‘We were ready to kill it 10 years ago’: Vijay Varma

Being FTII batch-mates, what are your first impressions of each other?

Varma: We did a lot of classroom exercises where our flaws were so apparent. We took baby steps together as actors. When Jaideep, who is six- feet-one-inch tall, walked in with shoulder-length hair in FTII, he looked like Jesus Christ. He got a warm welcome because it seemed he was meant for cinema. I was an under confident actor then.

Ahlawat: I might have looked like that but I was very raw. I couldn’t speak Hindi properly. These guys taught me how to pronounce certain words so that it doesn’t sound like Haryanvi. I had done theatre for two-and-a-half years but the training at FTII was different. Suddenly, you meet 19 others in the class, who are the best from their regions.

How was life after graduating from FTII in 2008?

Ahlawat: We moved to Mumbai with the idea of doing good work. We would pick up a scene from a story, a novel or a play, and then enact it. We kept sharpening our craft. We have a Whatsapp group called ‘Majaboot Actors Association’ and all our 20 batch-mates are a part of it. We have always supported each other. There is a sub-group called ‘Mindy’ for five of us, who play cards.

Varma: We celebrate each other’s work.

Vijay Varma in a publicity still. (Netflix)

Though you both bagged meaty roles – Varma in Monsoon Shootout (2013) and Ahlawat in Khatta Meetha (2010) – you found wider recognition later.

Varma: We lived life when we didn’t have work. We used to watch Maqbool (2003) every three days. We would sit in front of that one laptop and watch The Godfather (1972) again and again. We kept watching movies and did plays. There were ups and downs. When I didn’t have money, Jaideep lent me money.

Ahlawat: Majaboot is the biggest moral support we had. We used to talk almost every day.

Any fond memories you would want to share of those days?

Varma: When Jaideep was going to get married, the entire batch booked tickets to attend it. It was the first wedding of our batch. Then, he got a call from Priyadarshan. Since his shooting dates clashed with his wedding, Jaideep cancelled his wedding. He decided to get married on another date. It was short notice for us and we didn’t have money to book tickets again. Not a single batch-mate went for the wedding. Jaideep didn’t speak to us for six months. When we met one day, Jaideep was upset that we didn’t attend his wedding; we all cried together.

Ahlawat: You don’t feel the stress of struggle when you have people who care about you. To keep ourselves engaged, we started playing cards. We decided to play every alternate day so that it doesn’t turn into a habit. But we did not have work. So, the day we were not playing cards, our mood used to be off.

Did you carry your camaraderie to the sets of Jaane Jaan?

Varma: Sujoy didn’t know about our friendship when he made the casting call. When Sujoy sent me the script, he told me what role I have to read for. When I got to know Jaideep playing the other (lead) character, our roles seemed eerily similar to real life. In the movie, we are friends, who went to college together, and meet after a gap.

Being trained actors, do you follow any particular process?

Ahlawat: We try to be as believable on screen as the character on paper. We read the script thoroughly. One can discover minute threads of a certain character even when two characters are talking among themselves. We keep thinking about the characters and their world. Then, it starts shaping up, brick by brick.

There is a scene in Jaane Jaan in which you both are sparring at a martial arts class. What kind of preparation did it demand?

Varma: I wasn’t ready physically to do a scene like this. This scene needed a higher level of agility and command over a certain skill set. I underwent strength and martial arts training for nearly four months.

Ahlawat: Pratik Parmar, who designed all these scenes, was also our trainer. Since we got trained for it, we didn’t need any body double.

Jaideep Ahlawat in a publicity still. (Netflix)

It was announced recently that Ahlawat is cast as antagonist opposite Saif Ali Khan and Varma opposite Suriya. So, you both are ready to kill it?

Varma: We were ready to kill it 10 years ago. We are in the thick of things now. As actors, I feel lucky that I am offered these roles. Now, I have to think and pick up the right one. Jaane Jaan is my fourth release of the year. I feel confident as all choices I have made are paying off.

Ahlawat: We have to (at times) read 10 scripts in two days. But I am thankful to the universe. We are thoroughly enjoying it.

Do you still find time to play cards?

Varma: We recently did, for over four hours. A friend had back pain and was advised to rest. He asked if we could play cards. We all said yes.

Ahlawat: I joined them after film promotion activities. We all cancelled everything and got together.

Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma answer quick questions.