Namit Das on A Suitable Boy: There’s only one person who can play Haresh Khanna and that’s me

Namit Das plays the role of Haresh Khanna, one of the suitable boys, in Mira Nair’s series A Suitable Boy. The series, which is currently being aired on BBC One, is based on Vikram Seth’s novel with the same name.

We recently interacted with Namit and spoke to him about his character. When we asked him if he had read the book before the script was offered to him, the actor said, “It’s one of my favourite books and Vikram Sethi is one of my favourite writers. It’s really a privilege to be a part of this show. Haresh Khanna was one of my favourite characters and in fact, when I finished this book, I looked at my wife at that point of time and said that there’s only one person who can play Haresh and that’s me because I am so much like him in life; organised, Monday to Saturday type of a routine, Sunday holiday, and everything planned. Every day there’s a routine, there’s a list that I have which I have to fulfil, and I am totally a go-getter.”

“Also, when we were reading the small parts of the script, me and my wife, she said, ‘yeh toh tum hie ho’, this is just like you. So, I was very much aware of the book, I was very much aware of the character, and I wanted to do this. I am thankful that I am a part of this prestigious project," he added.

Further talking about the preparations he did for his role, Namit said, “The first thing that Mira Nair told me is that ‘Haresh Khanna is a cobbler, he is a shoemaker, so it’s important for you to learn how to make shoes’. I had classes and I attended those classes of making shoes, so at this point of time in my life, I know how shoes are made. I actually went to a cobbler and sat with him, and learnt how to make a shoe.”

A Suitable Boy is an ensemble cast and also stars actors like Ishaan Khatter (Maan Kapoor) and Tabu (Saeeda Bai). But, Namit’s character, Haresh has no scenes with Maan and Saeeda Bai. When asked him if he feels that he missed an opportunity to work with an actress like Tabu, the actor said, “Unfortunately, Vikram Seth did not write any scene between Haresh and Saeeda Bai, and Maan as well. Now that people are seeing it, they are realising what A Suitable Boy is. It’s one storyline that follows Maan and Saeeda Bai’s love story and then there’s another storyline which is following the three suitors, and the big question, ‘who will Lata choose?’ So, unfortunately, I don’t have any scene with Saeeda Bai, but I am sure, in the future, if I keep acting, I will eventually get a chance to act with Tabu and Ishaan as well.”