Kaushal, who confesses to have been out of work for the two years that divided his forgettable debut film and Reema Kagti’s Gold. Brother of acclaimed actor Vicky Kaushal, who only recently found a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, Sunny reveals that he often found himself feeling “ uncertain” about his craft.

“But, after Gold, the phone hasn’t stopped buzzing. I feel rejuvenated. This was a tough film to do because there were so many actors involved in it. But when you are around talented people, the [filming] process is a breezy one.”

Sharing screen space with character actors like Amit Sadh and Vineet Kumar Singh implies Sunny needed to have his game face on at all times. However, the atmosphere on set, he asserts, was always supportive. “Most of my scenes were with them and they would encourage me all the time. However, even amidst this ensemble cast, the real hero was Reema. She could manoeuvre and handle team dynamics with ease. I learnt the value of team spirit. No one acts alone; it’s all about a dedicated bunch making a good film,” he says, adding that he now hopes to up the ante with his forthcoming ventures. “After this, I have Kabir Khan’s web show, The Forgotten Army in the pipeline. That will be out next year.”

Even though comparison with his actor-brother are inevitable, Sunny points to his humble beginnings to assert that he’s always found a friend in Vicky. “Vicky and I stayed in a small 10-by-10 chawl in Malad. When we were young, we’ve seen dad being out of work for weeks, and, soon later, away from home for work for months. We are conditioned to surviving against all odds. Vicky is my support system. My family is the fuel that drives me. My brother has no expectations from me. He understands that we are individuals fighting our own battles.”

Pallabi Purkayastha (BOMBAY TIMES; August 11, 2018)

He may be just one movie old, but Bollywood newbie Sunny Kaushal is already well acquainted with the tricks of this trade. “You have to be honest with yourself and your work,” asserts the young actor, matter-of-factly. Son of renowned action director Sham Kaushal and younger brother of Vicky Kaushal, Sunny did not get a dream launch, as his father “shattered his bubble” right at the beginning by saying that he would not get work in films just because he is his son. In an exclusive interview with Bombay Times, the youngest Kaushal shares his long struggle with self-doubt and explains why he is unfazed by his big brother’s newfound success. Excerpts...

Gold is your second Bollywood film, and you are working with a critically acclaimed director like Reema Kagti and a superstar like Akshay Kumar. Also, you are playing a hockey player, Himmat Singh, in the historical sports drama. How tough was it to portray an athlete on screen?
Himmat Singh is a grounded, impulsive and simple guy. He doesn’t have any façade and doesn’t understand politics and manipulation. If he is angry, he is angry, if he loves someone, he loves someone. He also has certain rigid notions about India’s independence. He lives by his own rules, which lands him in trouble as well.

In an interview last year, you recalled how your father (Sham Kaushal) had told you and your brother (Vicky) to not expect a smooth journey in Bollywood because you are his sons. Tell us something about your struggles as an actor...
Well, the struggle started with my father’s statement, ‘Because of my name, somebody might entertain you in their office and offer a cup of tea or coffee, but they will not give you a job. It’s your own hard work that will get you that.’ That shattered our bubble. For a long time, I battled the thought that maybe I am not cut out to be an actor, because no matter where I went, I always faced rejection. I think it’s a process of self-growth, because you don’t have a Plan B. So, you tell yourself, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen today, but tomorrow, I will’. Then there were lots of auditions and small jobs here and there. I would say that my struggle is pretty much what everyone goes through. No matter which job you do, you have to go through a particular grind, which helps you evolve.

Vicky is counted among today’s most promising upcoming actors. While you must be proud of him, is there also the pressure that you have to catch up? Also, on a lighter note, is there any sibling rivalry?
Vicky has worked really hard, and it’s a proud moment for us as a family to see him climb the ladder of success. Talking about myself, I want to take my own sweet time. We both have our own journeys. I am very secure and have no insecurities. I have seen him struggle to reach here, so there is no pressure at all. Also, sibling rivalry? Kahaan se aayegi sibling rivalry?...nahin nahin.

While Vicky’s career has seen highs like Masaan and Raazi, there were also movies like Raman Raghav 2.0, which didn’t do well. Have you learnt any lessons from the way he has handled his career?
I have learnt from his career that you have to be honest with yourself and your work, there is no other way. And people can read that honesty — the directors, producers, co-actors and the audience. You cannot cheat your own self.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 7, 2018)

Sunny Kaushal’s acting debut, Sunshine Music Tours And Travels (2016), may have dabbled in a genre diametrically opposite from his elder brother’s first aclaimed film, Masaan, but the 28-year-old is now joining his sibling in the big league. In Reema Kagti’s upcoming sports-drama Gold, featuring Akshay Kumar, Sunny portrays hockey player Himmat Singh, who was a part of the Indian team that won the first post independence gold medal at the London Olympics.

He may be from a filmi background — his father Sham Kaushal is a veteran action director — but the 28-year-old actor reveals that the Kaushal brothers were not exposed to the workings of the film industry till they decided to become actors. “Vicky and I never visited Dad’s sets. The first time we did was during Fiza. Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai had just released, and we wanted to meet Hrithik (Roshan). I recall a scene where Hrithik is setting a bike on fire in a garden. I was watching the take and saw him gesturing to dad and Khalid (director Khalid Mohammed) that he wanted to do the scene again. I couldn’t understand why he was burning a bike repeatedly,” he says

The story of how he landed Gold is just as unassuming. “I got a call from casting director Nandini Shrikent. At that point, nothing much was happening in my life, so I leapt at the opportunity. After a few rounds of auditions with Reema, Nandini called to congratulate me. ‘We’ve found our Himmat Singh,’ she said,” the actor recounts, adding that his character comes from a small village in Punjab and has witnessed pre-independence protests because of his parents’ active involvement in the freedom movement. “It’s a raw, grounded character. The only way to vent his angst against the British is through hockey.”

Himmat Singh couldn’t have been farther from the real Sunny who was more of a dancer and painter growing up and hockey is the first sport he has learnt in life for his role. “My body is not athletic so that was the main challenge during the prep. I had to build my endurance and stamina. Since I have always been a lean guy, the transformation was more psychological,” he explains.

And what was it like training with former India captain Sandeep Singh, and working with co-stars Akshay and Kunal Kapoor? “Sandeep trained us for a month, during which we concentrated on the body language of a player, on and off the field. Akshay paaji is all fun and games. He works for eight hours but when the camera is not rolling, he makes sure that we play a sport, be it cricket or something as simple as catch-catch. I hit it off with Kunal even though we didn’t have scenes together. I call him the gentle giant,” Sunny adds.

Point out that his brother is doing some interesting projects and he says, “I’ve seen his struggle. Both of us started around the same time as as assistant directors. I always go to him with my doubts. I was taken aback after watching Masaan, as it made me realise the ground reality of the profession we are in. I realised that this is what I would be compared to when I entered the industry,” he says.

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 1, 2016)