Mumbai: Vicky Kaushal’s stars are currently shining bright.
The talented actor who impressed one and all in films like Uri, Raazi and Masaan has delivered again in Sardar Udham.
Based on the life of freedom fighter Sardar Udham Singh — who assassinated former Lt Gov of Punjab in British India Michael O’Dwyer to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 – the Shoojit Sircar-directed biopic has been much appreciated since being released on OTT platform last week.
However, like many actors who dreamt of a career in Bollywood without having a Godfather in the industry, Vicky had to struggle big time before getting a foothold.
“When you start giving auditions, aapko pata chalta hai ki aap kitne paani mein ho (you realize where you stand). Because you are competing with hundreds and thousands of people who want the same job… You go and stand in queues with hundreds of other actors. And actors who are very good actors and you’re sitting in rooms with some people who are doing a far better job than you,” Vicky said in an interview with Zoom TV.
“Sometimes, it kind of takes a toll on you and it really accentuates your insecurities and inferiorities. Then you have to keep surpassing that every day of your life till you get that job, you do good in that and then your confidence starts building up,” he added.
He went on to recall his failed auditions.
“What people don’t realise is that if I’ve cracked 10 auditions, I’ve actually failed in 1,000 auditions. I got rejected in thousand auditions but I got selected in 10 but what is visible is only the 10 opportunities that I got, and sabko lagta hai ki arey yeh toh aasani se mil gaya (everyone thinks ‘he got it easily’),” he said.
He knew he had no option, which kind of helped him.
“I knew I don’t have any safety net and if I fall from here, it’s straight on the ground because I have nothing in the pedal. So having no plan B also gives you a lot of strength,” he said, going back to his early years.
Vicky, who seems to be carving a niche for himself in patriotic roles, will be seen in another biopic Sam Bahadur. The Meghna Gulzar-helmed movie, based on the life of Indian Army’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, is currently under production.
Vicky has also bagged a superhero action film The Immortal Ashwatthama, to be directed by Aditya Dhar.
