In an exclusive conversation, Rajeev Siddhartha opens up about his journey, from the intricacies of his character in Love, Sitara to the broader landscape of his career. With candor and introspection, he shares the highs and lows of navigating the entertainment industry, the significance of creative collaborations, and the personal growth that has shaped his approach to storytelling. Beyond the screens, Rajeev reveals his passions, inspirations, and aspirations, offering a nuanced glimpse into the mind of a talented actor poised for excellence.
Category
ЁЯШ╣
FunTranscript
00:00It was a lot of fun.
00:07Like I said, you know, I think the atmosphere of the film, the experience, the energy and environment that is created in the film,
00:16I think, as per my experience, if the director sets the right tone, the right, you know, instruction,
00:29and basically lead by example, if the director does it well, then automatically that energy spreads to the cast, crew, everything.
00:38And I have to give full credit to Vandana Kataria, who is very, very, as I said, very detailed, oriented,
00:45and very passionate, and focused, and almost obsessive kind of a director.
00:52Because of her, our work became very easy.
00:55Because the script was very well written.
01:00And our workshops, that is the first time where I met Shobita.
01:08And I must say that she is a very grounded, very collaborative, very trusting kind of actor.
01:16And because an almost collaborative energy had spread on our set,
01:23we all worked without any ego, very defenselessly.
01:29And I think whenever she and I were in a scene, or some other co-actor,
01:35there was never a moment that we had to enhance our individual performance.
01:41We were all working for a scene.
01:44And I think because of her, a lot of scenes have shined.
01:47And because of her, the film has become the star of the audience.
01:55So I am very grateful for that experience.
02:02So basically, when I thought of acting as a profession,
02:09all the actors whom I admired,
02:14basically, they played different types of characters.
02:19Their range as characters was very good.
02:25In fact, sometimes they would play a businessman, sometimes they would play a criminal,
02:30sometimes they would play...
02:31I mean, they played different types of characters.
02:34So my dream of acting was always to show as much range as possible as an actor.
02:46So that's why I feel that I have been lucky
02:52that I have got a chance to play different types of characters.
02:58In Ashram, as you said, I was a reporter, an idealistic reporter.
03:03In FOMO Shots, I was an NRI.
03:09Basically, I was a very selfless and very giving sort of a human being.
03:16And in Love Sitara, I am playing a chef.
03:20And I really enjoyed working in Love Sitara.
03:22Especially our director, the captain of our ship,
03:26she was very collaborative, very giving, very exacting, very detail-oriented.
03:35And because of her, and thanks to RSVP,
03:38I got a chance to train as a chef in Farzi Cafe.
03:43I trained there for a month and a half.
03:46Cutting, chopping, slicing.
03:48In fact, I also worked there as a proxy head chef.
03:54So I was a head chef.
03:55But along with them, I used to watch and learn from them
03:59how they used to take orders, how they used to manage the kitchen.
04:03They are basically the leaders of the kitchen and the restaurant.
04:07And I observed the atmosphere of the kitchen very closely.
04:14Because I knew that in our film,
04:17there are 3-4 scenes where plating, cooking,
04:23cutting, slicing are intense scenes.
04:27I mean, while doing that, the scene is also very intense.
04:31So I knew that if I don't get this automatically,
04:34then the scene can go wrong.
04:36So fortunately, the month and a half was a lot of fun and hard work.
04:41And I can say that all the scenes of cutting, cooking, and plating
04:48were done in one take.
04:50Because if I hadn't spent a month and a half in the Farzi Cafe,
04:53then I'm sure the day's schedule would have lasted for another 3-4 days.
05:03There are a lot of similarities.
05:05They are very idealistic, very principled, and very disciplined.
05:10I would hope to say that all those qualities are within me.
05:16And actually, if you look at it,
05:18all the qualities of the world are within every human being.
05:21But we just highlight some emotions or some qualities
05:26basically for the majority of the time.
05:31And as an actor, I feel that it is our responsibility
05:37that the point of view of the character,
05:39the way the character thinks and feels,
05:41it is our responsibility to find those qualities within us.
05:46And I think this is the fun of being an actor.
05:48Basically, we have been given the duty to empathize with everybody.
05:54So this character is very close to me.
05:57I think I see the majority of the time the qualities of the character.
06:05But he is very supportive and understanding to the next level.
06:10And he is non-judgmental.
06:12I had to find all that within me.
06:15And I am so happy that I had to find it.
06:17Because sometimes when you play characters,
06:20you become a better person after playing those characters.
06:23Because you realize that this is basically a better way to live life.
06:31So I am very glad that I got a chance to play this character.
06:41A lot.
06:42And because I think Naseer sir has said that acting is a craft.
06:46And if you have a craft, you should work on it every day.
06:50You should practice.
06:52So when I joined, when I decided to become a professional actor,
06:57I started with theater.
06:59So I am associated with Lile Dubeyji and his troupe.
07:03And I have done a lot of plays with him.
07:06I am still doing a play called Gauhar.
07:08It is a musical.
07:10And I think I have toured the whole of India with his plays.
07:19We have gone abroad.
07:20US, UK, Dubai.
07:21We have gone to different places with his plays.
07:25And I think because of theater,
07:28an actor practices and evolves as an actor.
07:32And also with age, if you are open to life,
07:35and if you learn from your experiences,
07:39then you evolve as a human being.
07:41I know that what I was 10 years ago, I was not 5 years ago.
07:45And what I was 5 years ago, I was not 3 years ago.
07:47And what I was 3 years ago, I am not today.
07:49Because I always hope that we learn from life,
07:52learn from people.
07:53And always hope to become a better version of yourself.
07:56So in a way, as a human being, I have evolved.
08:01And as an actor, I have evolved.
08:03So I feel that the performances that I do and will do,
08:09will also evolve a lot.
08:17In that, there is Asha Negi, me, Apeksha Purwal.
08:21So in that, like Love Sitara is a love story, right?
08:25Honeymoon Photographer is a murder mystery.
08:27Who Done It is a thriller.
08:30His experience, I must say that I am lucky in this matter,
08:34that his experience was also very good.
08:36Because the director of that project is Arjun Srivastav.
08:41He was very good and he is also a very good editor.
08:44And according to me, a film or series is made on the edit table.
08:49Because no matter how well you act,
08:51no matter how many scenes you do,
08:53no matter how well you work on location,
08:55if the editor doesn't do his job well,
08:59then your work will not shine, your work will not be seen.
09:02So I am happy that his director is also an editor.
09:05And I think in a thriller, editing and sound design can work a lot.
09:09And in this show, both are very praiseworthy.
09:14In this, my character has some villainous shades.
09:18He has some complex shades, he is a little hurt.
09:22He has very little empathy.
09:25But he is not at all idealistic or principled.
09:28He believes that he can do anything.
09:30So again, this was very interesting for me.
09:33As I said before, I want to show range as an actor.
09:36This is my dream, my personal dream.
09:38So I was happy that I got such a character.
09:41And I think it is difficult to get such a chance.
09:48In our industry, you can easily become a typecast.
09:52But fortunately, it didn't happen with me.
09:54So while playing it, I was having a blast.
09:58I enjoyed a lot.
09:59In fact, I remember Asha, who is a very excellent human being,
10:03and a very good actor.
10:05One day she told me, I am scared of you.
10:08So I quite like that because my character and Asha's character,
10:14there is a lot of space between them.
10:17So I was happy.
10:18That day I realized that I have caught the spine of the character.
10:23So I watched this series too.
10:27And I must say that despite knowing who the killer is,
10:34it was made so beautifully and edited so beautifully
10:38that I forgot who the killer was.
10:41So I had to see to realize who has finally killed the person in Honeymoon Photographer.
10:47I think because of OTT, so many good actors, directors, writers, producers,
11:00basically everyone was skilled.
11:02People got a chance to work.
11:04They got a chance to show their work.
11:06Without so much pressure,
11:10we have to make something like a formula.
11:13OTT has given us a chance to do interesting, unconventional, creative work.
11:23And I am happy.
11:25Actually, I often think about this.
11:30Because I feel that when there is so much passion and energy in the environment,
11:38I think the universe makes something to channel it.
11:42So I think OTT is a boon for all of us.
11:44And if you look at it, all the great actors, directors, producers are working a lot on OTT.
11:52In fact, there is a particular kind of film going on in theatres.
11:56And a particular kind of film is going on in OTT.
11:58So I just feel that acting is acting.
12:02Whether it is in theatre, TV, OTT, or in films.
12:07You basically have to be honest for your character, have to be truthful.
12:12So I don't make distinctions in my mind.
12:17I want to do good work in whichever medium.
12:20And I am happy that I am getting this opportunity.
12:28No, not at all.
12:29Because as I told you, when I started, I knew that I love acting.
12:35And I started with theatre.
12:38And it was very clear in my mind that life is a marathon for me.
12:45It is a long distance run.
12:47It is not a sprint.
12:48So I never thought that I should get this role at this age.
12:54I never had that dream.
12:58I wanted to do good work.
13:00Fortunately, I am doing good work.
13:02And like I said, I was a long distance runner in school.
13:06I think I have the same mentality.
13:09And I am sure of it.
13:13There are so many examples.
13:15Keep working hard.
13:17Keep working on your craft.
13:20At some point, someone will notice.
13:23For instance, even Love Sitara.
13:26I basically auditioned for it.
13:32And I am sure many good actors must have auditioned for it.
13:36And it is God's grace.
13:39I am lucky that the director and producer liked my audition.
13:43So, I just want to say that if you are focused,
13:48if your dream is based on correct things,
13:52because it is not about money or fame.
13:57If you love acting,
13:59I feel that if you work hard,
14:01Lady Luck will shine.
14:03And that's what I feel.
14:11We are all humans.
14:14So, obviously, highs and lows, ups and downs happen.
14:18But that also teaches you a lot about life.
14:20Because if you feel happiness from external things,
14:33then all the wealthy and famous people in the world would be happy.
14:39But that is not the case.
14:41So, I realized this a long time ago.
14:44You cannot base your happiness on external things.
14:49You have to be happy from within.
14:51And obviously, life teaches you.
14:55And I realized very early, fortunately,
14:59that if you are calm, neutral, happy and grateful from within,
15:06then automatically you will be able to surmount obstacles more easily.
15:13So, I don't think...
15:17Like I said, highs and lows happen.
15:20But because my goal was clear,
15:24and it is clear,
15:26why I want to act,
15:28every moment is enjoyable.
15:31Like in a film or a series,
15:34there are twists and turns, obstacles.
15:38And the hero faces a lot of problems to achieve his goal.
15:41We call that a good film.
15:44It is a very interesting film.
15:45And if nothing happens in the film,
15:47and the hero is happy from start to finish,
15:50it can become a boring film.
15:52So, if God has written your script,
15:55and there are ups and downs,
15:57and obstacles,
15:58then God has written a good film for you.
16:00So, I feel that is a good thing.
16:07It is a big wish list.
16:08When the whole industry comes,
16:10then I will...
16:13Because there are a lot of talented people in our industry.
16:17And I admire most people.
16:19Like I said, I want to work with everyone.
16:21Basically, if I get a good job,
16:24a good character,
16:25a good director,
16:27I would love to work.
16:28Because, like I told you,
16:30like you said,
16:32when you asked me about my dream,
16:35I don't have a long-term dream.
16:38I just want to do a good job.
16:40I just want to do a good job.
16:42Because, again,
16:44because of life experiences,
16:46I have realized that you can dream big,
16:48you can have big hopes.
16:50But you want to have a dream
16:52because you think it will make you happy.
16:55But what if it doesn't make you happy?
16:58That means you had a wrong dream.
17:01That means...
17:03And imagine fulfilling your dream
17:05and still not being happy.
17:06I mean, how worried will a person be?
17:08He will think,
17:09I had to fulfill this dream
17:11and I will be happy because of it.
17:12And if I am not happy,
17:13I can't imagine the state of that man.
17:15So, I just want to do a good job day to day.
17:18I want to work with good people.
17:20I want to work with love.
17:21And I want to make people happy through my work.
17:24There is a project that will be released.
17:27There is a project.
17:29I won't talk about it
17:30until there is an official announcement.
17:32But definitely,
17:34I will tell you as soon as it happens.
17:36And there is another project
17:37which I will start working on soon.
17:38But for now,
17:39please watch Love Sitara and Honeymoon Photographer
17:41because both are made with a lot of love.
17:43Both are getting a lot of love.
17:45And I am just grateful
17:49that these two moments came in this journey
17:55on the same day.
17:56So, thank you.
17:57Take care of your health
17:59because if your health is good,
18:01then you can function properly.
18:03And just live life to the fullest
18:05and it's great to succeed.
18:09And it's okay to fail
18:11because that is life.
18:15So, just be happy and grateful
18:17and just spread positivity.