You
had
earlier
mentioned
that
JP
Dutta
was
the
first
filmmaker
whom
you
met
when
you
first
came
to
Mumbai.
And
now,
life
comes
to
a
full
circle
with
you
doing
his
film
Paltan.
How
does
that
feel?
I
always
believed
that
an
actor's
career
is
incomplete
till
he
plays
a
soldier.
And
if
he
wants
to
play
a
soldier
then
it
has
to
be
with
JP
Dutta
Saab.
I
am
glad
that
the
dream
of
playing
a
soldier
happened
and
that
too
with
him.
JP
Dutta
has
helmed
some
of
the
most
iconic
war
films
like
Border
and
LOC
Kargil.
What
are
your
memories
about
those
films?
I
have
grown
up
watching
his
films
whether
it
be
Ghulami,
Hathyar.
Border
is
one
of
my
most
favourite
films
and
I
always
believed
that
I
had
to
work
with
him
someday
and
I
am
glad
that
he
chose
me
for
Paltan.
When
I
shot
with
him
on
the
first
day,
I
remember
telling
him
that,
'Sir,
only
you
have
the
right
to
make
your
films.'
Playing
a
soldier
is
quite
an
emotional
experience.
Was
it
difficult
for
you
to
let
go
of
the
character
once
you
finished
shooting
for
the
film?
You
have
an
immense
respect
for
soldiers
while
playing
one.
But
after
you
finish
the
shoot,
you
feel
for
them
because
while
you
wrap
up
a
shoot
in
few
months,
these
guys
stay
in
those
tough
conditions
for
years
and
years.
Your
respect
for
them
immensely
grows
after
the
shoot.
If
you
had
to
pinpoint
the
biggest
takeaway
from
Paltan,
what
would
that
be?
It
has
to
be
the
respect
for
nation.
There
are
times
when
you
think
about
the
nation
only
on
15th
August
and
26th
January.
But
after
working
in
a
film
like
Paltan,
you
think
about
it
365
days
for
your
nation.
Social
media
is
a
boon
today.
At
the
same
time,
it
also
brings
trolls
with
it.
Recently,
a
poster
of
Paltan
went
viral
and
that
had
largely
to
do
with
your
appearance
on
it...
I
just
laughed
it
off.
When
they
showed
me
the
poster,
even
I
pointed
that
out
to
them.
Actually,
everyone
had
shot
for
stills
where
they
were
looking
into
the
camera
and
away
from
it.
I
think
they
couldn't
find
my
creatives
where
I
was
looking
away
from
the
camera
and
ended
up
using
the
other
one.
People
saw
the
poster
and
loved
it.
I
am
glad
at
least,
some
kind
of
talk
that
happens
wherever
something
like
this
occurs.
Nothing
is
bad
as
long
as
people
are
loving
you
in
it.
Do
you
have
a
process
as
an
actor?
For
example,
there
are
a
couple
of
actors
who
internalize
their
own
emotions
when
they
play
a
character,
while
there
are
the
others
who
make
use
of
external
factors.
Where
do
you
fit
in?
I
come
on
the
sets
like
an
open
book.
The
director
has
to
write
in
it
whatever
he
wants
to
and
I
do
whatever
he
tells
me
to
do
so.
I
am
totally
a
director's
actor.
Then,
I
also
share
my
inputs
as
an
actor.
If
everything
falls
in
place,
then
those
characters
become
memorable.
I
think
it's
the
team
effort
and
obviously
when
you
are
on
the
same
page,
then
the
real
magic
happens.
How
much
did
films
influence
you
during
your
growing
years?
I
was
a
complete
movie-buff.
My
mom
too
used
to
love
watching
films.
I
thoroughly
enjoyed
every
bit
of
it.
I
am
glad
that
today
I
am
in
a
profession
which
I
grew
up
watching,
admiring
and
worshiping.
It's
one
of
the
most
toughest
profession
to
stay
and
survive
in
and
that's
what
makes
you
stronger
every
day.
You
recently
announced
your
second
production
with
PV
Sindhu
biopic.
How
is
that
shaping
up?
It's
pretty
good.
We
have
almost
completed
the
film's
fourth
draft.
We
are
still
looking
on
the
final
script.
Maybe
next
year,
we
will
plan
to
put
it
together.
How
do
you
see
this
trend
of
biopics
being
made
in
Bollywood
especially
when
it
comes
to
sportsperson?
I
think
sports
biopics
are
more
inspiring,
They
inspire
people
to
work
hard
and
achieve
new
goals.
These
films
are
stories
of
common
man
becoming
a
hero.
I
think
they
should
be
well-told.
Finally,
is
there
anything
which
you
would
like
to
change
about
Bollywood?
I
think
everything
is
fair.
We
have
the
most
disciplined
actors
and
directors.
There's
lot
of
fun
happening
here.