In sync on and off screen: Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal

Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal banter back and forth about their beginnings in the industry and playing lovers in Manmarziyaan

Friends on set: Actors Vicky Kaushal and Taapsee Pannu are familiar with each others lives as actors

Just before our interview starts, actors Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal catch up with each other on their day of promotions for Manmarziyaan at the Eros International office in Andheri. “ Action director [Sham Kaushal] ka bachha hoon ! (I’m an action director’s son!)” Kaushal explains to his co-star about why he was jumping during his photoshoot. Now, Pannu manages to make fun of him between peals of laughter for “looking clueless” as they pose for a few more pictures, this time together. This seems to be a running theme throughout our chat – each questions serves as an opportunity to pull the other’s leg.

In character

As they talk about their film, a messy love story revolving around three characters, Kaushal stresses, “They are the same person. She is Rumi.” Pannu disagrees, but it seems possible that she shares a lot in common with her impetuous character. Reminiscing about things she has done for love, Pannu shares, “I’ve flown to a different country to meet someone for the first time ever. And [when] someone tried to cheat on me, I was so vindictive that I made sure the guy thought twice before coming in front of people after that.” At this point Kaushal turns questioningly to her, his eyes wide. “I had told you about this,” she tells him, “I had printed out his chat and highlighted it.” Kaushal interjects with, “I’m telling you she is Rumi. In this film Vicky [his character] has gotten a lot of slaps from her. It’s an action film!”

Describing himself though, Kaushal says he is a dull guy. “Vicky Sandhu is my alter-ego. He is the guy I would become when the world is paused and nobody is watching me,” the actor shares before breaking into an impromptu performance of Bee Gees’

Stayin’ Alive as the character takes over for a moment. “That’s why I loved the process of Manmarziyaan where a director like Anurag Kashyap said ‘Beta , unleash.’”

Career paths

The two actors are clearly familiar with each others’ lives, but while discussing how they began acting, Kaushal is surprised that Pannu is a software engineer by education. “You didn’t know that till now?” she asks, shocked and possibly hurt. “ Itna bolti hai! (You talk so much!)” he jokingly retorts. Continuing, Pannu admits that she realised she wanted to join the film industry, only after her first few films released. “I never thought I could pretend to be someone else,” she says. But while taking a year off to prepare for an MBA entrance exam, Pannu decided to take on a few film offers she received while modelling. After a Telugu film, Jhummandi Naadam (2010), the actor went on to star opposite Dhanush in Tamil drama Aadukalam (2011) which bagged numerous National Film Awards. She debuted in Hindi films with David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor (2013), but her next film – a small role in Akshay Kumar-starrer Baby (2015), along with the success of courtroom drama Pink – paved way for a spin-off on her character two years later with Naam Shabana .

Kaushal’s story is similar. Only six years old in the film industry with critically acclaimed films like Masaan (2015) and Raazi (2018) and the massive hit Sanju (2018) to his credit, he had initially made the “usual” progression to study engineering. But during an industrial visit it dawned on him that he didn’t belong in that environment. In contrast, performing had always loved being on stage. “I was the shy and quiet boy who used to love being lost in the crowd, but the stage gave me the freedom to explore,” shares Kaushal.

Evolving audiences

This year has been packed for both the actors – Manmarziyaan is Kaushal’s fifth release and Pannu’s sixth, including their performances in short films – and they believe changing audience sentiments are fashioning an exciting time in the industry. “The audience wants to be surprised,” says Kaushal, “and even if you do a scene in a film that works [for the audience], they will Google you.” Here Pannu cuts in to add, “That’s why someone like me got a film like Naam Shabana because of a 10-minute role in Baby .” Kaushal wraps up saying, “I think the audience is evolving in a beautiful way, [and] that has given power to writers to [develop] unconventional stories and new worlds.”

Once the interview draws to an end, the two sigh and dramatically bid each other farewell. “ Sakhi (companion),” Kaushal yells after Pannu who is leaving, “ itna hi safar tha saath mein! (We only had this much of our journey together).” It’s then odd to see them straight-faced as they move on to their remaining interviews.