TIES THAT BIND

Abhimanyu Dassani gets candid with Suman Sharma and talks about his love and passion for films and family

Abhimanyu Dassani made his Bollywood debut with Vasan Bala's Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, which was critically acclaimed and received a standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival in 2018. His other film, A Meenakshi Sundareshwar, ran successfully on OTT. He was last seen in Sabbir Khan's Nikamma along with Shilpa Shetty and Shirly Setia. He will next be seen in Umesh Shukla's feature film Aankh Micholi, a slapstick comedy also starring Paresh Rawal, Abhishek Banerjee, Vijay Raaz, Divya Dutta, Sharman Joshi, and Mrunal Thakur. Excerpts from an all-heart interview with the promising youngster

What challenges you as an actor?

Breaking the stereotype. In a film that you see me in, you can see me doing a genre that someone else has done before. but you will see me in a different shade. I shot Nikamma and gained seven kgs for this role, and then for Meenakshi Sundreshwar I reduced 10kgs.

Main har film mein look, walk, and bolne ke tarike par dhyan deta hoon. That is what excites me: when I convince you that I am a South Indian in Meenakshi... I can convince you that I am 18 years old in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, and I can convince you that I am a nikamma in Nikamma. This transformation excites me.

What kinds of genres excite you? I want to do films based on sports.

I have the highest regard and respect for athletes. Because I was an athlete and I know what they go through. In our country, they are not given enough respect until they achieve something. I want to motivate them somewhere.

You are a star-kid. But had to face rejection initially...