Aanaahad tells Jyothi Venkatesh that he does not minding confessing at the risk of sounding very ungrateful that he had actually used the theatre as a passport to get an entry into films

How did you bag the lead role in Lahore, considering that it is your debut film as an actor?
I knew Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, who is the director of Lahore, right from the time both of us were staying in Gurgaon.

Sanjay needed an actor who could give all his time when he decided to launch Lahore and set out to cast an actor in the lead for the role of Veeru in Lahore. Sanjay needed a guy who was physically quite agile.

It helped me a great deal that way back in 2002; I had won the crown for the Best Physique in Grasim India and was among the top six that year.

What did you like the best about your role in Lahore?
I play the role of a cricketer called Veeru in Lahore. Veeru is an example of how life changes when circumstances go out of your control. Veeru is an unswerving batsman with the fire in his belly to make it in the cricketing world.

Veeru is equally fiery about his relations, especially with his brother for whom he is even ready to give it all up. One incident changes his life and outlook of the world and transforms him as a person.

The best thing I liked about my role as Veeru in Lahore is that it has several shades to it and hence I could put forth my best foot forward as an actor.

How tough was it for you to get into the skin of the character of Veeru in Lahore?
I should admit that it was quite tough to get into the skin of the character of Veeru and make the transition effortlessly from being Aanaahad to Veeru for Lahore.

How did you prepare yourself for the part?
As starters, I made it a point to learn martial arts. I went to Beijing in China to learn Wushu for almost six months to prepare myself for the part of Veeru in Lahore.

Where did you learn acting?
I did not know what acting is at all, when I set out to act in the first place. I learnt acting from Chitranjan Giri. After doing a workshop with Nadira Babbar way back in 2004, I had also had a stint as an actor with her group Ekjuute for a period of around six months. In fact, I would humbly state that I am learning acting even now.

Do you have any qualms to confess that you have actually used the stage as a passport to enter films?
Yes. I have absolutely no hesitation to confess at the risk of even sounding ungrateful that I had in fact used the theatre as a passport to get into films.

What is the reason that though it is your debut, you have bagged not one but two awards for your performance in the film Lahore?
I would say that it was my honesty that had paid me big dividends and I could bag two awards for my debut film as an actor in spite of the fact that it was for the first time that I had faced the camera as an actor for the same.

Why did you wait for a long time to make your debut as an actor considering hat you had won the crown of Grasim India's Best Physique way back in 2002?
I was very sure that I would not like to make my debut with a run of the mill film. I was ready to wait patiently and bide for my time till I got the right project with which I could launch myself as an actor. I felt that waiting for the right platform would benefit me as an actor in the long run, instead of grabbing each and every offer that came my way.

Did you sign any other film, besides Lahore?
No. I did not sign any other film except an untitled film in English which was made in Hong Kong. Tony who had earlier bagged the award for the Best Action director for I P Man starring Boyce Lee is the action director of the film.

Who is your favorite filmmaker?
Mani Ratnam has always been my favorite director, as far as Bollywood is concerned. I also see Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan in similar light.

Who is your idol who has inspired you, as far as actors are concerned?
As far as actors go, if you ask me who my favorite is, I'd say that Sabyasachi Chakraborty is my favorite. He plays Sikander Hyat Khan, the kickboxing coach of the Pakistani team in Lahore. He is a man for whom winning a match for the country is like winning a battle. Till date in my career, I have yet to see an actor who is more honest than him. It was my proud privilege to share screen frame with an actor of his stature in Lahore.