These two 'outsiders' knew that they wanted to be on the big screen. But in, order to please their parents, they studied engineering and topped their class as well. Sushant dropped out, once he realised that he would rather focus on his dream of acting. He used to live in a single room with six other guys. While doing theatre, he would earn INR 250(around Dhs15) but he was in a happy state. He told us that in case if his movies stop working, then he would happily go back to the theatre or television.
"Box office makes a difference because if my films stop working at the box office, I would probably stop getting the kind of films that I would like to do. If that happens then I would change the medium to do what I want to do. I will go back to theatre or television. It would be different but does it affect me emotionally? Of course not. As cliche as it may sound, it stopped affecting me a long time back."
When we asked him how did he reach this sorted state of mind, he told us his journey. "I come from a middle-class family and I was doing my engineering. Then I started doing theatre because my background is of dancing. I dropped out of my premiere engineering college to pursue a dream (of acting) where nothing was promised. Then I did theatre for 3-4 years. When I did television, the character that I played became very popular. I started making money and people were recognising me for the first time. That was high but I realised that very quickly I am getting used to it. It took me only five-six months to get used to fame, name and money that I had and it stopped giving me any high. Thankfully and fortunately, I liked what I was performing. When I start performing, then nobody exists for me - be it camera or people. I started acting in 2006. So no kind of success or failure has changed the way I feel about my life or my work.
"I could have stayed for another year in college and gotten my degree, so at least I had my plan B ready in case nothing happens in acting. So I could still go back to engineering. But I dropped out deliberately because I was so sure that acting is something that I would like to do for the rest of my life even if I don't get paid."
Whereas his co-star Kirti, who right from her first film Heropanti always looked glamorous and heroine-like, finished her degree and also scored well in GMAT to please her parents to allow her to act. "I did have my degree but I wouldn't want to go to my plan B. I had my plan B for the heck of it, especially for my parents. They were scared for me. When I moved to Mumbai, I made a deal with them. I told them that I will still do great in my studies and get a good score, so they shouldn't worry. Because when you come from a simple middle-class family and suddenly you want to enter the industry, you are scared that what if you get one film and don't get another one? When I came to Mumbai, I got a south film. I did one schedule of the film and then I had a two months gap in which I actually gave my GMAT. I got a 7/10 score which was pretty good at that time," said Kriti.
There is buzz that Sushant and Kriti are dating each other. When Kriti explained to us about her first interaction with Sushant with regards to the movie, it felt almost romantic. She said, "When I went to director Dinesh Vijan's office for the first narration, Sushant was also there and I wasn't aware. Dinesh gave us one scene and gave us ten minutes to prepare. While we were giving takes, something happened and we were completing each other's lines. Sushant improvised in between and I reacted to that. He forgot his line and I kind of said it. There was this organic chemistry which was there even though we did not know each other, and were doing things for the first time."
"I came out of B Tech. I had never done theatre before but I realised that I could act. I was modelling while I was studying engineering. I was very lost when I moved to Mumbai. I had an agency who was looking for work for me. I did not know any directors. I kept doing my own things side by side. I was taking acting workshops privately. Fortunately for me, I got Heropanti after eight months. But there were so many people around me, really talented who waited much longer than me for one opportunity. So I do understand that it is tough for outsiders. Star kids have recommendations and they are in people's mind. The first movie comes to them easily but beyond that, I think it is the talent that takes over everything else."
Kriti: The two characters that I play are very different from each other. The one I relate to more is the current time since they talk like us. The other time is the time that we did not have a reference for. It was a completely different era. I play a warrior princess who comes from a tribal time. She is fearless and can do anything to protect her land. She has been brought up like a guy. She is impulsive and strong. I had to develop certain skills to play that character. I had to learn horse riding, mixed martial arts and hand to hand combat. Even though this other time is only for 20-30 minute in the film, it is the most special part of Raabta for me.
Kriti:
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
The Notebook
The Bridges of Madison County
Before Sunrise
The Devil Wears Prada
Sushant:
Interstellar
Avatar
Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
Kaafir
Garam Hawa