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Court Martial

People just “

didn’t offer me too many films. – Amit Sadh ”

Explosive and fearless, one of Bollywood’s most under-rated yet powerhouse performer, Amit Sadh tells Sumita Chakraborty why he hates being called an outsider, why the industry didn’t give him work after Kai Po Che, why the TV industry banned hm and how he’s currently lovin’ it that he is being finally accoladed as an actor ad performer.

“Remove this “outsider” tag and realise that are we creating a fair environment especially for people who come from small towns?”

You are the most understated and underrated actor in the Hindi Film Industry, is that a conscious decision? Are you like that as a person too, you do your work single-mindedly, go home and do your own thing?

Its better to be under-rated than over-rated. As for being understated, well that’s my personality. I always tend to stand behind. Sometimes actors tend to get worried about the camera angle, light kis pe hain, are they being seen, not seen… I have two logics behind that. Even as an actor or if I’m doing a part, I’m like an animal, I don’t care who is being seen, who is getting more prominence, I just don’t care. I’m just happy doing what I’m supposed to be doing. In life also, I’m like that. I read something about animals that they are not bothered who is watching them, they do whatever they should be doing. They are constant in their gaze, their actions or the emotion they are in. They don’t care about what’s happening around them. Somehow now that you’ve asked me this, I feel over the years, finally I’m understanding what I am. So I’m that sort of a guy who likes doing his own thing, who doesn’t care what’s happening around him, who just does his thing and moves out. Its funny to see or hear about other people’s perception of me. They tell me, ‘Aap kachua ho’ (You’re a tortoise). I don’t really care. I think I’m just very comfortable in my skin and in my stride. So I work and do my own thing and I think I’ve struck out a nice balance.

You’ve been in the in the industry for a decade or more.. but you haven’t been seen in too many films. Everybody agrees that you are a powerhouse performer, so was signing less number of films something you decided?

No That’s not true at all. People just didn’t give me too many films.

Why is that? Is it the same tussle between ‘insiders versus outsiders’?

That’s not my problem! If they don’t want to give me work, I never complain because in life you can’t crib. Somehow the producer, directors I wanted to work with, I did! Also, you can’t work more than this especially if you want to do quality work. I prefer to work on my character rather than worry about why people aren’t offering me films. Also I never had options to choose from. It’s just that was lucky that if I lost one film, I got another good film.

Why is that? More because you’re a fantastic performer…

That’s something you should ask the industry. Ask the producers and directors about this. If I had the answer to this, then I would be in a different league. But I don’t care or pay attention to that. If you don’t want to give me work, don’t give. I have the arrogance that if you don’t give me work, I’ll do something else. In life, there is no work that I can’t do. If necessary, I can be a security guard but I’ll do my work with diligence, dedication and respect. But if you don’t give me 36

“I just love Abhishek Bachchan for being fair and treating me equally.”

respect, I don’t want to work with you. So consistency is very important in life especially for an artiste. If you are going to become a puppet in somebody else’s hands, then you should be ashamed to be called an artiste.

Is it because of your attitude? You call a spade a spade, you don’t butter up people or fawn over them…

You know me… I’m nice and polite to everyone. But I wont go out of my way to unnecessarily praise or flatter any or anybody, I’ll praise my cook if he’s done a good job or somebody who is working hard, I’ll boost his confidence. But I won’t butter up anybody just to get myself some advantage. I have a lot of confidence in myself to do that.

In Anupama Chopra’s interview with you, you say you’re not an outsider but you say that with protest. What do you mean by that?

You know people have gone on and on about me being an outsider. It started irritating me so I decided I’ll end the matter by saying I’m an insider. I decided I won’t allow anybody in the world, nor in this industry or elsewhere to make me feel inferior. …To make me feel less. That’s why I made that statement that I’m not an outsider. I have another philosophy of “outsiders” and “insiders” – I even did a TEDx talk on this. Today, I’m in a good position. But I believe it’s the duty of everybody who is in a good place to help and be kind to people who are behind. So this debate is not about “insiders” and “outsiders”, 37

this debate should be about people who are ahead and in a good place, are they big enough to realise there are people behind. Remove this “outsider” tag and realise that are we creating a fair environment especially for people who come from small towns? They are not ready-made actors. Do we have a system here that encourages them rather than chasing them back, feeling inferior? There’s no rocket science in this. These are basic things. All we need is the will to understand that in this industry we should be equal. We should be fair. And I hope this starts.

2020 may not be happening for many people but for you, it’s really going good. From Breathe Into The Shadows, Shakuntala Devi, Yaara, Avrodh to more, you are now being seen and appreciated a lot. Are you happy?

(laughs) I think everybody is struggling. I think if I can be a catalyst during this time to make you happy or smile with my shows, that makes me happy. So I’m happy that during the lockdown I have brought a smile to people with my performances. But yes, thanks to Covid 19 things are bleak. So how can I be fully happy when the world is happy? But yes, I’m happy that my shows helped people through these difficult times. I’m associated with five teams and that gives hope.

You’ve been associated with Breathe Into The Shadows for some time. How was it playing Kabir Sawant?

My journey as Kabir started four years back when Vikram Malhotra gave me this role on a platter. There was a section of people who thought I couldn’t do this role. They thought I couldn’t do a tough cop role and my image was of

“Whoever has banned me before, I’ll work with them too provided people respect each other and where art and artiste are given importance.”

a lover boy. But the producer Vikram Malhotra stuck his neck out for me and I so thank him. The good thing is that people who said all this weren’t my detractors, they loved me. And when the first season came, they came upto me and said, “Amit we were wrong yaar.” In Season 2, there’s a change. There’s a new dimension for Kabir but he’s the same guy. He has healed from his traumas. This guy is somebody who doesn’t leave things undone. If he has made a mistake, he likes to rectify it. He’s also a very intelligent cop.

“Sushant and I both have the same spine. Both of us are fearless.”

Is there a bit of Amit Sadh in Kabir Sawant?

Lots of it. (Laughs)

How was it working with Abhishek Bachchan?

I can just say this in one simple sentence that he’s my favourite co-star and my favourite senior. He’s so fair. I’m waiting for him to recover so that I can just go and hug him. I worked with a lot of senior actors and they all have been very nice to me. But Abhishek has been extremely fair, the most giving and loving co-star. I just love him for being fair and treating me equally.

You’ve worked with Vidya Balan in Shakuntala Devi, what was the experience like?

Shakuntala Devi was a fabulous experience. My role is beautiful. It was produced by my mentor Vikram Malhotra again who gave me Breathe into the shadows I’m a huge Vidya Balan fan so I’m really upset that I played her son-in-law. I’ve made it clear to her that this is just something I’ve done in this film, next time I have to be her lover. Jokes apart, the cast was stellar and I’m really happy.

Amit, you recently lost a colleague and friend Sushant Singh Rajput who you worked in Kai Po Che with…

Yes, I get choked when I talk about him. The memories of our friendship and his essence will always stay with me. The stuff we did, the mischief, the laughter, the banter… it will always stay with me. There’s so much I want to say about him but when I want to talk about Sushant, I get so choked. We were so full of mischief when we were doing

“I made it clear to Vidya Balan that next time I have to be her lover.”

Kai Po Che and I will remember it all my life. We both have the same spine. Both of us were fearless and I think that’s something I will remember all my life.

Who is the real Amit?

I’m a normal boy in torn jeans with an un-ironed white shirt. I have the same dreams, hopes and aspirations and that’s the way I want to continue living. I love being with normal people, doing normal things. I love being grounded. Its called earthing and I love being connected to the earth, and only when you do that, you have the energy and the spark.

You were banned by TV, you said once in an interview?

Well, it was a statement said in anger. But it was a true statement but I’m not a cry baby. I’m fearless now. I’ll work wherever there is a good ambience and good work. Where people respect each other and where art and artiste are given importance. Whoever has banned me before, I’ll work with them too provided the same criteria’s exist.

What’s next for you?

I will give some good news soon. It’s really amazing.

Will you give us good news on the personal front too?

Well whenever I get married, I’ll send you the card first (Laughs).