Amit Sadh: “I’ll be open about whatever I do in life”

Amit Sadh has recently seen success with Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma starrer ‘Sultan’ (2016) in which he played a pivotal role. Having been in the industry for over half a decade, Sadh is an actor who has played a variety of roles. However, with ‘Sultan’ being his most recent offering and possibly the one which could change his career forever, Sadh got candid in an exclusive interview.

BizAsia‘s Showbiz Editor Amrita Tanna caught up with the actor while he was in London recently.

Firstly, a big congratulations to you on the success of ‘Sultan’. It must be an amazing feeling?

Yes, I’m a star now. You know there’s a line in the film that goes “Hey can’t you see where I’m going?” (laughs).

Despite ‘Sultan’ being a Salman Khan film so it would have a certain reach, did you know it would be this big?

I knew the movie would be this big, because I know the effect Salman sir has, and I also knew that from the script and story it would be a very inspiring film, through the blood and sweat everyone was putting into the film. But when you’re filming you don’t expect it to be this big. It was very overwhelming. It’s big in a different manner. The way it has touched lives, and I always used to say, even to Salman sir, that this is his Rambo and Rocky, and I’m just very privileged to be a part of an Indian film which has Salman Khan in it.

You’ve previously mentioned that working with Salman Khan has changed you, how has that happened?

It’s changed me for good, it’s just shooting with him and working with him has been life changing. Even just understanding his process of life, his classes on acting, his take on things just helped me be more clear. As a growing actor very new to the career, to the profession we do have certain notions or confusions, and working with him just simplified it for me. That manner has been life changing.

Would you say that, at any point throughout your journey with ‘Sultan’, you have been shaped as an actor?

I would definitely say so. I’m at a pivotal point in my career. As a human being I feel much more confident than maybe I did in my previous films. That’s one of the main things I’ve learnt from him, is to be yourself rather than trying to stage something else. The confidence the film has given me, the confidence with the success of the film has given me, I’m sure is going to brew my future and the next set of films and roles that I will be doing.

This is your sixth year being part of the Industry. Would you say that there has been a time where you’ve struggled?

You know, I’ve finally realised the struggle will never end. The forms keep changing, first it was to get a part, then the struggle was to get a bigger part, then it was to get the film then make the film, then release the film. Now I have a few films that are ready for release, but now I’m struggling with that. So yes I’ve have a struggle with getting the right parts, but I think that makes the journey more beautiful. It makes my passion and my hunger for my craft more meaningful. To be honest I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Though you’ve said there is a struggle at every stage, would you say after ‘Sultan’ you now have an ideal role that you hope you can get one day?

I’ve actually simplified things more for myself, and as an actor and as an artists I’m just going to react to stories and to characters, and whatever touches me. As well as stories which I feel will touch people’s lives, which will help me and inspire me in making them and telling them, will be the roles I will pick. You can not calculate or plan what happens next, you can only hope, and I just hope and desire I get good parts, more challenging parts.

Do you have any thoughts about what kind of legacy you’d like to leave as an actor?

This is too far for this thought, I have many other thoughts to worry about than leaving a legacy behind. I think Michael Jackson has left a legacy behind, Mohammad Ali has left a legacy behind, right now I’m just getting inspired by the legacies they have left, and from others who are creating and leaving. For me right now it is about soaking in the sun, keeping things simple, trying to make it as an actor and a human being. Be more, learn more, seek more and just hope that I get more work to showcase my talent.

Are there any directors that you feel you really want to work with?

I really want to do a movie with Imtiaz (Ali), I think he’s one of the finest directors we have, so I definitely want to do a movie with him, but there’s so much talent all over the world. There’s so many great actors, so many good stories, I’m greedy I want to be a part of great stories. I want to play a part in greats films. Today if my character or my acting has been appreciated it’s because of a powerful story. So I do hope to be a part of such great stories, and I do hope I get to do another film with Salman sir (laughs).

Do you have any regrets looking back at your six year Bollywood journey?

I don’t have any regrets in my entire life. It’s been a great journey of ups and downs, and where it has got me today, mentally, physically and spiritually, like I said before I wouldn’t have it any other way.

With that said, have your friends who have known you since before entering the Industry ever said that you’ve changed in the last six years?

I do hear that a lot. I hear it every couple of years, I think I’m having another breakthrough. I happened to meet Mr Amitabh Bachchan for the first time a couple of days back and had a great conversation about acting and how this is the only profession that allows you to evolve and I’m very honoured and privileged that I can be an artists. That I can learn each day and express and evolve. So I do hear that, I hope they mean if for the good when they say I have changed. I mean change is inevitable, change is for good, and I hope the change and every success I have leaves a good residue, then it has meaning.

Have there been any moments where you’ve had to pinch yourself?

I don’t pinch myself, because that for people who don’t believe or know what they want. I do in wanting all my hope and dreams to happen soon, but eventually they will. I just have to keep working and keep believing, and this is the message and this is what I tell everyone to just keep dreaming.

In terms of friendships in Bollywood, some actors and actresses have said that it’s difficult to maintain a friendship in Bollywood. Would you say the same?

I think to maintain friendships in life takes a lot of effort whether it is Bollywood or whether it is films, anywhere in the world. Friendships take a lot of effort, and all people, all friends who are ready to put in that effort and who have right intentions their friendships survive the test. So primarily it doesn’t have to be films or not films, and I have struggled with my friendships in the past, I have tried building the bridge with a few, where you have to let it go but you learn. It is a great aspect of life where you learn how to bridge your relationships because they are important. I’m learning that in life and I think I’m getting better in that too.

You’ve revealed in the past about being in a relationship with an actress.. If it were to happen again where you fell in love with a co-star or another woman in the industry, would you be as open about it?

I’ll be open about whatever I do in life. Forget a relationship, anything I do i will be open. But I’ll never hide something like a relationship. Why are you in a relationship and you want to hide it? You don’t have to go to rooftops and shout about it, but I will never hide my relationship. Why hide it? If I’m ashamed of something I will not do it. Everyone wants to have a private life, but I wouldn’t hide the relationship. If I am with someone then I’m with them.

What would you like the future to hold for you professionally now?

Get more films, more fans, more love. Yes more films, more characters, I want to see myself on the screen more (laughs). I do have a couple more films coming soon and I’m hoping they do well. We live with a lot of hope and it’s good.

What would you like the future to hold for you personally?

For me, personally, more peace. That’s about it.

BizAsia would like to thank Amit Sadh for taking the time to talk to us.