'I'm a man who's trying to make a plan'

New Delhi (PTI): "I'm learning to surrender now," said actor Sidharth Malhotra, leaving destiny to plan his career in films.

The Delhi-born actor, who recently completed 10 years in the Hindi film industry, said his entry into showbiz is the result of a plan that didn't work out in the first place.

"In my life, whatever I've planned has not really panned out within that time frame. I'm a man who's trying to make a plan, but eventually, I realised that God or destiny had other plans for me. So, I'm learning to surrender now," Malhotra told the top news agency in an interview in New Delhi.

In the late 2000s, Malhotra came to Mumbai, the home of Hindi cinema, to become an actor. He had successfully auditioned for a film with a prominent filmmaker, but the project never materialised.

"I thought I cracked it at such a young age. But that film never took off. So that plan did not work out okay. And then I was out of a job in Bombay," he said.

The 37-year-old actor added, "I was thinking that I'll make some pocket money in modelling and that plan only worked out for a few months. Then, I was out of a job again and struggling to survive in Bombay. I never planned to be an assistant director, but I became one. Life has taught me so much."

Malhotra served as an assistant director on Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol's 2010 movie 'My Name is Khan', directed by Karan Johar.

Two years later, Johar launched the actor with his 2012 directorial 'Student of the Year', along with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan.

Since then, Malhotra has had a whirlwind journey in the industry with both hits and misses to his credit. Some of his successful films include 'Hasee Toh Phasee' (2014), 'Ek Villain' (2014), 'Kapoor and Sons' (2016) and 'Shershaah' (2021).

"Hard work, blood and sweat" is how the actor would sum up his first decade in the industry.

"It's an extremely demanding profession contrary to what people think that we live a very glamorous life. It takes a lot to showcase emotions on screen and that too different emotions every few months," he said.

Sidharth added, "I have so many moments to be grateful for. Coming from Delhi and penetrating into an alien industry, leaving behind my family. I have to be grateful because I feel that wherever I would land up, it'll be a little bit more than where I started from."

Malhotra said he has grown both as a performer and as a filmmaker in the last 10 years.

"I feel the filmmaker in me has grown. The actor in me has learned so much. I feel I finally have a voice. I can voice my personality or my viewpoints now much better in the filmmaking language. Maybe because I was an assistant director, I have that 'keeda' (bug) in me to be creatively involved in other aspects."

The actor has also realised the true meaning of success, he added.

"I realised that the true value for any actor is when his scenes or films are remembered beyond time. When people meet me now and if they would tell me a scene from 'Hasee Toh Phasee' or 'Kapoor and Sons', that is the true wealth," he shared.

The actor added, "The number and the business aspect kind of fizzles out over the years. The true test for any actor is how many people remember your work."

Sidharth said his 2021 release 'Shershaah', in which he played the role of Kargil War hero Captain Vikram Batra, is a gift that keeps giving.

"With 'Shershaah', the kind of love I got and still get is extremely gratifying. It's something that makes me realise that this is what we are working for," he said.

About the work that didn't resonate with the audience, Malhotra said he has only drawn lessons from those films.

"I try to react instinctively to every script and every story. So, there are no regrets. I work equally hard for every film. The result of it is something that is obviously not up to me, which is the case in any creative field," he stated.

He added, "I've learned from those films as well. You learn more from the film that doesn't go your way because you introspect and try to do better. That's what I've strived for always."

Making cinema is a tough job, added the actor, as he believes even 'the biggest stars and the legends have also had days when they could not match up to the expectations'.

"I think that is part and parcel (of the job). It's more of the social media today that tries to make a mountain out of a molehill, but it's been happening since the word go, whether it's plays, songs or movies," said Sidharth.

He further said, "I initially used to be very sensitive. But over the years, I've matured to realise that it's part of the business. It also makes me realise that you can't take this business for granted. So, it keeps a person like me who's come from the outside completely on my toes."

Malhotra's last release was 'Thank God' and he will next be seen in two films: action-thriller 'Yodha' and 'Mission Majnu', a spy drama that will also star Rashmika Mandanna.

The actor will also make his OTT debut with filmmaker Rohit Shetty's series 'Indian Police Force'.