Success is just around the corner, but I don't want to rush into anything.
Arfi Lamba
My role in 'Slumdog Millionaire' was a cameo, but it did expose me to cinema and took me to Cannes. I then did 'Prague,' which was a very niche film.
As I look back and connect the dots, all I want to do is go back and hug my scared young self, who took a lot of steps out of impulse not knowing what will happen. So many nights of disappointment, so many others of being disillusioned where I would have just gone ahead and quit it all - I still do not know what kept me hanging in there.
Before acting offers came by, I dabbled in theatre under the aegis of the late thespian Dinesh Thakur. He was instrumental in honing my acting skills.
I think I was born to be an actor.
The actor in me can never die. It's my first love and first dream. That's what keep me going.
There have been a bunch of Indian films in English that found an audience.
Everybody in my family is very well educated. I'm probably the only one who is not a double post graduate.
'Slumdog' initiated a chain of events like going to Cannes and being invited to the Cairo Film Festival, which changed my perspective of cinema and of being an actor forever.
I had travelled to a lot of cities in Europe before, but Prague was special. It held a mysterious attraction for me for during the time I was there.
We all do role-play. Sometimes behind the camera, and sometimes in front of it. I am the few lucky ones who have been able to wear both hats and especially have been able to romance the camera in a believable way, and I hope that this romance between us never ends.
I was very shy as a kid, but films fascinated me a lot. I think every North Indian kid wants to grow up to become an actor at some point. I hail from a small village in Punjab.
I arrived thinking I had these amazing looks and body and that I would straight away land the lead in a Yash Chopra film. Those fancy ideas got quashed soon enough.
A good story needs equally good talent to foster it.
Akshay Kumar is like a guru. He made a mark in the industry without any godfather. Akshay sir is a superstar only because of his hard work and talent.
It is all about playing a challenging role, and whether a film is a commercial one or not does not really matter.
In 'Fugly,' I play a very middle-class guy with whom anyone can relate. At the same time, playing such characters is not as easy as it sounds.
After joining theatre, I started thinking that acting in films was not half as challenging as theatre.
When I didn't become the quintessential Yash Chopra hero, I got into the 'struggle' period and became negative.
As a true-blue Punjabi, I have learnt to tackle disappointments, especially since I have no godfather in the industry.
I've been a protected child, but I moved out for further studies when I was 16, and I have travelled quite a bit by myself.
Making independent films is liberating. It eliminates self-censorship, which mainstream films are infected with due to commercial priorities.
Some independent Indian films do so well at these festivals in Europe and in the United States that when they come back, India just cannot ignore them.
Labels are actually not to make us understand things better: they are actually to ostracise and discriminate that what does not belong to the majority.
I left my cushy job as an engineer in New Delhi in 2008 to pursue acting in Mumbai. I figured roles will start pouring in as soon as I landed in the city, but my bubble burst quickly.
One of the biggest regrets I have in life is not getting an opportunity to work with Yash Chopra.
I am glad that I could be a part of a film that tackles Islamophobia.
As an artist, I will always give art more importance and preference than pure entertainment.
