‘You can learn from others’ struggle but can’t escape yours’

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‘You can learn from others’ struggle but can’t escape yours’

Sunday, 30 August 2020 | Shalini Saksena

‘You can learn from others’ struggle but can’t escape yours’

SAURABH SARASWAT, who plays Ritwik in ZEE5’s Mafia, speaks with SHALINI SAKSENA about his role in the series, how he got into writing plays and his future projects

What is your role in Mafia?

I play Ritwik. He is a calm, composed and family-oriented person. He is married to Priyanka; it is an arranged marriage. He is doing well in his life.

How easy was it to identify with your character?

In a way yes. However, there are parts of his character that I couldn’t identify with. In the series, Ritwik comes from a very orthodox North Kolkata Ghoti family. I was not aware of this community. I had to really work on the orthodox aspect of my character. He wants a wife who will stay at home and be there for him.

From Jaipur to Mumbai, how has the journey been?

I am from Ajmer actually. From there to Mumbai has had its ups and downs. I saw many hardships. I did my engineering and even worked for three years. But then I got selected for Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. At FTII, the two years were amazing. I got to learn so many things and gave me a lot of confidence. After that I came to Mumbai and did a few series for Crime Patrol. Then I got my break in 2016 with an international film as a lead character — CRD on Netflix. But before I got this break, I had no work so I took acting workshops. I did theatre and even wrote for it. That kept me in rhythm. In 2017, I got another great film — Cat Sticks — that did the international film festival circuit. I then went on to do a short film, Grey and then a Hindi film — Nameplate. Then I got Mafia in 2019.

Do you think it is important for actors to talk about their struggles in detail rather than gloss over it?

I had to struggle as well. But my parents supported me financially. But there were so many of my friends whom I have seen completely change because of the things that they had to go through. Their struggles made them a different person altogether. They had to compromise because they had no money. While it is good to know that the other person also struggled and overcame it, you can’t escape yours; it is a personal journey that each has to undertake.

How did acting happen?

I was always interested in acting. Back in 2003, there was a boom in engineering colleges in India. I come from a middle-class family. My father spent a lot of money so that I could study engineering. He wanted me to have a financially secure future. I worked since I didn’t have any other option given my family background. In India we respect our parents and didn’t want to go against their wishes. It took a lot of time for them to have confidence in me that I would be able to make a name for myself.

What made you say yes to films like CRD, Cat Sticks and Nameplate?

To be honest, I didn’t have any other choice. It was much later that the director was a National Award winner — Kranti Kanade. I had a year to prepare myself for this film. This changed everything for me.

You write stage plays as well. How did you get interest in this?

I have always been interested in a scene and the drama that comes with it. Theatre is all about drama. My plays don’t involve a big set-up or require art direction. They are about the actor on the stage and his audience. My plays are performance-based.

How do you pick your projects?

Now, I do. Money is the last thing that I look for in the project. If I have enough money in my account to make me comfortable, I take up projects that interest me and yet pay less. The script and the director are important for me. I am not a celebrated actor. I get calls from first-time directors who have a small budget and want to make a film with me. Projects like Mafia pay me well and make it possible for me to take up good but less paying work.

How much is enough money?

It is a feeling for internal security. One would need more money if one had a big family. At present, it is just my wife and me and we have enough to get by. Also, our wants are limited and we are happy with what we have. My priority for now is to work with a good director.

What next?

Grey and Nameplate will soon be released on the OTT platform. I am also doing a film where I play a chef from Goa. We were supposed to start the shoot but these are uncertain times and don’t know when the shoot will begin.

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