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Journalism of Courage
Cuckin’ Frazy – yes, it’s every bit pun intended, and actor Sidharth Malhotra can’t wipe the grin off his face every time he reads the fun wordplay for the tagline of his upcoming film, Hasee Toh Phasee. It is exactly this sense of humour that got Malhotra to sign up for Vinil Matthew’s debut film. “After working as an assistant director for four years, I’ve learnt that it’s the director who makes it happen on screen,” says Malhotra, who focuses on the script and the maker, and relies on his internal compass — the gut instinct.
This made him pack his bags and move to Mumbai six years ago, at 22, to do a film with Anubhav Sinha. “We worked six months on it, but unfortunately it never hit the floors,” says Malhotra. He decided not to sit at home and wait for someone to call. Modelling assignments and working as an assistant director on films such as Dostana and My Name is Khan — Malhotra roughed it out. It was difficult making rent, sharing apartments, and living on a shoe-string budget, but it was worth it. “I don’t feel the need to advertise my struggle for it was all part of the learning curve. Being on the sets was the greatest acting school for me,” says the actor.
Having grown up on Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan films, and Pakistani plays, this Delhi boy kept giving auditions, till Dharma Productions called him. “I auditioned for five days not knowing it was for Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year.” It was a dream launchpad, and Malhotra admits that having Johar as a mentor has opened doors.
The first film was his entrance test, one he passed with flying colours. It’s what follows that will determine his place in the industry. “Had there been no Karan, I’d probably be still auditioning, doing smaller budget films. Now that I am here, it has also doubled my responsibility towards Karan, to prove that he made the right decision in launching us and show that I can carry a film.” In fact, Hasee Toh Phasee and Mohit Suri’s film, The Villain, will also help him break his “brooding, serious, Punjabi chocolate boy” image. “I am actually an outdoors guy who loves rugby and football,” he says. While in Hasee Toh Phasee, he plays Nikhil, an emotional and confused guy, The Villain will portray him as a dark, psychotic character.
“Hasee Toh Phasee is deglamourised film with quirky humour and flawed characters — nervous Nikhil and mad Meeta (Parineeti Chopra), who is a moody toothpaste-eating scientist.” The film spans over seven years and seven days and releases this February 7.
He feels if he has competition, it’s with Ranbir Kapoor. “His role in Barfi! is to die for,” says Malhotra, “But currently, I am re-educating myself in cinema, watching films, meeting actors, reading scripts.”
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