Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; November 19, 2019)

Vardhan Puri will make his debut with Yeh Saali Aashiqui that releases this week. Not only is he playing a character with grey shades in his first film, but he has also penned the story and has been a part of the film’s production journey. Even though he is veteran actor Amrish Puri’s grandson, he’s not had it easy so far. In a conversation with BT, he relives the road travelled and what lies ahead for him:

Despite being in and around the film fraternity, how did you skip the paparazzi radar?
My father is not really a member of the fraternity and doesn’t hang out with the film folks. He has a different line of work and his circle has people from the world of finance. My parents are not even social in that sense; they rarely party. Fraternity parties are where you meet people from the industry, but I seldom went to those. I worked at a film studio and was busy learning the ropes of filmmaking. I still don’t have an industry friend though I know people. My buddies are the ones who’ve been with me since my school days. The reason the paps never spotted me was that I was never at the parties. I was behind the cameras on a job. It’s important to find your film; the paps will automatically find you. No sensible casting director in the business casts you because he bumped into you at a bash. He or she will chase you if you’ve knocked it out of the park at an audition. Theatre teaches you to be focussed on the prep and rehearsals, so when the time comes, you don’t have to think too much. I worked on that without compromising on my focus.

With a lineage of strong character actors like your grandfather Amrish Puri and his brother Madan Puri, the industry and the audience expects a lot from your debut film. Do you feel that the pressure you face is different from that of a star kid, like Sunny Deol’s son Karan for instance?
I think it’s a responsibility which I take very seriously. People love them both, especially daadu (Amrish Puri). I want people to love me, too. I can’t be Amrish Puri, I don’t want to be him and I can never be him. We look and sound different. However, our core values, drawn from theatre, are the same. So, our understanding of cinema is quite similar. Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra had once told me that if I ever decide to be an actor, I should refrain from aping my grandfather. He had also told me that the reason my grandfather became successful is that there was no one like him. Gaanth baandh li maine unki iss baat ki. A superstar is someone who lives in the minds of cinegoers forever. Amrish Puri is an eternal superstar who is in people’s minds even now. Sunny sir is a brilliant actor, and I am sure Karan will live up to his family’s name. Our job as actors is to deliver great performances. I will upset my grandfather if I don’t do that. I’m following his principles. He believed in the work he did, which is the reason you will never find his performance below par even if the film was not all that great. Daadu’s taken my family’s name to a certain level and I have to work thrice as hard to keep it up.

You have co-written your debut film and played a big role in getting the project off the ground…
I’ve been a theatre actor since I was five years old. I was trained by theatre veteran Satyadev Dubey, who was also my grandpa’s coach. After graduation, I started working with a studio where I assisted on Ishaqzaade (2012), Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) and Daawat E Ishq (2014). That’s where I decided to learn film acting because it’s different from theatre. I had picked up things while assisting filmmakers and I also learnt it formally, and then, I started auditioning. There were two films that I could have made a debut with, but they didn’t take off. I was upset and emotional with what had happened. Around that time, I met Dr Jayantilal Gada while I was auditioning and he was keen to launch me. I had an idea that I decided to develop with my friend Cherag Ruparel (director of the film). The reason we decided to write and pitch on our own is that no one wants to give you a chance. As an actor, people saw my auditions and were willing to cast me, but they didn’t want to hear my stories. A writer is the most important member of a team; it’s that content that takes the shape of a film. Also, once, Yash ji had told me that if I ever make my acting debut, it should be somewhat like Shah Rukh Khan’s role in Darr (1993). I pitched my idea to my father. He liked what Cherag and I had put together. We met Jayanti uncle soon after and things got going. It may all sound very easy today, but it was a long ride and wasn’t planned. It was destined to play out this way.

Wasn’t production, writing and acting a lot to handle for a newcomer?
This film is my baby. I did a lot of work on this project, not by choice but by chance and majboori. I needed to find something exciting and good to work on when my first two outings didn’t take off. My father is a businessman and he wouldn’t have made a decision purely on the basis of emotions. Making this film was like going to a film school three times over. Handling a 200-member team is tougher than handling babies.

While children from film families do have an advantage when it comes to getting a break, do you think that the story of your struggle might change the perception of those who think the industry is too nepotistic in its approach?
I don’t know about that, but I just feel that this struggle was a real blessing. I wouldn’t have learnt anything if all of this had fallen into my lap. I would not have appreciated things so much. When I was turned away from offices, rejected at auditions I remembered Satyadev Dubey, who had told me that rejections and humiliation teach you the most. There’s no actor who hasn’t faced rejection. I would give three auditions in a day. People were fed up of seeing my face at the auditions every day, but I was persistent. I remember that on one particular day when I didn’t turn up for an audition, one of the casting guys called to check on me. It was funny.

Talking about your debut, it has a strong romantic angle and it taps the grey side of romance. Was it one of your own experiences that pushed you to write this?
Yes, in some way, it does stem from one of my relationship experiences. There was something crazy that I went through, and funnily enough, even Cherag went through something similar. We started questioning the very emotion. Gradually, I realised that one should never give anyone the power to influence emotions so much. Sometimes, we have these forbidden experiences where we fall for people we should not be with. The idea behind this film is to drive home the point that it’s a double-faced world, and one should be careful while choosing a companion.

Do you still believe in love?
Of course, I’m old-school when it comes to that. Main romantic aadmi hoon. If I love someone today, I will think of a life that we can make together; I’d like to marry her. I’m not the one-night-stand kind or a hook-up type of a guy. I have been in love before, but right now, I’m single and gladly so. If I was dating someone, I would not have had the time for her, which would’ve been unfair. I will be happy to tell the world about the woman I’m with. My father and grandfather should get the credit for this. Despite being a busy actor, there’s not one scandal about my grandfather. He loved being with his family when he was not at work. My parents have been together since they were in their late teens. They’re best friends.

Lastly, while you play a cross between a hero and an anti-hero, your grandfather often played characters which were pivotal to the story. Do we see you going that route, too?
I would be lying if I say that I don’t want to lead the cast in my films, but every actor wants to play a great character today, because everything is driven by that. Sometimes ensemble cast films have a lot to offer to actors. So, if a film with a great character ticks certain boxes for me, I’ll be game for it.

Vardhan, Amrish Puri’s grandson, on why the title of his debut had to change, and an ode to his dadu in the film
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 12, 2019)

Mirror (August 8, 2018) was the first to report that taking the legacy of his late grandfather, Amrish Puri forward, Vardhan Puri will make his acting debut with director Cherag Ruparel’s Yeh Saali Aashiqui. Last week, he unveiled the trailer of his romantic musical thriller and admitted that he couldn’t sleep the night despite going to bed early, at 11 pm. “At 7.30 am, I gave up and started exercising. More than nervous, I was excited. Aur yeh toh sirf trailer tha, picture abhi baaki hai mere dost,” laughs the debutant who has been an actor-in-training since he was five, learning the craft under the tutelage of his grandfather’s mentor, National Award-winning actor-filmmaker-writer Satyadev Dubey.

However, Vardhan, who has done over 90 plays, found his first teacher in his grandfather. “Dadu always told me that theatre is my root and I should never forget that. As the saying goes, television is the writer’s medium, film the director’s and theatre the actor’s. Also, for him prep and hard work were key,” smiles Vardhan, whose favourites among his grandfather’s films include Mr India, Ghatak, Virasat and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. “Dadu is my idol and I am his greatest fan, so there is something special we have done in the film as an ode to him,” he promises, refusing to divulge details.

He plays Sahil Mehra and describes him as a “complex character with experiences which normal people usually don’t face”. “I shared the script Cherag and I have written with a few people for their feedback and while everyone liked it, many questioned my decision to start out with such a character. However, having played complex parts like Sakharam Binder, Muhammad Bin Tughluq and Albert Einstein in plays earlier, I was confident I will pull it off,” says the actor who also aspires to direct at some point.

The film produced by Jayantilal Gada and Rajeev Amrish Puri was earlier titled Paagal but the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) objected to it. Vardhan admits that after the controversy over Mental Hai Kya which was retitled Judgementall Hai Kya, they were anticipating this. “Sometimes as filmmakers we get carried away while making a film. But at the end of the day, we have to be socially and morally responsible. The word ‘paagal’ carries a social stigma which may hurt people. Initially, we were a little disappointed as we had stuck with that title all through the filming, but we agree with the CBFC and after brainstorming for 35 days, we zeroed in on Yeh Saali Aashiqui which the board approved of,” he informs.

Meanwhile Vardhan has been reading two scripts, one of which is a comedy. “Both are fantastic and with established filmmakers. I hope I can sign both,” he says.

In an exclusive chat with BT, Vardhan Puri talks about his growing-up years, his debut film and the influence of his legendary grandfather
Rachit Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 25, 2018)

The late Amrish Puri’s grandson, Vardhan, is all set to make his Bollywood debut with Paagal, which will release sometime in the summer of 2019.

About his dream of being an actor and the long build-up to his debut, Vardhan says, “I have been an actor and entertainer in my home since the age of five. In my free time, I used to wear my grandfather’s wigs and roam around the house in his size-12 shoes, speaking out lines from his films at the top of my voice. That was when my family realised that I would be an actor. My sister Sachi, her friends and my domestic help were my audience back then. In terms of my debut, I was initially supposed to do something in the historical genre, but I fell in love with the story of Paagal and my character, when I heard it.”

Vardhan, a graduate in business management, has been involved with theatre since a very young age — both as an actor and a backstage hand. He adds, “I read a lot of Freud’s works to understand the human mind, because I believe that the mind is where all the ideas of acting come from.”

He’s also been an assistant director with filmmakers like Habib Faisal and Maneesh Sharma. About his internship days, he says, “On the sets, among other things, I used to work closely with all the actors and that taught me a lot. Afterwards, I got trained in acting and watched a lot of world cinema and all of Charlie Chaplin’s films. In fact, Chaplin is my greatest influence. I have had to disconnect with all my friends for over 18 months to prepare for my debut film. That’s something the character demanded.” The young actor says that his grandfather has had a strong impact on his life. He shares, “I feel that my grandfather is one of the most honest and powerful actors the world has ever seen. His contribution to cinema is irreplaceable. For me, Virasat (1997) was one of his best works. I also love Mr. India (1987), Muskurahat (1992), Gardish (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Ghatak (1996). I remember being part of most of his narrations and readings from 1995 till 2005.”

About the qualities he imbibed from his dadu, he says, “I am inspired by his versatility and his sense of discipline and diligence. Most importantly, I learned from him that making films is all about community building. Also, the more authentic you are in real life, the better you will be as an actor.”

With a theatre stint under Satyadev Dubey and late-night movie binges, Amrish Puri’s grandson Vardhan, who makes his Bollywood debut with a romantic-thriller, has been an actor-in-training since he was five
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 8, 2018) 

Mirror has learnt that another star kid is gearing up for a Bollywood launch. Taking the legacy of his late grandfather Amrish Puri forward, Vardhan Puri will make his acting debut with a yet-untitled romantic-thriller produced by Jayantilal Gada. The film is expected to roll in September and will be shot in North India. The debutant has earlier assisted Habib Faisal on Ishaqzaade and Daawat-e-Ishq, and Maneesh Sharma on Shuddh Desi Romance.

“I was supposed to start off with a period-drama with Jayanti bhai, but for some reason that didn’t work out. He approached me later for this film which I loved and immediately gave my nod to. It’s a performance-oriented role and in terms of treatment it will be in a space similar to (Hollywood director David Fincher’s psychological thriller) Gone Girl’s,” Vardhan informed, adding that he is currently attending workshops and undergoing training for the role. The director and his leading lady will be locked soon, while recce is currently on in Delhi and Shimla.

Vardhan has been an actor-in-training ever since he was five, learning the craft under the tutelage of his grandfather’s mentor, National Award-winning actor-filmmaker-writer Satyadev Dubey. Through the years, he has also been a part of over 90 plays.

“I have a strong inclination toward writing and direction too but acting is my first love. Initially Dubey ji made me work backstage, serving tea to the cast and crew and cleaning the stage, after which I started getting smaller roles. I got to play a lead role when I was in my teens,” the actor revealed, adding that he has also trained with acting gurus like Athar Nawaz, Neeraj Kabi, Vidur Chaturvedi, Mujeeb Khan and Faezeh Jalali.

However, Vardhan, who identifies as a fan of Charlie Chaplin, Kishore Kumar and Puri Sr, had found his first teacher in his grandfather. “Dadu is the God whom I pray to. I was so close to him that I would sleep between him and my grandmother. When he passed away, for me it was like losing the protective cover of an umbrella. It was then, that I decided that if I do something, it would be for my grandfather and this film is an ode to him,” recounted the debutant who counts Virasat, Ghatak, Mr India and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as his favourite films featuring the late veteran.

Narrating his earliest memories of his dadu, Vardhan added that he wouldn’t sleep till Puri returned from work. After that they would watch movies till 3 am with little regard for young Vardhan’s early morning tuitions. “We would watch films of Dilip Kumar saab, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and also binge on classics like The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption. Sometimes, I also used to sit with him for reading sessions when filmmakers came home. His films with Shyam Benegal sir and Govind Nihalani sir top my list of all-time favourites. I really miss him,” Vardhan signed off with a sigh.