Interview: There is a lack of good scripts here, cinema and acting is a game of courage – Deepak Dobriyal

After the superhit of Tanu Weds Manu's Pappi Ji, you too took a break saying that you don't want to do comedy. Whereas usually actors try to cash in on such success. Where does this determination come from in you that no, I will do a different role, even if it causes me loss?
One thing that matters a lot to every actor is respect. So who is giving this respect? First of all, your family members say that you did a great job, neighbors say that you appeared on TV. But when you go into details, every actor wants that his respect should never be less there. His range, his depth, his expressions, they should not be less, but when you start doing the same thing continuously, then everyone starts taking you lightly. Like after Pappi Ji, I had told everyone that I have quit comedy. But during Covid, I saw that there was mourning everywhere, people were sitting disappointed, so I thought no man, comedy is needed right now. Making people laugh is important right now, so I will do it and I signed some comedy films like Good Luck Jerry. There I broke the promise I made to myself.

While struggling in films, you had to face rejection many times due to your skinny body, even though you had a long experience in theatre. Then did you not think of going to the gym and building your body, as many actors do? Secondly, don't you think that it is not right to give importance to looks instead of talent here?
See, those who build their bodies in the gym are also preparing for cinema in a way. Our commercial cinema needs gyms. Similarly, there is a cinema that needs to show human aspects and nuances. There is also a slapstick cinema and all these cinemas will continue to flourish because there is diversity in our country. Here, not everyone will be able to understand the literature of Girish Karnad or Mahesh Dattani but everyone will be able to understand slapstick comedy. It has a large audience, a large market. As far as I am concerned, when I was not getting work, I used to think that I am not worthy, otherwise it is not possible that I will not get work. I have to do better. Yes, it is true that even if I act well, it is not visible. The role is so small that no matter how well I work, it will not be visible, but now daring has come in cinema. Experiments are being done with characters and actors and I believe that cinema and acting are a game of daring. When there is only one thing and everyone is doing the same thing, then only those who do it differently dominate the world, but doing it differently requires courage. Whether it is emotional courage, thinking or skill, that courage is needed. Otherwise I would not have been able to break the image of Pappi ji. Like the way Vikrant Massey has played the role of a psycho killer after failing in 12th in this film, it is a matter of courage.

Tell us something about your next film Son of Sardaar 2?
The Mumbai schedule of Son of Sardaar 2 is complete. We are back from the Edinburgh shoot. There are a few days of shooting left in Punjab. It was a great shoot, we had a lot of fun.

You have worked with veterans like Pankaj Kapoor in films like Maqbool and with veterans like Irrfan Khan in Hindi Medium-English Medium. Did working with them develop the artist inside you or did it lead to any improvement?
Of course. It has happened with many people. There was such a give and take with Irrfan (Khan) bhai that I became his comfort zone. After those films, he offered me four films including Blackmail and Qarib Qarib Single. He would say, 'Yaar, call Deepak, it will be fun.' He had done such a good job that he would immediately understand that this boy has the power to say something new. He used to have a lot of fun with me. Our tuning was different, so I learnt a lot with him. He is a very different kind of actor, if you look closely you will understand where he is playing. On screen you will not know what he is doing.

How did you create the character of Inspector Ram Charan Pandey in this film? Because he is neither Singham nor Robin Hood, but when his conscience awakens he can do a lot!
In this film, I have played the role of a policeman for the first time. Whereas there is no actor who has not played the role of a policeman. I had not done it, so I thought I should do it, but what would be different in this. I thought that this policeman will be created with me. This will not be a readymade policeman, so I created him by feeling and involving him every day. I did not create him all at once that this is his complete arc. I created him every moment. I am very happy that whatever I know, I got to show it all in this character.