Aditya Rawal, the son of veteran theatre and film personalities Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat Rawal is all set to make his acting debut with Ranjan Chandel’s directorial debut Bamfaad. Aditya has blown everybody with his screen presence in the trailer of Bamfaad which is a web film that will stream on Zee5 this Friday. Aditya who has taken formal training in scriptwriting, as well as theatre, has all eyes on him with his digital debut film.
Bamfaad also stars Shalini Pandey in the lead. Jatin Sarna and Vijay Varma play pivotal roles in the film. PeepingMoon.com got in an exclusive conversation with Aditya. From choosing a web release over a theatrical one to the advice his father Paresh gave him, Aditya spilled the beans on his personal and professional understanding of the vast film industry.
Excerpts from the chat:
Coming from a family of renowned actors, why did you choose to debut with a web film and not a mainstream one?
Neither my parents nor I planned to get a proper ‘launch’. It was always about working hard and if something good comes your way you make the most of the opportunity. As for a web or a theatrical release, for me, the most attractive thing about Bamfaad was the script, the character and the people I was working with. For a film like ours, we have made it with a lot of heart and soul and wanted to ensure maximum reach. A platform like ZEE5 which has amazing content has given us an opportunity to put out our content at a time when people are looking for things to watch.
How have your parents been involved in your training, especially your father?
I have been a part of the world my parents belong to. I’ve always enjoyed watching a good film with my father, attending my parents’ rehearsals and watched their plays 15-20 times. I have consumed a lot of good art in that sense. I have been into the process of creation whether it is film or theatre. As far as formal training goes, I did three months of physical theatre. I also did theatre at the London International School of Performing Arts. Then I went to New York University Tisch School of the Arts and studied dramatic writing, playwriting and scriptwriting. My parents weren’t formally involved but they are always there to guide and advise me. If I need anything, they are always at hand. Being in the same industry, they have always supported me and that goes a long way.
Has your father played a key role in strengthening your foundation as an actor? Any advice he gave you?
My father has never been on the sets or neither attended workshops. He met Ranjan sir (director) much after we actually finished shooting. He never had a hand in the process. As far as tips go, of course, he gave a lot of advice. I do prepare a lot before I start playing a role per se. So, the one thing that he told me to keep in mind is that it is great to prepare but it is important to unlearn all of that. You can be spontaneous.
Does the nepotism cry affect you?
Nepotism is a part of every business, not just films. It is in every field. But that said, there are huge advantages to having my parents in the same industry. My parents have had great success in this industry that I am about to enter. Through their guidance and advice, the access I get to people, it is often very hard to even meet certain people. I am fortunate enough to be in a place where I get to meet them and once, I am across the table; it is up to my hard work and talent as a person. But that reach is immense and I am grateful for that.
Tell us about your character Nasir Jamal from Bamfaad.
What attracted me about the film is the character, Nasir Jamal - he is different from what I am in real life. I am a Mumbai boy and because of football, I could see all four corners of India, meet all kinds of people and got a chance to go abroad for studies. Nasir is born in Allahabad and his personality is very different from my own. His way of speaking, carrying himself, reaction to certain situations is dramatically opposite to my own. As far as the character is concerned, in terms of adjectives, I would say he is ‘bamfaad’, highly assertive, uber-confident and an explosively dynamic character.
How is the feeling to be an Anurag Kashyap hero?
It is amazing. Honestly, it feels surreal from the moment I got the part to now. I still pinch myself because Anurag Kashyap sir is an absolute institution. Films like Black Friday and Gangs Of Wasseypur were something I swear by. I always dreamt of working with him. It would be amazing if I get to work with him in the future.
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Bamfaad also stars Shalini Pandey, Vijay Varma and Jatin Sarna. How was your experience shooting with them?
It was great. We were on the sets where most of them were either newcomers or starting out their journey. Not just these three but all of our co-actors were wonderful. Each one of them is talented and has done a great job. As far as the three go, they are a pleasure being around. Jatin bhai is an actor who makes the most of the moment. Vijay is a fabulously talented actor. He has got a sense of power. He does things that are imperceptible in person but when you see it on the camera, it is amplified manifold. Shalini is spontaneous. She is in the moment. Working with them was an enlightening experience. It was enjoyable and also made my performance much better than it could have been otherwise.
How was your experience working on your first web film? How did you land the role?
Every step in the process was a new experience. It was exciting and emotional. The film started off indirectly 5-6 years ago when I did an audition with Taran Bajaj who is the casting director. I was much younger for the character than what they were looking for. But Taran bhai remembered that audition when he read the script, he thought of me and called in for an audition. After coming on board, we started with the workshops, I went for the recce with the team to get into that space and get the milieu right. We came back to the workshop with all the co-stars locked. By the time we went on sets, we were primed and ready to go. We had somewhat transformed ourselves into the characters we were playing. Then it was all about going out there and making the best film we could.
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What’s next for you on your plate?
I have a couple of things lined up that I am very excited about. I’ll be happy to talk about them as soon as I am allowed to.
Your film is releasing during the Coronavirus lockdown. Do you think it will manage to get the desired response as people are now confined to their homes?
It is such a traumatic time for everyone. As artists, we are nowhere near as important as medical workers, sanitation workers and essential businesses are. The best we can do is provide the audience with things to watch, something that could entertain them. In that sense, we are very happy that we are able to put this out at a time like this.
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