Sidharth: I Am Romancing Alia
Here's the latest update from the world of Bollywood. We bet you wouldn't want to miss this. Read on for details... The actor talks about Alia, Kjo, Varun and of course, Brothers.
It takes guts to share screen space with Akshay Kumar, without worrying about being overshadowed by him. But then, Sidharth Malhotra is far from insecure. The Brothers actor talks to SpotboyE.com about the upcoming film, being Dharma Productions' blue-eyed boy and more. Excerpts:
Was gaining 10 kg for Brothers quite a task?
I had to look the part of Akshay Kumar's opponent. Else our fight sequences would have looked ineffective (smiles).
How difficult was it to put on that kind of weight and train in martial arts since it's not your forte really?
I practised Jijitsu, kicking and punching. It was not easy. I was on a meat-based diet to bulk up. And now I've gone vegetarian to lose weight. A company called 87 11 trained us and choreographed our moves.
Akshay is possibly one of the eldest co-stars you've worked with. What did you learn from him?
We have a lot in common. We're both Punjabi boys from Delhi with non-industry families, food lovers, early risers and fitness freaks! I woke up at 5 am, and after working out, reported on the sets at 7 am. He used to be so happy with my discipline. He loves discipline. He balances his personal life and work. There's something to learn there. I used to wonder how someone can be successful and still manage to lead a happy family life. Akshay sir exemplifies that! He's never stressed.
Because he's always up for a prank?
Yes. During an action scene, he gave me a guard to protect my crotch when he kicks. So, I wore it. We performed the scene and Karan called 'Cut'. And when I looked at him, he was holding a crotch guard in his hand. My instant reaction was to check my guard and figure how he took it out of my shorts without me feeling his hand. When I looked down, I realised he had played a prank, and he was holding another guard altogether. It wasn't mine. Thank god for that! It felt like I'm back in school with some seniors around.
Karan Malhotra and you knew each other before this film, right?
Yeah, Malhotra was my senior on the sets of My Name Is Khan. So, to me, it was more like 'Aaja beta, ab saare badle loonga'. But when we reported on the sets, it was a different atmosphere. I didn't feel like throwing my weight around as an actor. We all connected well. And Akshay sir joined in effortlessly.
Getting directed by someone who was an assistant on the sets with you must have been weird, right?
Actually, it wasn't! Malhotra was very clear about what he wanted from us and he always had reasons for what he wanted from us. He made us into Christian men who keep our emotions within and when it bursts out, it's lava. From whatever I've seen, I can say that men will cry watching this film. MMA is just a backdrop. The film is all heart.
Have you seen Warriors (Brothers is supposed to be a remake of Warriors)?
Yes, but I am nothing like Tom Hardy in Warriors. Brothers is not Warriors per se.
Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and you were launched in the same film (Student Of The Year). Is the bond still alive?
Yeah. We've become busy, so we meet fewer times --- but we're always in touch. We catch up at each other's house. Varun came back from Dishoom's shoot a few days back and told me he loves the trailers of my film. He hadn't seen much when he left. Alia and I are working together (Kapoor And Sons). So we end up spending time together.
So you are romancing Alia then?
Yes, I am most certainly.
Great!
I'm not done. It's for Shakun Batra's film Kapoor And Sons. And one or two TVCs.
Malhotra was planning Shuddhi when he was shooting with you. Does it pinch that he cast your contemporary, Varun and not you?
I have just done Brothers with him. So why would we work in such quick succession? I think it's a good idea to work with different people on different projects.
Do you think Varun will do justice to Shuddhi?
I have faith in Varun but I have more faith in Malhotra as a filmmaker. He is a gifted director. The film has strong content. And Karan makes a tough job look easy. He can transform actors into characters very well.
You have a long association with Dharma Productions. Do you still turn to Karan Johar for professional advice?
He has launched me. I owe everything to him. And I have to be an idiot to not use the access I have to him. He's a successful producer, director, writer, actor and TV host. Varun, Alia and I turn to him for advice whenever we need one. And I need it more than them because I am an outsider.
You have replaced Imran Khan as the blue-eyed boy of Dharma Productions...
Have I? I wouldn't say that. I am just plain lucky to be working so extensively with Dharma Productions. It's a premier organisation. No one should have a problem with them using their talent pool. Shuddhi has gone to Varun. Am I still the favourite? It's weird because people have too many theories around why and how filmmakers give me work when I am an outsider. Varun and Alia getting films is explainable. They are industry kids. There's no such explanation available for me. So, conjectures are formed! Time will tell whether I am indeed Dharma's blue-eyed boy!
Was gaining 10 kg for Brothers quite a task?
I had to look the part of Akshay Kumar's opponent. Else our fight sequences would have looked ineffective (smiles).
How difficult was it to put on that kind of weight and train in martial arts since it's not your forte really?
I practised Jijitsu, kicking and punching. It was not easy. I was on a meat-based diet to bulk up. And now I've gone vegetarian to lose weight. A company called 87 11 trained us and choreographed our moves.
Akshay is possibly one of the eldest co-stars you've worked with. What did you learn from him?
We have a lot in common. We're both Punjabi boys from Delhi with non-industry families, food lovers, early risers and fitness freaks! I woke up at 5 am, and after working out, reported on the sets at 7 am. He used to be so happy with my discipline. He loves discipline. He balances his personal life and work. There's something to learn there. I used to wonder how someone can be successful and still manage to lead a happy family life. Akshay sir exemplifies that! He's never stressed.
Because he's always up for a prank?
Yes. During an action scene, he gave me a guard to protect my crotch when he kicks. So, I wore it. We performed the scene and Karan called 'Cut'. And when I looked at him, he was holding a crotch guard in his hand. My instant reaction was to check my guard and figure how he took it out of my shorts without me feeling his hand. When I looked down, I realised he had played a prank, and he was holding another guard altogether. It wasn't mine. Thank god for that! It felt like I'm back in school with some seniors around.
Karan Malhotra and you knew each other before this film, right?
Yeah, Malhotra was my senior on the sets of My Name Is Khan. So, to me, it was more like 'Aaja beta, ab saare badle loonga'. But when we reported on the sets, it was a different atmosphere. I didn't feel like throwing my weight around as an actor. We all connected well. And Akshay sir joined in effortlessly.
Getting directed by someone who was an assistant on the sets with you must have been weird, right?
Actually, it wasn't! Malhotra was very clear about what he wanted from us and he always had reasons for what he wanted from us. He made us into Christian men who keep our emotions within and when it bursts out, it's lava. From whatever I've seen, I can say that men will cry watching this film. MMA is just a backdrop. The film is all heart.
Have you seen Warriors (Brothers is supposed to be a remake of Warriors)?
Yes, but I am nothing like Tom Hardy in Warriors. Brothers is not Warriors per se.
Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and you were launched in the same film (Student Of The Year). Is the bond still alive?
Yeah. We've become busy, so we meet fewer times --- but we're always in touch. We catch up at each other's house. Varun came back from Dishoom's shoot a few days back and told me he loves the trailers of my film. He hadn't seen much when he left. Alia and I are working together (Kapoor And Sons). So we end up spending time together.
So you are romancing Alia then?
Yes, I am most certainly.
Great!
I'm not done. It's for Shakun Batra's film Kapoor And Sons. And one or two TVCs.
Malhotra was planning Shuddhi when he was shooting with you. Does it pinch that he cast your contemporary, Varun and not you?
I have just done Brothers with him. So why would we work in such quick succession? I think it's a good idea to work with different people on different projects.
Do you think Varun will do justice to Shuddhi?
I have faith in Varun but I have more faith in Malhotra as a filmmaker. He is a gifted director. The film has strong content. And Karan makes a tough job look easy. He can transform actors into characters very well.
You have a long association with Dharma Productions. Do you still turn to Karan Johar for professional advice?
He has launched me. I owe everything to him. And I have to be an idiot to not use the access I have to him. He's a successful producer, director, writer, actor and TV host. Varun, Alia and I turn to him for advice whenever we need one. And I need it more than them because I am an outsider.
You have replaced Imran Khan as the blue-eyed boy of Dharma Productions...
Have I? I wouldn't say that. I am just plain lucky to be working so extensively with Dharma Productions. It's a premier organisation. No one should have a problem with them using their talent pool. Shuddhi has gone to Varun. Am I still the favourite? It's weird because people have too many theories around why and how filmmakers give me work when I am an outsider. Varun and Alia getting films is explainable. They are industry kids. There's no such explanation available for me. So, conjectures are formed! Time will tell whether I am indeed Dharma's blue-eyed boy!
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