Mention the name Sushant Singh and you instantly remember his brooding and intense role as Sukhdev in The Legend of Bhagat Singh , recently in Rakht Charitra and as Jinna Bhai in Don Seenu . He is one of the most underrated actors in the industry today who quietly but surely casts a spell in every supporting role he takes up. His foundation in theatre is clearly evident when you watch him perform. “I think I have done well for myself, considering that I have no PR machinery to handle my work and I have never had to approach any director requesting for work,” says Sushant Singh, in a candid conversation.
The actor, who hails from UP and made Mumbai his home, is excited about his forthcoming film Char Din ki Chaandni . For once, he gets to steer clear of his intense image and try his hand at comedy. “It is Samir Karnik's (who gave us the laugh riot Yamla Pagla Deewana ) brand of comedy. I believe Samir was hesitant to approach me for this role, unsure of whether I would agree to take it up. I am so glad he offered me this part. I play a character of a man who is always angry, with no rhyme or reason, and his ‘intensity' and ‘seriousness' causes unintentionally funny situations for those around him. Each character in this film has a character quirk. I enjoyed doing this caricature of an intense man,” says Sushant. The actor, obviously, is tired of being slotted into intense roles. “Yes I am. I am glad to finally break free of this image. In my forthcoming untitled Telugu film with Ravi Teja, I play a villain who has a funny side to him,” he says.
Sushant is now a known name in Telugu films and the actor is basking in the recognition. “I feel so happy when people come up to me on the sets, when we are shooting in the interiors of the state, and call me Jinna Bhai,” he laughs, referring to the character he essayed in Don Seenu . He is quite at home in the Telugu industry as much as the Hindi film industry, states the actor. “As an UPiite, even Mumbai was not home ground for me. I was an outsider, not belonging to any film family. I am certainly proud of what I have done so far, and it's only hard work that can help an actor establish himself in a new industry,” he says.
Sushant Singh will also be starring in Nana Patekar's directorial, which will be a sequel to Ab Tak Chappan . He rues that he doesn't get to do serious theatre any more. “There is not much of an audience for serious theatre. Some of the productions that I've been part of performed only 18 to 20 shows and that too were sporadic. So movies are my mainstay now. I have plenty of years of acting left in me,” he signs off.
