He was supposed to work with my dad at some point, it's something that they had decided
together and then he had this story in his head which was a father and son story, and this was
fortunately right around the time, it was around four
months after Adithya Varma has released, I think
That fear and that intimidation is what sort of motivated me and drove me because I knew
that this was something that I would have to do my best and I would have to pull off so I
knew that these things were always going to be that I anticipated that it was going to be you
know scary and nerve-wracking working with him
Welcome to Pinkvilla, its lovely having you here
Thank you so much
And congratulations on the trailer. The film is all gearing up
for a release really soon. So, congratulations on that
Thank you so much.
So firstly, could you tell us something about the world of Mahaan and as to what exactly is
the film all about? The trailer is creating intrigue with multiple plot points being showcased in it so yeah
Yeah okay. So at least from what you can see with trailer I can say that you know this film is
about the journey of one man whose name is Mahaan. And he is someone that at some point
in his life you know he plays a big part in creating this sort of liquor empire and it's his
journey and it's where his life takes him you know professionally, emotionally you know. It's
I would say it's an emotional, family drama, thriller, yeah. I
don't think I can say too much at this point why I’m being very cryptic.
Yeah of course, I mean that's what thrillers are all about. You
discover things through the film basically
Yes, yes, I would want for you to not know that much because
when you see it, I feel like that would be more impactful you know
How did you first react when Karthik Subbaraj came with this story to you?
Oh, it was something that I didn't believe that would ever happen in my life. It was one of
those things that I would have never even dreamt of you know. I wouldn't even call it a dream
come true because this is not something I ever anticipated or imagined and I’ve always been a
very big fan of Karthik Subbaraj which I think I’ve said and everyone knows and this is not
because I’ve worked with him, it's genuinely because I’ve adored his work ever since a very
young age and he's played a very big part in you know my interest in cinema and you know
wanting to be a filmmaker one day. It all started somewhere I feel like with Karthik
Subbaraj. And that being said from a very young age I’d always hoped and wished that my
dad and him would work together. I always begged my
dad for that so when this happened it
was just like wow, unreal and somewhere I felt like it was so unbelievable it happened, right
we announced it right before the first wave of lockdown. So, at some point in those months of
just sitting at home I didn't even think it would happen ever
But like when he came with the script, was it always with you and Vikram sir in mind and
was it a joint narration first? Or was it like what was the process like?
He was supposed to work with my dad at some point, it's something that they had decided
together and then he had this story in his head which was a father and son story, and this was
fortunately right around the time, it was around four months after Adithya Varma has
released, I think so it was right around the time when I had also just started acting. And I
think I don't think he had seen the film yet but I think his crew told him that you know that I
may have done like a pretty decent job. So, he was like okay, maybe the son can also act.
And then when he came to us with this one-line concept. He came home in May and he told
my dad and I together. My dad and I were immediately very
excited, very pumped about doing it and you know it was just yeah, rest is history
And how was it working with your dad on the set? So, were you intimidated at any point of
time like how was that equation like when the two of you were shooting?
I think naturally there was a certain level of intimidation but I think that being said that fear
and that intimidation is what sort of motivated me and drove me because I knew that this was
something that I would have to do my best and I would have to pull off. So, I knew that these
things were always going to be that, I anticipated that it was going to be you know scary and
nerve-wracking working with him and I sort of just tried my
best to channel that fear, channel that nervousness into this character, yeah.
Okay but you know usually these combos happen in the later stage of the career. For you it's
happening right after the first film. How does that like, how do you feel about that aspect
as such working with your father in just your second film?
See what I see this is where I think that like you know I don't see this as my second film or
my film or a double hero subject or a father-son film in any way. I see this as my dad's 60th
movie and me playing a very important part in that. So regardless of whatever point of time it
had come to me in my career, I feel like I would have done it at any time because as a
character and as a film I felt like it would be a great opportunity for me to sort of you know
play this very different character and who's not like me at all, who hopefully won't like any of
the other characters that play for the rest of my life. He's very off the back, you know very
well written, very layered and that is what sort of drove me to it. So, I feel like at some point
of time yes, it is my second film and it is very soon but at some point, I just got so involved in
the process of this movie and the story and this world that
the director created that we really just tried to live through that you know that's what
And you know your first film and the second film both are you know more in the intense
space of film, is that a genre that fascinates you?
The intense characters and the intense space
I've not come across anything light-hearted or young or romantic yet and I would love to do
that so I have no aversion for that and I have no you know inclination towards doing roles
like this. It's just how things have fallen to place for some reason but yeah playing intense
characters is always fun because you really get to explore a mind and a soul that you would
normally never in real life you know. I would never even interact with a person like
dada, just to sort of play him was you know it was a very empowering experience, that
was my biggest takeaway. I felt very empowered by the end of it where I was like okay, there
is something about this guy, there are some things that I should learn from him, there are
some things that I should not you know but I understood him. I sort of empathise then I felt
like at one point like yeah, I like playing really, thoroughly enjoyed playing
Correct. So, what are the kinds of films that you want to associate yourself with going
forward and what are the kinds of things that you have grown up watching?
I've grown up watching pretty much everything. I mean all Indian language movies I’ve
watched; I’ve watched like a lot of films. I have no idea yet as to what exactly I want to do I
just know that I would want to do challenging and very interesting characters and I
would want to do good stories. Yeah, that's my main thing for now
Correct but there's no wish list of exploring a particular genre, it's all dependent on the script
I would love to do like a very unorthodox, different kind of love story. I would love to do
maybe you know if something ever came along like a Joker from the Dark Knight or Bane
from the Dark Knight Rises like I also feel like that spectrum is something I would really
love because I like movies like that in general you know. I like that so yeah, it's these two things
And last couple of questions. What next for you after Mahaan?
Right now, I don't have anything planned yet. Yeah, like I said I was not I’m not thinking
beyond tonight or tomorrow I’m just sort of you know living in the moment, waiting to see
what happens so yeah nothing planned as of now
And lastly, what according to you would be the biggest takeaway from Mahaan for the audience?
Yeah, that's actually what I’m very curious to see also you know. Right now, I have no idea I
have absolutely no idea how it's going to be. So, I think my biggest takeaway right now from
what I’m feeling right now is that I’m just like extremely curious to see how this film is
received and how they resonate with this world and
these characters that my directors built.
Thank you so much. It was lovely talking to you and wish
you all the best for the release and all the films that you do going forward.
It was lovely talking to you