'Ragini MMS 2' actor Saahil Prem on current projects, his future plans and more

Despite starring in a film that was centred around Sunny Leone, actor Saahil Prem managed to attract the audience's attention. Basking in the positive reviews for his role in 'Ragini MMS 2', the young actor settles down for a freewheeling chat with hitlist...

Your portrayal of a reticent character in 'Ragini MMS 2' was noticed by many. Was it difficult or easy to go against your true nature? Satya of 'Ragini MMS 2' is very different from the real me. I do write but I'm not as intense as he is. If you have seen me closely in the film, you will realise that I only smiled twice in it (smiles). But in real life, I like to keep a smile on.

What kind of roles are you looking forward to?
I'm just going to trust my gut feeling as I'm still at a stage where I am learning new things about myself. Personally, I relate more to realistic cinema, but I love watching all kinds of films. So I would love to dabble in different film genres and play a wide variety of roles...

You started out as an assistant director for Namastey London. When did you realise that you wanted to be an actor?
My parents will tell you that I've been acting long before I realised I wanted to be an actor. But I guess the turning point was when I was working as an assistant director. I realised that I wanted to connect with people, tell them stories, entertain them and just make them think. The power to reach out to people and influence them is what attracted me to this profession.

Do you have a 'godfather' in the industry? What's your take on the all-young-actors-need-a-godfather dictum?
I have an awesome family that supports me unconditionally. I won't deny that having a godfather can offer me a great start. That said, in the long run, it's all about connecting with the audience. You either have it or you don't.

Tell us about your future projects.
M.A.D (Mad About Dance) releases in July this year. It's an out-and-out dance film featuring dancers, and cast and crew from all over the world. Something like this has not been seen on Indian screens so far. This film means a lot to me and I am looking forward to its release. Besides this, I have been offered a few other interesting projects, but it's too soon to talk about them now.