A Date With Daddy

Dashing, debonair and drool-worthy, this Daddy of Bollywood has had a terrific filmi career. From being the baddie to the Daddy of Bollywood, ARJUN RAMPAL has scaled new heights of success. A terrific screen presence and a charming persona have undoubtedly made this National Award winner much sought-after. Sharbani Mukherjee engages in a conversation with the amazing Arjun Rampal about his latest venture Daddy, life, career, films and more…. 

- Sharbani Mukherjee

What appeals to you when you give a nod to a movie. You have been an intense actor and your performances have packed a punch. Now you have co-written a film. How was the whole process like?

For me, nothing is bigger than the story. That kind of draws me. What the story is about and what am I doing in it? How is it going to be made? Am I going to be in tune with these people? Can I live with them for six months? Will that work? And if the story isn’t good or not something that my heart really wants to do, then I don’t do it.

How important do you think is a director in the whole process? What do you look for in a director before you start working with them?

 I always look for a rhythm in a director. Every director has their own rhythm. An idea about how things will be unfolding. So you know the way it works. You try to see what is new the director can pull out from me. First I ask the person who wants to cast me, why me? How do you see the character as me?

Do you think Indian cinema has evolved? What do you think has caused the change if it has?

There is a definite evolution. There are a lot of talented people around. In the evolution, a big part of it is your audience. As at the end of the day, it is them you are making the film for. They are the one’s who will decide the fate. It is a very amazing space. They are exposed these days to the best of the world on their mobile phones. You can’t do things like ripping off a Hollywood film, like they did in the ‘80s and ‘90s. We have got to find new and original things. It is going to be difficult for a lot of people and amazing for a lot of people. We are on a really good threshold.

What is your take on the whole system of reviewing a film? Do you think it affects the work of an actor?