‘Padmaavat’ actor Jim Sarbh who essayed the role of Malik Kafur in the film was praised by everyone. It was a vital role to portray. The actor did not expect such of the appreciation that he has been receiving from everyone. He also stated that he has learned a lot from Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
The actor said, “I don't expect too much. You know it is such a huge film and I hadn't seen the film so I was as nervous and excited as anyone else. I was waiting to see how the entire thing had come out because I did not particularly shoot with Deepika or Shahid. With Shahid for just one day so I did not know how their side looked like and how ours fitted with it. I did not know what was edited and hence, I was very very excited. Now that it is out, I am overwhelmed with the response. My mind can't just comprehend just how many people are watching the movie. I guess the other four people (actors) are used to this but I am really not, so my head is just reeling with pleasure and gratitude and it's like heaving a huge sigh of relief that all the hard work has paid of.”
He further talked about the whole experience on working in the film, “It is definitely an experience which is very instructive, fulfilling and makes you learn a lot of things. The best part about working with Sanjay sir is the number of things I learned. I learnt about the beat of a scene, that every scene has a beat and you have to come in on it and slightly play around it but until you know and get the beat, it is impossible.”
He further added, “I enjoy that he really pushes you deep, to go and find the potential and hidden layers in the scene. I think his eye for details does not just have to do with the backdrop and the costumes and sets, it also has to do with the quality of the performance and I think if he sees that you are capable, he will push you till you do your best or he gets the thing he wants and I love that.”
Talking about his character he said, “I had auditioned the part without having read the script and then they told me that Ranveer had suggested me for the part. I got really excited and eager to read the script and then when I finally read it, I was very excited to play this character. To me, the character had so many beautiful interesting qualities to sink your tooth as an actor and to really find a way to express all of them. He [Malik Kafur] is a deliciously, wicked, sultry big black panther kind of a character and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alauddin is a huge tiger, a lion and Malik Kafur is like a panther who slicks around by the side. I felt like Malik Kafur is the only one who understands Khilji. Like it is said that only a snake can understand the love of another snake.”
The actor was all praises for Ranveer Singh, “I really enjoyed working with Ranveer Singh. I think he is, as he puts it, an absolute delight to work with. As a co-actor, he is extremely reactive and responsive. He always brings energy and ideas and new ways to do a scene and often I would leave the sets after a gruelling long day, after having waited for a long time and many retakes but I would still leave the sets feeling alive which can only be felt when two actors (you and your co-actor) are in perfect symbiosis and are striving to reach a kind of peak that you know the scene has potential for. Ranveer Singh gave me that opportunity and I don't think a miracle always strikes but with Ranveer Singh as your co-actor, I always thought we were creating a hospitable environment for a miracle to come and stay with us. That to me is rare and beautiful quality in a co-actor and if u get it, you should hold on to it. He is a superb, superb guy.”
Talking about if he had any restrictions he said, “I had no reservations. I think that this question is unnecessary. The way we played it without thinking much, the same way the questions must be. Not emphasizing the risk but instead emphasizing the normalcy. Nothing completely depends on the character.”
When asked about the Afghani accent he had for his character he said, “Well, I think, Sanjay Sir wanted him to be like a foreign Afghani gift so I had a dialect coach in addition to an Urdu dialect coach. The first time I heard it I almost had a heart attack that I had to do that kind of accent but I am glad that stuck to it.”
Talking about the songs in the film he said, “Arijit Singh has really done something special with the song and I was just trying to sing it with the same power he was singing it with. He did all of the work, I was just trying to follow it. As it is I never a lip-synced a song in a Bollywood movie before so I was already nervous. (laughs) I remember Sanjay Sir hearing the song after Arijit sang it and walking around humming it and he saw me and turned around and said 'actor's nightmare', lip-syncing the songs and I was like 'Oh My God'. Memorizing the song and singing it are two different things. Whenever there was cut to take and the music would cut out and I tried to sing it loud and oh it was horrible. (laughs).”
Credits: Pinkvilla
