As the 25-year-old Vivaan Shah, son of actors Naseruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah strikes a conversation with MetroPlus , he particularly stresses that his identity is something that the public, and not he, decides for him. The three-film old actor who grew popular with his roles in Happy New Year and Bombay Velvet , realises his body of work is too small for him to talk about a particular image. "The situation is more of a film and an opportunity choosing me now," he says.
He’s on course to finish his part for Mastan , a gangster film that’s expected to release in 2016. “It has a lovely script and is based on a true story,” he chips in.
Beyond films When not acting in films, theatre, something he grew up with, keeps him occupied most of the time and at the Mumbai LitFest, he takes a turn as a director for a play titled ‘Comedy of Horrors’. “I’ve been planning this for a long time but was waiting for a right opportunity to strike my way. It’s absolute hard work grooming yourself well with literature, art and cinema,” Vivaan states.
He went through a lot to get here, he insists, “These days, (especially in Mumbai), you see everybody wants to become a play-director. And it’s not easy, mind you! I was to direct a play last year too, with the number of productions around, the logistics just couldn’t work. I’m very grateful to see this opportunity unfold,” Vivaan just can’t stop gushing.
The four lead actors in the play, Shiv, Joy, Gemini and Rensil are someone, whom he grew up idolising and worked extensively with, in a lot of Shakespeare’s adaptations including Julius Caesar.
The genes factor Seeing his profile, the spur of talents he’s housed with, you can’t deny the genes he’s inherited from his parents and some from his brother Imaad Shah, an actor and a musician too.
“I have really learnt a lot from them. The pressure is on my side to make them proud with whatever I do,” he says about his parents.
Vivaan feels more responsible to succeed. The conversations in his home and the dinner table don’t necessary revolve around films though none of them shy away from analysing the other’s works.
He hasn’t undergone the grind in theatre and films in any popular training school. “It’s the surroundings that have fed me more intricacies of filmmaking, acting,” he knows.
Working with big names Moreover, the three movies he’s done to date have had the involvement of Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj and Farah Khan. Getting to work with them so early in his career was such a high and he’s grateful for every moment that he got to spend on those sets.
“I got to learn a lot about the craft with the makers. All the three have different methods in ensuring their results. The range of it all was extremely fulfilling,” Vivaan’s gleam of satisfaction in his voice, says enough.
Experts talk a lot of how theatre and cinema are quite different, but Vivaan is yet to recognise it. “Theatre is more continuous, intimate and you must still carry on when you make mistakes. Cinema is technical and gives you another chance. But, otherwise, I am yet to wake up to any marked distinction between the two,” he avers.
Boyish charm The actor sports a boyish charm on his face, though he may not acknowledge it. He’s quite cool about it though as he replies, “I’ll leave it to others to keep analysing things and say about me.”
All that works in his mind and he’s immediately conscious about is doing quality work in both theatre and cinema.
