Menu
Ishaan Khatter is all set to make his debut in Majid Majidi’s Beyond The Clouds opposite Malavika Mohanan. The movie is set to release on 20th April 2018.
UrbanAsian got a chance to interview the actor where he spoke about Beyond The Clouds, and how he feels it is invalid to compare him with his brother Shahid Kapoor.
- How did you bag your role in Beyond The Clouds?
I got a call from Honey Trehan, who is doing the casting for this film. He told me to come and meet him, and I did. Then he told me that there is a film, the director is Majid Majidi and that was all that I needed to hear but he went on to tell me about the story and gave me a short brief about my character and then he made me meet Majidi Sir. We had a small meeting after which they decided they wanted to see on tape like an audition, which was a very interesting procedure because they allowed going to live locations and shoot on locations. He didn’t have any dialogue in the script. He just wanted to see the character. So he gave me the brief of the character and told me why don’t you go and do it your way, and I did. Later, he saw the footage and said lock him. That very day, I got a call from Honey and he said to go to the roof and yell that you are the lead in Majid Majidi film.
- How did you prepare yourself for this role?
I think primarily it was understanding the text and the script after which I went on to interact with some of my co-actors who are from Dharavi, they are born and brought up there. I spend a lot of time in these locations. I went to Dharavi, Dhobi Ghat, Koliwada- these are all the locations where we were going to shoot the film. The look was defined but Majidi Sir from his part doesn’t do any readings or rehearsals. So, there were no workshops. Most of it was me exploring these areas and getting a feel for it. Then I was also told to lose a lot of weight so that I could look the part. I was told to lose about 8- 8 ½ kilos. I became very isolated for that period as Aamir, the character that I play is an orphan and since I am very close to my mother, so I found it very difficult to feel that character. So, I had to sense the idea of loneliness. I didn’t stay away from my mother consciously but it so happened that after the shoot I realized that I had not spoken to her well after 3 ½ months of the shoot.
- How was it working for Majidi Sir?
It’s a delight. It’s difficult to articulate in words the kind of value he brings to you as a person just by being around you. He has an aura around him. He is a man of faith and that’s why he makes such soulful films. Spending time with himself is a cleansing experience but working with him on set is extremely enriching. Both as a Human being also as an actor it adds so many dimensions to your personality. He brings all those experiences of his life and sort of transfers it to you and he does it without the use of words. He is so sure of his vision, he is extremely meticulous and sometimes he leaves his actors free on their own to do their own thing and sometimes he is so specific that he will tell you exactly what he wants you to do. He keeps you on your toes as an actor. He keeps you alert, and he is always alert and keeps all his team members also in that state of mind.
- As an actor what did you get to learn from him?
The value of being involved and being disciplined. I also learnt to understand a film in its entity and understand the part that you are playing in it. And everyday, there was something or the other that he would add to the scene a little nuance and it would almost change the entire scene.
- How was it working with Malavika Mohanan?
It was good fun. We started interacting on set and we kind of got to know each other through these characters. These characters are very deeply involved with eachother. They are brother and sister and she has raised him so they have each other only. We spent more time in our outdoor schedule, which was in Rajasthan and we got to know each other there. And working with her as an actor under Majidi Sir was similar as it was her first Hindi film and my first film. So we were kind of there to share this with each other.
- Did you get to learn some Malayalam from Malavika?
No, I did not actually. (laughs)
- When will we see you and Shahid working together onscreen again?
Soon Inshallah! I can’t know, I am not a fortune teller. I don’t know. But it would have to be an equal opportunity for both of us and I think I would be on the moon if I got a chance to work with my brother. It depends on fate.
- Do you feel pressurized that you will be compared to Shahid?
No. I am aware that there are already comparisons been made. I don’t think of it as a pressure. I think that sometime it is invalid to compare me to my brother. I will never compete with my brother in any way. We are a family and we are a team. I am grateful that we both are into acting now and I am just happy.
- Did you get any acting tips from Shahid?
Loads over the years. He never gave me any tips when I was doing this film. He completely left me on my own. To have my own journey. He wasn’t involved in the film and I think he did that on purpose because he wanted me to be me. But over the years he has talked to me about everything. He has told me about his entire journey. We keep having discussions about that. He has given me loads of advice, loads of perspective and that will remain always because he will always be 15 years ahead of me in experience. I will always regard him as an inspiration as a human being and as an actor as well.
- Besides Dhadak what’s next?
I haven’t signed on to anything. Once I complete the shooting for Dhadak, I will be in a better position to see other scripts. I am now only in one track mind now. I am concentrating only on Dhadak and Beyond The Clouds.
