Salman bhai is my brother-in-law
Pulkit Samrat, 26, believes that while Delhi is his dharam bhoomi, Mumbai is his karma bhoomi. He grew up wanting to entertain people, be it through magic or through films. While he knew no one when he came to Mumbai eight years ago, he has built some life-long relationships, be it with his fianceé Shweta Rohira, his brother-in-law Salman Khan or his producer Ritesh Sidhwani. Ahead of his upcoming youth comedy Fukrey, he talks about the lessons he has learnt from Salman, what prompted him to file a suit against Ekta Kapoor and his desire to go back to magic some day. Excerpts:How did you come into films? I am a Punjabi from Shalimar Bagh, Delhi, and am born to a business joint family, where my family is into real estate. We build as well as help MNCs to acquire properties, manufacture lighting fixtures and import them. I am the eldest child in the family and was pampered the most. I went to Manav Sthali School till Class X, until I was rusticated for bursting fire crackers outside the vice-principal’s office. I would never bunk my classes because my whole aim was to trouble my teachers. I would sit in the front row doing tricks that a back-bencher usually does. Even though I got 87% and was eligible, I was not given non-medical science in Class XI. So, I had to switch schools and prepared for the entrance tests for IIT and medical. But, I was obviously not interested in studying and I was playing inky pinky ponky in the entrance tests. I was only interested in entertaining and so joined an advertising course at Apeejay Institute of Design, where after five months, I landed my first ad as a model with Asian Paints. I was 19 then and I decided to move to Mumbai, where I did an acting course with Kishore Namit Kapoor. I was auditioned for Balaji’s Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and was selected. I then did a musical theatrical show called Taj Express by Vaibhavi Merchant. The casting director of Taj Express was casting for Bittoo Boss and after several rounds of audition, I was selected. Ritesh Sidhwani saw me in one of the dancing songs of the film and I was auditioned for Fukrey.
What is your relationship with Salman Khan? You can call me his brother-in-law. My fianceé Shweta Rohira is his rakhi sister. She is a Sindhi girl from Mumbai who is running her own boutique, but when we first met, she was a freelance journalist who had come to take my interview while I was doing Kyunki... We became friends and then started seeing each other. Marriage is only a certificate. We are already married for life. When she was a kid, she gatecrashed bhai’s house. Coincidentally, Salma aunty was down and she said to her, ‘I want to tie rakhi to Salman.’ Bhai came down and asked her, ‘Are you serious about tying a rakhi?’ His only condition was if you want to tie a rakhi, you will have to tie it for life, as he believes in keeping relationships going. He said to her, ‘If you can’t do that, don’t do it.’ Since then she ties him a rakhi every year.
Is your relationship with Shweta your first? No, but it’s my last.
Do you meet Salman often? Whenever he is in town. We are always welcome there. The entire world loves him. We are lucky that he loves us too. He does not have one, but has four hearts in him. He is one of the best human beings that I have seen, not because he is a star but because he is so grounded despite being such a star. He lives a simple life. Even if you make him sit in a small car, he would not fuss about anything. He is thinking 24x7 about films. People may get this impression that he comes at a particular time and is not interested in the film on the set, but he talks and breathes only films. He liked my dancing in Bittoo Boss and has a lot of expectation from me. I hope I can match up to that. Bhai’s also given me the chance to work on my next film — Atul Agnihotri’s O Teri with Sarah Jane Dias.
Bittoo Boss did not work at the box office. Did that impact you? Yes it didn’t work at the box office. People turning up and not liking the film is one thing, but people not turning up is another. I learnt this from bhai. He said, ‘Today inspite of the place I am at, every Friday can change your life. Even big actors face flops. Never get bothered by the result of the film. Keep your honesty and it will sail you through.’ That actually took away the fear from my mind and I was not scared on a Thursday night. Likewise for Fukrey, I am not scared at all. I am only seeking the appreciation of the audience and I hope they find my performance honest. That would be more than enough for me.
Ekta Kapoor gave you your first acting break in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Yet you filed a case against Balaji. What prompted you to take that step? (Shows his left elbow which has a big scar due to a glass cupboard broken on his hand at home three years back and says this scar is still there, but not that.) Ekta obliged me by giving me my break and taking me to every house in India. I become short-tempered when something around me is not right. Probably, that prompted me to take that decision and we got a judgement favouring the actors. She is a big part of my life and we wish each other on festivals. She is making wonderful films and some day, I hope I will get to work with her.
How different is it to be an actor on TV versus in films? The difference is only in scale and detailing. Both mediums have their pluses and minuses. TV will always need films to add the glamour (through award functions, songs, movies on TV). And films would always need TV to promote themselves. I don’t mind working in any medium, but everyone wants to try for the highest bar possible and that is what I am doing. I will wait to see which audience accepts me.
What else are you interested in? Magic and acting have always been my passions. For five years, I have not been in touch at all, but I do a lot of magic, illusions, levitation, mind reading and card tricks. There was a time, I wanted to do a street magic-based show. From my childhood, I was interested in magic and would read books, visit stalls in Delhi’s Diwali melas and would write to international magicians after reading their books. I find that exciting and want to go back to magic once in my life.
Pulkit Samrat
Pulkit Samrat
No comments:
Post a Comment