Actor Aniruddh Dave has been in the industry for quite some time now and after doing some great tv shows as a lead, he wants to make his mark in films. The talented actor will be seen in Kartik Aaryan’s much waited film Chandu Champion directed by Kabir Khan.
Sharing the journey for this film Aniruddh says, “For any actor, the character they prepare for is important, but more important is how they reach it. For this, I would give credit to Mukesh Chhabra’s casting company. When they received the brief, they thought of me and called me up. They wanted a fine actor for this role. It’s a Maharashtrian character, so they mentioned that a lot of hard work would be required. I prepared by seeking help from many people, including my friend Shweta and one of our house helps who is a Maharashtrian. For 10-15 days, I read the script and familiarized myself with the language and lingo. Then, I got a call saying they wanted an audition the next day. I didn’t even know if they would get back to me, but I received a call saying Kabir Khan loved my audition and was very happy. The happiest moment was when Mukesh Chhabra’s casting team called up and told me ‘We found our Jagan.’”
He adds, “Jagannath is a character who plays an important role in this biography. After the look test and everything else, I found some similarities to make myself relatable to the young Jagannath. Initially, I was very nervous; during makeup, I couldn’t even sit still when Kabir sir was going to meet me. Later, he came and appreciated my work. When a director’s expectations from an actor increases, it is a great chance to prove one’s craft. Kabir Khan is a lovely person. It was an experience to work with such a large unit of around 1,000 people. I had to give my 100 percent and prove myself. The real victory is in managing nervousness and confidence at the same time and proving oneself. There are small nuances and a mental setup an actor has for a scene. The way Kabir sir gave me the gist, was an amazing process. I kept rehearsing, and it was really good. Directors like Kabir Khan are exceptional and I will be ever thankful to him for giving me this opportunity.”
Aniruddh also shares his experience of working with Kartik in the film. He says, “When I met him, he didn’t know about me. From the very first meeting, he talked about his journey and the scenes. He was very cordial. We used to discuss the scenes together, and there was a point when the camera was about to roll, and Kartik asked me how to say “getting up and sitting” in Marathi. I told him I didn’t know as I am not Maharashtrian. After the scene was cut, I told him I had prepared for my character. The entire unit thought I was a Maharashtrian actor. In my introduction, I said I knew Marathi because I knew the language, the lingo, and the accent required in Hindi films, and I can work with it. They wanted to cast a good theatre actor for the role who was from a Maharashtrian background. I feel blessed as playing with different accents and languages is my forte.”
On Kartik, Aniruddh further adds, “This film would be the biggest film for Kartik Aaryan, and he deserves it. It’s not just about his physical appearance and transition; that was the character’s demand. But the journey of the character that Kartik played is extraordinary. It’s a masterpiece. The combination of Kabir Khan and Kartik Aaryan is amazing, and they will create magic with this film.”
