Anil Charanjeett has worked in films like ‘Singh Is Bling’, ‘Raees’ and ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’. The audience also remembers him as a man in the getup of Lord Shiva, who is chased by Aamir Khan in 2014 film ‘PK’. However, it was his acting as Chota Badariya in Netflix’s 2018 TV Series ‘Sacred Games’ that got him recognition. He went on to feature in A-list films like ‘Shershaah’ and ‘Namastey England’.
In his last film ‘Cirkus’, the actor collaborated with Rohit Shetty yet again for a comic caper after ‘Golmaal Again’ and ‘Simmba’. While the Ranveer Singh starrer did not impress the audience immensely, Anil’s role as Prem managed to tickle the funny bones of the audience. In a conversation with Outlook, the actor opened up on his Bollywood journey, his learnings from ‘Cirkus’ and more. Excerpts from the interview:
From smaller roles to bigger parts in ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Cirkus’, how do you describe your journey and what keeps you going?
I think my journey so far has been an incredible one because of the people that I have met along the way and the opportunities that I have fetched. From comedy to thriller and others, I have worked on projects in different genres. All these varied projects and different casts have encouraged me to become the best version of myself. Being a performer was always at the core of my heart, and my love for cinema is tremendous. This enthuses me to follow my passion.
How was it to work with Rohit Shetty again in ‘Cirkus’, and the film’s ensemble cast?
It's always incredible working with Rohit sir. One quality of his that cannot be overlooked is giving the utmost importance to his team. He gives equal chances to everyone. From the director's stance, Rohit Sir works on scenes until he is convinced that the audience will relate to and love them. Speaking of the other cast members, they are all outstanding and worth their salt. Ranveer’s enthusiasm is always on fleek and influences the mood of the entire set. I have learned multiple things from all the artists, but most importantly, I have acknowledged the primacy of teamwork.
‘Cirkus’ failed to perform well at the box office. How do you take a film’s failure when you did get recognition for your act?
Every character, whether small or big, has its own charm in the film, and since the film's release, I have received enormous praise. I'm getting calls from my friends and family who cannot stop appreciating my work, and fans, too, have surged my DM. So, believing that each actor is individually taking on some unmissable importance in the film, ‘Cirkus’ was a hit for me.
You’ve done a few comic capers. Are these the kind of roles you find yourself most comfortable in?
I have never believed in finding comfort in any particular role; rather, I have always been open to different types of characters. However, I can say that I love doing roles that help me bring out most of my creativity and acting skills. There is a lot of interesting writing happening in the industry, and I'm hoping to get something intriguing soon.
Finally, how do you pick a role?
I'm picky when it comes to choosing a role. I want to be sure that the script is interesting and that the role that I'm playing is relatable. Because if it's not, then it becomes tough to play the character rightfully, and even the audience wouldn't enjoy it.
