Prit Kamani, who debuted with Hum Chaar and was recently seen in a cameo in Shahid-Mrunal starrer Jersey is now gearing up for his first solo male theatrical feature Middle Class Love helmed by Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana fame director Ratnasurya Sinha. In an exclusive candid chat with The Free Press Journal, Prit talks about his love for being middle class, his journey after the debacle of his debut film and more. Excerpts:
While being middle class is looking down upon, the title itself is Middle Class Love. What are your thoughts?
Everyone wants to upgrade in life, they want to grow from where they come from, and that’s what my character wants in the film. Most people think that middle class people are cheap, but I am of the opposite belief. Even if I became rich in the future, I would still be middle class at heart. The mentality of being a middle class shouldn’t go away ever.
How much your film is relevant in current times?
In the film, we see not only romantic love, but also loving friends, family, and self-love. It’s a coming of age story for this boy that is a family drama. It’s a lot more than a triangle love story.
How was your journey post the failure of your debut, Hum Chaar?
My first film released with Gully Boy in February 2019 and didn’t work at the box office, but my performance was appreciated. But, right after I bagged Maska, an OTT film as a lead. It was disheartening to see empty theatres while Hum Chaar was being played. People weren’t aware of the film, so there was no word of mouth at all.
Were you skeptical about playing a small role in a film like Jersey?
For me, no role is big or small. The most important thing is how much your character contributes to the film. Jersey is a special film since I am very close to my father as I wanted to give something back to him. I wasn’t even considered for this role as I was already playing the lead in other projects. But I believe in questioning the norms.
From hereon, how do you see yourself leaving a bittersweet career?
Honestly, I always wanted to be a Bollywood hero. Earlier, you had to just look good to be an actor, but in today’s time, one needs to know the craft too. Looks are just an added bonus. I hope I can get back the charm of the ’90s. All four films, including Middle Class Love, have different genres.
