All eyes are on SonyLIV's upcoming series titled Rocket Boys. Starring Ishwak Singh as Vikram Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Programme and Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha, the father of India's nuclear power, the Abhay Pannu-directorial will premiere on the OTT platform on February 4. The trailer of Rocket Boys garnered much attention and it is one of the most anticipated shows of the year.

Ahead of Rocket Boys' premiere, PeepingMoon spoke to Ishwak who is playing Vikram Sarabhai. In the exclusive interview, the actor opened up about why the extraordinary stories of the two men who created history while building India’s future need to be told to the younger generation. He also spoke about getting the nuances right.

Excerpts from the interview:

What was your first reaction when you were approached for Rocket Boys?

I was thrilled. It has everything that an actor wants to do. You get a chance to work with incredible people and it has the kind of writing you like the writing you like. When you get everything in one show, you know that it is special. I have so much to do in Rocket Boys as an actor and that got me excited. When you play a real-life character, you get to meet people, read books and understand who that person was.   

Your pairing with Jim Sarbh is one of the show’s highlights. What was the kind of bonding you shared with him off the cameras?

It is not disconnected; there was nothing like on-camera and off-camera. You cannot get disassociated because you work with an actor for a long time. Rocket Boys took a long time because of its scale. It is not disassociated but intertwined. It was a great learning experience and I got a chance to work with some amazing actors, filmmakers and writers.   

The trailer has received a thumbs up. Does that add more pressure to match up to the audience’s expectations?

I've done my job. There is neither pressure nor too much excitement. I do this for a reason and I have done it in the best possible way. I gave it my all. I am waiting for people to watch and enjoy it.  

You play Vikram Sarabhai. What were your reference points to play the role?

There is enough material on him so I read a lot about him. There is a wonderful biography written by Amrita Shah titled Vikram Sarabhai, a Life. The Sarabhais are on board so the writers consulted them. It is not just a reference point, it was like doing an entire thesis on him.  

What was your understanding of Vikram Sarabhai before you were approached for this part and how did that change after Rocket Boys?

I was marginally aware of him but after the show, I got to know what kind of a person he was. There were several takeaways. There are things that are available in the public domain but the family can only share insights into a person's personal life. The show is relevant because the audience will get to know what were his interpersonal relationships and many other things that shaped up Vikram Sarabhai’s life. It will assure us that if he can do it, so can we.   

How much did you have to go beyond the script in order to play him?

You never go beyond the script, the script sends you to places. When I say it is a well-researched script, it has cues in it that may make you pick up the phone and call someone who knows the family and ask certain questions. It is an integral work that you do and not go beyond the script. 

Why is it important to tell the story of Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha now?

People will resonate with what these incredible men did in impossible times. Whether it was war or lack of resources, they achieved it because of their education, beliefs and spirit to do something for their family, community and country. 

You took up the responsibility of telling the stories of India's Rocket Boys to the young generation. What measures were taken to make the character as authentic as possible?

It is not like a mannerism-shopping mall where you pick up certain things to meet certain objectives. If you approach it honestly, through your own method, you achieve all of it. There is so much information available on the internet for the common man to look up to and get educated. 

Did you have it in your mind that you have to look and behave like Vikram Sarabhai? 

If you know the mindset of the person you are playing and find the character within, you end up being close to the motivation of the writer and story. I look similar to him, that's why I was cast. We had a great team who made me look and behave more like him. You need to understand the beliefs of the person and his motivations, the rest just follows.