MAN of the world

ADARSH GOURAV TELLS TANZIM PARDIWALLA THAT HE ASPIRES TO BE A GLOBAL ACTOR

- TANZIM PARDIWALLA

Adarsh Gourav got a breakout role in The White Tiger. He carved his way out of obscurity in the critically acclaimed Ramin Bahrani directorial alongside Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao. Piggybacking on the film's success, Gourav went on to star in the popular sci-fi show, Extrapolations, which boasted of a star cast comprising Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, Matthew Rhys, David Schwimmer and Forest Whitaker. The BAFTA-nominated actor is set to star in the Bollywood film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan with Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Fame and global stardom doesn't rock his world. It's the process of becoming his character which excites him. His voice is filled with wonder as he describes his process of getting into the skin of a character. Excerpts from a heart-to-heart interview with the talented actor who is making waves both in India and abroad.

WHAT MADE YOU GET ON BOARD FOR EXTRAPOLATIONS?

It’s the sci-fi aspects of it and the discussions around climate change. The story of my episode is told through two individuals who have never met each other, both criminals. How they come together for this journey, which changes their outlook on life permanently from the crux of the episode. For me, it was a compelling story of two strangers on a journey, one of whom is an eternal optimist and the other is an eternal pessimist. What ensues is lifechanging for both of them.

HOW EXCITING WAS IT TO BE A PART OF A STARSTUDDED ENSEMBLE CAST?

Back then, I wasn’t aware of the other cast members, not that it matters. But it’s a bonus when you find out that there’s Meryl Streep, David Schwimmer, Tobey Maguire, and Edward Norton. But for me, it was more about the story and Ritchie Mehta directing it.

HOW MUCH DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT DIVERSITY IN HOLLYWOOD?