Mental preparation for an actor is same for all kinds of films: Actor Naveen Kasturia

You have worked in a lot of short films, how do you see the growth of short films of late?

I think it’s a good time to make short films because they are really doing pretty well and there are lots of people who watch short films. Anyone can tell a story now, platforms like VOOT are also making short films. One of my short films actually came out last month is called Maya and I want more and more people to watch it.

Talking about short films and web-series, do you think there is a certain kind of mental preparation which is different from the other kind of work which is required for an actor?

No, not really. For an actor it is pretty much the same for short films, web series or be it feature films. I think working in a commercial (TV Advertisement) would be different. I think there the process might be different but if you are trying to tell a story in front of the camera I think that is pretty much the same.

Can you tell us a little more about your character in Fuh Se Fantasy and your overall experience during the shoot?

I had a great time as it was something different. Also, I really liked the script and I haven’t seen the other episodes but after watching my episode (Nyotaimori), I feel it is going to be the best from the series so I have that confidence. I hope the viewers feel the same. My character Sushil falls in love with an exotic woman and the story also is very exotic so I was enjoying it, I had a very good chemistry with the director.

More about the character

Sushil is basically a normal office going guy who is very shy, very conservative, he has a very possessive girlfriend but he still wants to make it work. And then he comes across this girl, and gets fascinated by her world and what he is going through is also very unnatural and very new to him. I think he is a guy that a lot of people can relate to, a guy next door. While the character is very relatable, the situation is very different.

There has been a transformation in Bollywood in the recent years. Last year we saw some big budget star-studded films that have struggled at the box office while content driven films won the hearts of many. What according to you is the reason behind this change?

I think internet probably is a big reason and has a big role to play because people are exposed to all kinds of good stories and content that is there. I think they are not ready to pay for something which is not engaging for them, so content driven films are doing well even in theatres. Audiences these days are open to different kind of stories which allows even big actors to explore different characters so it is good for everyone.

How tough is it for a method actor to accommodate themselves in Bollywood?

It all depends on the script and your chemistry with the director, even in web or a short film. If the chemistry is not good, you are going to struggle. On method acting I don’t really know what it means so I can’t comment on that. But I have not been a part of the songs and dance thing, I’ve never done anything of that sort. I might have to do that in future and I’m looking forward to it.

Is there any young talent who you like to follow?

I am a huge fan of Vijay Verma, he was very good in Gully Boy, of course Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt were also great in it. I have seen all his films like Monsoon Shootout, I think he is wonderful because I know when I am wrong and I have never found him incorrect. He is so honest in all his performances and all his roles have been very different. I don’t know why he is being ignored for awards; I feel his performance was probably the second best last year after Vineet Singh in Mukkabaaz.

Any new challenge that you faced while shooting for VOOT’s Fuh se Fantasy?

I was very, very scared of doing the intimate scenes but at the same time I felt very liberated. My co-actor was very cool about it and I was the one who was more nervous. Even till two days before the shoot I wasn’t sure if I should do it or not.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming projects?

I can’t really talk about the two most exciting projects that I’ve worked right now. One of them is going to be out this month so you will get to know, it is a show by MX Player and I am very excited about it. I have a very different part in the show and I am looking very different in the show so I hope people like that. There is also a film that I finished shooting for, last month. Apart from this there are 2 other upcoming films, one with Swara Bhaskar so yea, I am happy that I am in a happy space right now.