Sushant Singh Rajput Birth Anniversary: The Actor Once Said ‘Box Office Success Means Little To Me, I’m Here To Make A Difference’

On Sushant Singh Rajput’s birth anniversary, here’s looking at my last interview with him. The actor was shooting for Nishant Tiwari’s Chhichhore, and had said that box office success meant little to him

Subhash K Jha

Thu Jan 21 2021, 10:45:31 1397502 views
It’s Sushant Singh Rajput’s birth anniversary today. The actor, who would have turned 35 today, passed away on June 14, 2020, leaving behind a void in the hearts of his family, and millions of fans. On Sushant Singh Rajput’s birth anniversary, here’s looking at my last interview with him. The actor was shooting for Nishant Tiwari’s Chhichhore, and had said that box office success meant little to him.

 “I’d like  Sonechirya to be  appreciated  for all  the hard  work that our director Abhishek Choubey has  put in…In fact all of us actors and technicians  slogged  in the Chambal heat. It feels  nice when the  reviews appreciate  one’s efforts. I’ve never sought fame or fortune.Never been enamoured  of  the  100-crore club,” Sushant had said. His  large-screen debut  Kai Po Che  was  a  hit  and  the Dhoni  bio-pic was a blockbuster.

 Sushant said, “I’d say the  success of  those  films was a happy accident. It’s not as  if I set  out to  make these films a success. Humein isse blockbuster banana hai…nothing  of that sort! I work entirely for my job satisfaction.  Otherwise I could have made money in any other  profession. I am here to make  a difference, firstly to myself. When I  look back on  my body of work I  want to feel a  sense  of pride. Whether  it is Kai Po Che, Byomkesh Bakshi, Dhoni,  Kedarnath or  Sonechiriya, I am happy and proud  to be associated with these  films.”

Sushant admitted that he likes  to surrender  completely  to his  characters. “I wouldn’t be able to  sleep peacefully  if I didn’t  give all  of myself  to every character  I accept. Agar main apne kirdaar  ko theek  se pehchan na  paaon usski antar-aatma  ko choo na loon toh yeh toh beimaani  hogi(if I  don’t  get to know my  character well and  touch its  essence it would be  a betrayal). Either I  don’t accept a  film.Or  if I do,  I surrender  to it completely.”

Shooting for his outlaw’s role in Sonechiriya Sushant had spent  days and weeks  preparing himself, staying unwashed , unfed, unattended. “My character  wants to surrender to the  law. I surrendered to the  law  of  selfdiscipline that I’ve  made for my job.  What I found  in  common between  my characters  in  Kedarnath and Sonechiriya was  that core  of humanity. Mujhe woh pakadna ttha(I had  to catch that).Baqi success  or failure is not something  I understand.”

Was the perennial  determination to do   out-of-box characters constantly  a big cross to carry? Sushant answered, “Not at all! It isn’t as  if I have set  out to do  out-of-box characters from the beginning  of my film career. These are  the roles that have  appealed  to me. I am open to doing  the  massy type of films, provided the script  appeals  to me. I would love to do  a full-on masala  film.And I am  not the  only contemporary actor doing  out-of-box  films.Rajkummar Rao, Vicky Kaushal,Ayushmann Khurrana are also doing films that are removed from conventional entertainment, and  doing very well for themselves.”

Did  the  lack of boxoffice success not bother Sushant at all? “Like I said, I feel there is  appreciation  for all the hard work  being put  in my films. Maybe in my case it doesn’t show in boxoffice  figures. But as  long as I’ve the freedom and  power to do the  kind  of films I want  to I am in a  comfortable place,” answered Sushant.

“I am having so much  fun shooting for  Chhichhore  . The atmosphere is relaxed  and positive.We’re having a  blast.  As  far as  I  am concerned I  am working in a film that has already given me what I  want,” said Sushant.

 


Image source: SpotboyE Archive

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