The actor is making his digital debut with Rangbaaz, in which he plays a gangster. Here he speaks to Shikha Jain about the rise of web series, his bond with sister Huma Qureshi and more…
This is clearly a time when the web series are on a rise – from Sacred Games to Mrizapur to now Rangbaaz. How important do you think web series are becoming in shaping careers of new actors?
I think it is a very exciting phase for any actor, because the kind of mediums that are out there to put your own work that is been praised and, especially, like you said, with all these web series coming to India and being made in India and doing so well have opened new doors. There are many opportunities, I feel, to showcase my ability as an actor. So, these things are extremely important and now people are putting money to promote them. And it is not something that only the niche audience is watching, but people all across the country are watching it. For example, somebody like me who is an actor and who wants to do a good quality work, this a great platform.
What was your first reaction when the script was narrated to you? How was your experience on set?
The first time they narrated it to me I looked at them and asked them: ‘Have you guys come to the right house?’ Because I didn’t know they were seeing me as a ‘gangster’, because I have never played a role like that. I don’t know how they thought about it and I didn’t even cross question, because I thought they might just pass this role to someone else. It’s great material and I really enjoyed what I heard.
Then I started reading and spending time with my director on multiple readings. Eventually, I started enjoying this character, and hence decided on doing it. When I went on set the whole team was well prepared and each one of them was so hard working that it compelled me to become better. They made me push myself harder, and put my best foot forward. So, if people like the show or my performance, the only people to credit is the team who made this happen.
From a chocolate boy hero in Mujhse Frandship Karogi to a comic role in Mere Dad Ki Maruti and now a gangster in Rangbaaz…You have played diverse characters. Which one did you enjoy the most?
I really enjoyed playing Shiv Prakash Shukla, not saying this just because this is the show I’m promoting at the moment, but as an actor after a really long time I felt like I tried to play a character. I tried to play him completely different from who I am — whether it was my reaction or the way I talk, dance or walk, I tried to break into some other person.
You and your sister Huma Qureshi are both established names in the industry. Do you talk to each other before finalising scripts?
Yes, we speak to each other and we also take advise from each other. Since we are extremely close, so we discuss everything — from films to relationships to dislikes to our lives. To have somebody like Huma in my life is great for me, she is my sounding board and I cannot function without her. And I am extremely happy to see how her career is shaping up — that makes me a proud brother.
What is more challenging: Acting in films or web series?
I don’t know…I am yet to figure that out. But I don’t departmentalise an actor, because an actor is an actor whether he is acting in a movie, play or web series. The medium can change, but the actor will stay the same. At the end of the day it is about putting up an honest performance. But what a web series does is gives me more time to be with the character.
