A suitable boy for stardom

VIJAY VARMA ON HIS RAPID RISE AND NEW PROJECT SHE

by ASJAD NAZIR

HE MAY have shot to global stardom with a stunning turn in award-winning Bollywood blockbuster Gully Boy, but Vijay Varma has always delivered winning performances and added extra weight to projects with his acting talent.

The versatile performer’s latest project is recently released Netflix drama serial She, and he also has a role in high-profile BBC series A Suitable Boy coming up, along with being on the wish list of an increasing number of Bollywood filmmakers.

Eastern Eye caught up with Vijay during the Covid-19 lockdown to talk about acting, inspirations and his current projects.

How are you handling the coronavirus, and what are you doing while there is a shooting break?

It’s the reality of today and we all, rather than sulking, need to accept it and take precautionary measures. I am abiding by the rules set by the government and am currently quarantined. I am actually just relaxing and also utilising my time by reading, watching movies and setting up my house.

What first connected you to acting?

I have done stage shows for over four years in Hyderabad, followed by Pune and Mumbai. Watching performers and artists perform both live on stage and in movies made me feel connected to them. I could see that the entire crowd would laugh and cry along with the artist. This kind of tapped the emotional artist in me and I decided to pursue acting.

Which of your roles is closest to your heart? 

I would say Moeen (Gully Boy) and Sasya (She) are both close to my heart.

Did you feel Gully Boy was special when you were shooting for it?

Oh yes, the vibe during the shoot of Gully Boy was powerful and magical. It had a fully energetic star cast and team. From Zoya Akhtar to Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, everyone was so energetic, even off the camera. The kind of great bonding everyone had on sets and the performance delivery gave me a very positive feeling for the movie.

Tell us about She?

She is about a woman cop who is on a mission and disguises herself as a sex worker to expose the drug lords of Mumbai, and one of them is (my character) Sasya. To experience the thrill and know more, you have to watch the series.

What was the greatest challenge of portraying this role in She?

Playing Sasya was a bit exhausting for me. Sasya is an ambiguous person who does very mysterious work and is into narcotics. The character thrives on sadism. The biggest challenge was not to make Sasya look cheap. He’s a hero in his head. I’m happy with the response that I’m getting for Sasya. The audience’s positive reaction to the character is all that matters to me.

How much are you looking forward to the TV adaptation of massively popular novel A Suitable Boy and what can we expect?

It has been one beautiful journey while working on A Suitable Boy. It’s been helmed by Mira Nair, who is the boss of all the filmmakers out there. I have a small part in it and feel privileged to be a part of this project.

Does your approach as an actor change between web shows or TV serials and films?

Not really. At the end of the day, it’s the character that matters and not the platform. I just want to keep doing good work.

What do you enjoy watching as an audience and what have you enjoyed recently? 

I am watching Tiger Kings, which is so bizarre that I’m loving it. I have also been revisiting Guy Ritchie films like Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch.

Who is your acting hero?

Al Pacino. Everything he does is full of surprises, intensity and finesse. He’s the ultimate actor.

What inspires you?

A good team inspires and motivates me to do better. If you don’t have a team who can be your critic, and give honest feedback, what’s the point of teamwork? Also, honest feedbacks inspire me. Any kind of review, positive or negative, makes me do better and better. I love growing as an actor.