Actor Ashwath Bhatt, who featured in ‘Khuda Hafiz 2’ and ‘Sita Ramam’ last year, is awaiting the release of his next ‘Mission Majnu’. The film, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, will premiere on Netflix on January 20.
In the film, which is helmed by Shantanu Bagchi and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Bhatt will be seen as General Zia ul Haq, the ex-dictator of Pakistan. In a recent interaction with Outlook, the actor opened up on his role, and what makes ‘Mission Majnu’ different at a time when the spy-thriller genre remains well explored. Excerpts from the interview:
1. Tell us more about your character in Mission Majnu, and what made you take it up?
I am playing General Zia ul Haq, the ex-dictator of Pakistan in ‘Mission Majnu’. This is the first time I am portraying a real life character. The whole challenge of playing a personality like Zia is very intriguing as an actor. The journey of finding the inner life as well as outer appearance of the character is such a fulfilling thing for an artist.
2. Don’t you think the audience has seen a slew of spy-thrillers in recent times. How do you believe ‘Mission Majnu’ is different?
The genre can be similar but what makes a film different is the story. I agree there have been many spy thrillers lately but all of them have a unique USP. ‘Mission Majnu’ is placed in a period when a lot of transitions were happening in the sub continent. The post Emergency period in India with the first non-Congress government. at the centre, while Pakistan was taken over by another brutal round of military dictatorship. This is a story of a non wartime espionage mission; a very interesting part of recent political history.
3. How do you pick and choose a role, especially being part of an industry that takes no time in stereotyping?
The stereotyping/typecasting has been a major problem for a long time. But now it's happening in a very systematic manner with the advent of casting directors. Most of the time everyone wants to play safe and get the casting jobs done. If you ask a casting director why are you throwing the same stuff at me again and again? The answer you get is that the director or the production head wants it. But I have great respect for ones who take risks with new talent and also bring fresh roles to established actors.
I say no to a lot of things that are offered. But then as an actor you want to work, so I primarily look at the role and whether it excites me. I ask myself if I can do something new in this character. Sometimes I want to work with a particular director and certain compromises are done but not at the cost of my artistic integrity.
4. Lastly, apart from ‘Mission Majnu’, what else are you looking forward to?
I am eagerly waiting for the release of IB71, also starring Vidyut Jammwal. It was amazing working with the director Sankalp Reddy. Currently, I am busy filming Shivam Nair's 'The Diplomat' with John Abraham. Few more exciting things are in various planning stages.
