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Known for projects such as Sultan, Patakha, ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Abhishek Duhan is all set to play his debut lead role in Mandali. The film is directed by Rakesh Om Chaturvedi. The actor talks about the school of acting he is a part of, inspiration and more.
“I look up to all the great actors, directors, and the entire world of cinema itself. There’s no single person I can name as my favorite. It could be my acting school. In the beginning, I worked with the theater group Ekjute, for about two and a half years, alongside Nadira Babbar ji. I learned a lot there. Darpan Mishra ji was also an amazing teacher. Apart from that, whether it’s Nana Patekar, Shah Rukh Khan, KK Menon Ji (I really admire him), or the beloved Irrfan Khan, I think everyone has their unique appeal. Ajay Devgan and Akshay Kumar are among my favorites. Govinda is one of my all-time favorite actors, and there are so many more like Mehmood Sahab, Amitabh Bachchan, and the list goes on.”
Talking about international actors, he mentions the likes of Daniel Day Lewis, Al Pacino, and the famous Leonardo DiCaprio.
“However, there are also foreign actors who take on smaller roles but leave a deep impact on my heart. I always feel that, one day, I wish I could work at that level of honesty, and I keep searching for those opportunities and working towards them,” he adds.
OTT platforms are flourishing.
“There’s no denying it. Serials were made, and now series are being made, and who knows what will be made in the future. But my love for cinema will always remain. I enjoy seeing myself on the 70 mm screen. The thrill of watching yourself on a 70mm screen is something else. However, on OTT platforms, I appreciate the opportunity to explore characters in more depth. Directors also get the chance to elaborate on their stories. The time you get to play, to perform, and to delve deeper into your craft is an interesting factor. But, in my opinion, it’s quite rare to find truly outstanding work on OTT platforms. I’m eagerly waiting for someone to give me a really great opportunity, but so far, no one has. I would love to take on something different and challenging.”
Abhishek does not have a specific circle of close friends.
“I used to have some great friends, but I couldn’t give them enough of my time, and perhaps the shortcomings were in me. So, I’m mostly alone, working on myself. If I was busier with others, maybe I wouldn’t have the time to do the work on myself. It’s not something I can say that someone is my friend honestly because “friend” is a big word. True friends are there through the highs and lows, consistently. Although not highly successful in the industry, there’s one person I’ve known for 7-8 years – Dilip Dutta. He’s been a constant support. Whenever I needed a place to stay, he opened his home to me. It’s a unique bond, and indeed, he’s a dear friend of mine
So what do you do when you feel low?
“I work out, run, listen to music, educate myself, and spend time alone. I vocalize and motivate myself, saying, ‘No, Abhishek, you will win. Everything you have and everything you want in life, you will get it all.’ I keep myself happy, and I love myself,” he shares.
