Sidharth Malhotra started working in films as an assistant director in Dharma Productions’ My Name Is Khan, and debuted as an actor with Student of the Year, also a Dharma Productions project. Since then, he has had some hit films and some not-so-good ones. After playing an army officer in Aiyaary, he is now doing the title role in Param Vir Chakra awardee Capt. Vikram Batra’s biopic, Shershaah, bringing his professional life full circle, as it is being bankrolled by Dharma Productions, and his mentor Karan Johar is supporting him. Kiara Advani will be seen as Dimple Cheema, Capt. Batra’s girlfriend. The film, scheduled to release on 12 August 2021 on Amazon Prime Video, marks Vishnuvardhan's directorial debut.
Sidharth talks to DC about his experience in Shershaah.
QHow different were your roles as an Army officer in Aiyaary, Shershaah and also Mission Majnu?
They are very different from each other; Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done them. Aiyaary has shades of politics in the Army. Shershaah is set in the 1999 Kargil War. Mission Majnu, inspired by real life, is about a RAW mission in 1970.
QTell us about your prep work for Shershaah.
It has been a very long journey, based on so many aspects. I talked to Capt. Batra’s parents and the comrades he served with. He was good-hearted and loving, a focused leader and a fierce soldier I would say. Getting the technical side of being a soldier was difficult. I have a few emotional scenes and I hope people get the essence of what Captain Batra stood for and the sacrifices he made for our country.
QHas the film affected the way you see the country’s freedom?
People may keep saying we are not able to enjoy our independence, but we are the largest democracy in the world. We should be proud of that. It’s not easy to make everyone happy. When we go out of our country, we realise it’s very difficult for us to raise our voice as freely as we do here. Shershaah underlines the importance of Independence and of protecting our freedom. Our armed forces have faced a lot. They deserve our manifold thanks.
QHow much of the love story of Capt. Vikram Batra and Dimple will the audience get to see in the film?
Their love story is genuine. Their romance is inspirational and it will make one believe in that old school of romance. The most important aspect of their love is that Dimpleji believed that whatever she got from him was enough for her to live with for the rest of her life. She never married. She is living with those little moments that she shared with him. I have never met her. But I could gather that from their acquaintances who I met. We could have made a love story for two hours, but it is more about Capt. Batra’s role in the Army, it’s his martyrdom that we have focused on. But the essence of their love story is there, yeh ek pyaari love story hai. In today’s times such love stories are not found.
QHow was it to work with Kiara Advani?
We saw Kiara’s Lust Stories and we felt she has that genuine and earnest quality which we needed. Though she isn’t a Punjabi, Kiara has carried the Punjabi accent very well. She is an instinctive actor, while I prefer rehearsing a few times. She rehearsed with me and worked hard. The audiences have liked our jodi from the trailer and song that have released. We are waiting to see how our new pairing is appreciated after the release of the film.
QFreedom is priceless. When did you get a feeling of independence?
I was 21 when I landed in Mumbai. I was supposed to do a project but it did not happen. I felt like an alien during that phase. I was struggling to find a strong foothold. That’s when I realised the implications of independence - I had to make all the decisions myself in trying to strike a balance financially — paying my bills, locate a house to rent, food and miscellaneous. This was freedom in life but not in the most liberated way! Those were good days and the worst days, but I cherish them all.
