For almost 18 years now, Neeraj Kabi has been working as a professional actor with national and international theater and 'art house' film directors. But it was his flawless portrayal of Dr. Anukul Guha inDetective Byomkesh Bakshy!that earned him more attention than ever.

During a telephonic conversation with us, Neeraj comes across as a calm and composed man. He seems to be insatiably passionate for his work, deriving immense pleasure from it, every single day. As his latest film,Talvar, based on the 2008 Aarushi Talwar murder case, hits screens, the actor talks about his preparation for the role of Ramesh Tandon, working with Konkona Sen Sharma and why he empathizes with the Talwars. Excerpts:

How did Talvar happen?
I cannot recall it exactly but I think I got a call from Meghna's (Meghna Gulzar, the director) team that they wanted me to be a part of a film based on the Aarushi Talwar murder case. When my first meeting with Meghna happened, she came across as a really sensitive human being and I was totally attracted to her personality. She is absolutely fantastic as a director and very comfortable to work with. She is gentle and respects all her actors. For me, it has always been more about the people I work with than the script. So, after meeting Meghna, it didn't take me long to say yes to the film.

Do you think Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are guilty?
It is very difficult for me to comment on this. During my research for the character, my mind kept wavering here and there but the conclusion is that I am still confused. It is not about whether or not they are guilty. Whatever the case may be, the point is that they are alive and suffering in jail after losing their only daughter who died such an unimaginable death. Just imagine the kind of circumstances that the parents must have been put through.

How did you prepare to be the on-screen Rajesh Talwar?
It's a huge responsibility to play someone who is alive. During my preparation for the role, I lay more emphasis on playing the mind and soul of Rajesh Talwar rather than playing his body. If you notice, he is far healthier than I am. So, for me it was more about getting into the skin of the character. Somehow, I couldn't gain weight for the film, but if it were possible, I would have done that too. I understood the case right from scratch. I had watched a lot of interviews and documentaries. For a subject like this, the research has to be perfect and our idea was to present every point-of-view while taking a neutral stance.

What impression the film has left on your mind?
It has remained with me even today. Even after having performed this character, I still cannot feel the kind of pain that Rajesh Talwar must have been through. The tragedy of losing your only daughter and that too, under such horrible circumstances, is something that only those two can understand.