“Dad felt that I was much more relaxed” - Hurman Baweja

Hurman Baweja is happy and content. His latest release What's Your Raashee? has fetched him some good reviews. Also, after the disappointment of Love Story 2050 and Victory, he has seen a decent box office opening coming his way. More than anything else, he sees the film as a stepping stone for him in terms of growth as an actor and acknowledgment from a large section of the industry. Sounding happy with the way life is treating him and his professional career is headed, Hurman talks about the positive impact that What's Your Raashee? has had on him.

This time around you must be happy, right Hurman? After all critics too seem to have appreciated your performance....
(Smiles with a sigh of relief) Yeah, after the barrage of comments that came my way once Love Story 2050 released, it is a good thing that finally things have moved on. Though Victory too saw my performance being noticed, in case of What's Your Raashee, appreciation has been pretty universal. One has to learn and be optimistic. I have only seen glass as half full so far. It's time for me to work better and move on.

While your honesty and sincerity is quite visible in the film, it must have been quite challenging to bring in consistency since you had to feature in 12 different stories, isn't it?
Wow, you have picked up quite a few adjectives here! I am flattered (smiles). On a serious note though, instructions from Ashu sir were quite clear. I was required to be in a particular space and I pretty much stuck to that. Of course I don't wish to take away from my performance but a lot has to with the way the character was written. I pretty much stayed with its realms.

Some critics/reviews weren't as flattering though...
Yes, I did feel disheartened reading a few reviews about the film but then everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even some of the most award winning performances have been panned when seen first. In that context, I am still beginning. It's ok because it only helps you reflect on that extra something that you could possibly bring along in your future outings. But if you ask me how I do I feel after What's Your Raashee? , I would say that I am very content. I am satisfied with my work and believe that I have successfully managed to hit a platform from where I can grow further.

Industry may throw in some conflicting comments, reviews could be mixed and audiences could be biased. However, a father would never lie, especially someone like Harry Baweja who has been the part of the industry for close to three decades and has seen and done it all. What did he have to say after watching your performance in What's Your Raashee?
(Pauses for a while before replying) He told me that now in my third film; I have managed to grope the technical aspect of cinema quite well. See, I have done a lot of theatre in the past. There you are in an open space and are not bound. You can be relatively relaxed in your body language. On the other hand while acting in a movie, you have to say dialogues, move around and then also be worried about the trolley placement. You keep wondering if you have been following the marks well or not and hence a little awkwardness does come in. You feel ki chalo shot de diya toh kaam ho gaya. Par aisa hona nahi chahiye. And something like this becomes easier and almost your second nature once you have acted in a few films. Dad told me that I have managed to do that well in What's Your Raashee?. He felt that I was much more relaxed and Ashu sir has pulled that awkwardness out of me.

So, overall happy with the state of affairs?
Very happy (laughs). The film is doing steady, family audiences are liking it and we are quite comfortable moving into the second week. There have been so many cases even earlier when family movies have moved from average to very good business in days to follow. I can pretty much foresee that happening for What's Your Raashee? too. My expectations from the film were to see a growth in me as an actor and have a good box office success too. While former is pretty much accomplished, things are looking positive for the latter as well.