EXCLUSIVE: If I can’t remind you of MS Dhoni in the film, I wouldn’t be convincing - Sushant Singh Rajput

Sushant Singh Rajput will next be seen in Neeraj Pandey's M.S. Dhoni - The Untold Story. The film shows the journey of the Ranchi boy who faced a constant struggle between the aspirations of his parents and his own dreams of playing cricket. How Dhoni first became a T.C. in Indian Railways and eventually moved to professional cricket, forms the crux of the film. 

In a candid conversation with Pinkvilla.com, the Kai Po Che actor talked about how he prepared for the film, how he met MS Dhoni for the first time and much more. 

Excerpts from the interview: 

1. Sushant, you're playing the titular role in your upcoming film, M.S. Dhoni - The Untold Story. Was it challenging for you, as Dhoni is the most famous, loved and successful skipper of India? 

By challenging if you mean that was I nervous before signing the film and while doing it, I was not. Every time I choose to do any film or preparing for it or shooting for it, I am a very selfish actor. I just think about myself so there are things that I understand and there are somethings that I don’t understand, and in order to understand what I don’t understand, I do it. That’s the reason I do it, it keeps me excited. It’s only when we finish shooting for a film, I think that people should come and watch it. I want to keep doing these kinds of films. If you are investing your time, then it better be good and then you have a sense of responsibility. Otherwise, till then, I am not worried.

2. Was MS Dhoni available to help you, whenever it was required? 

Not, whenever it was required. I was training for this film for good 12 to 14 months. During that period, I've met him thrice. It was in three phases actually. Whenever I was free in between those days and I structured the preparation in that way, that I was not wasting his and my time. The first time I just asked him to tell me his story. He was talking and I was just listening and recording things. The second time was when after four and five months went into preparation, I was asking him questions and he was answering. And also I remember, I came up with some 250 hypothetical and multiple-choice questions that what if this happens what will you do and he was not allowed to think through, so it was just his instincts. And the third time, when we met, was just for the script so that we know this has happened. 

3. How did the film come to you and how was it working with Neeraj Pandey? 

He just called me once and then Neeraj met me for some 20 minutes. I was surprised that Neeraj went by his instinct I guess because he had not seen my films. He said yes in 20 minutes flat and he asked what all I need to prepare for the role. It was just because I had to look exactly like Dhoni while batting onscreen. I realized that I had to act good in the film and also play cricket well. And if I can’t remind you of Dhoni, I wouldn’t be convincing. Then I asked for a coach and got Kiran More who was the ex-wicket keeper of India and also trained MS Dhoni after he made his debut, so he was training me for a year. And the thing with Neeraj is that he is immensely clear and he writes his own script, so he knows everything right from the first day of the shoot. He knows the background score and he knows where to cut the film and at the same time, he trusts you as an actor. He would let you be. It’s a very strange and beautiful amalgamation. It was great working with him.

4. Kiara Advani is playing the role of Sakshi Dhoni in the film. How was it working with her and were you comfortable shooting with her from Day 1 of your shoot or did it take some time?

Thankfully for this film, I structured the preparation and I had time. So, before the start of the shoot, I was Dhoni in my head. I was completely Dhoni and I was not pretending to be him. Kiara and I never had a reference and Neeraj also breaks things down in very simple and doable things for you. Disha was completely Priyanka for me and Kiara was Sakshi. It was just that (giggles).  

5. Have Dhoni and Sakshi watched the film? If yes, what was their reaction, especially Sakshi?

I don't know about Sakshi, and if she has, I was not there. But yes Dhoni has watched it. He was very moved by it and he didn't say anything for about good 20 minutes and smiled all through. And then we met for the trailer launch, and since he's promoting the film. It means that he really loved the movie. And also I remember, four or five months into the preparation, when I was meeting in Ranchi, I showed him my training video, he was looking at it with a smile and it felt like magic.

6. Can you now say that you can also play cricket really well as you have practiced it now? And can you talk about some off-screen moments which you would cherish all your life?

Of course! Talking about those 12-14 months of preparation, the last two months I was not training and I was playing matches with under 19 professionals. They knew it that I was an actor, but I scored a lot of runs. So I would like to believe that I play well.  The off-screen moment was when we met for the second or third time in Amby and I had been a big fan. I remember I was in my first semester in college and we had our semester exams and I bunked that just because of the India-Pakistan match. I walked out of my college and went to a pool joint which had a TV. I saw him for the first time and he was full attitude, swag, and long hair and he made 140 runs! In 2006, another match was happening in Mohali and I did everything to get a picture. And here I was, when I was supposed to meet him and he had to answer my questions, and in between our conversation I asked him, 'how do you hold the bat' and he is teaching me his style and I'm just looking at him. And I was like this is for real. 

7. From playing Manav in Pavitra Rishta to now playing Dhoni, how has the journey been for you? 

Dhoni would be my 53rd character which includes theatre, TV and films. I couldn’t talk for the first 19 years of my life and was a big introvert. I couldn’t communicate. I would think something but couldn’t express. The first time I was with Shiamak and dancing, I realised that I could communicate through art and then I tried theatre and I felt that I could fit here. People would come and pay to watch me and I could move them emotionally and that was a magical feeling. That’s why I do it and it has stayed with me throughout. So if you give me more money, I’ll keep it.

8. You made headlines because of your breakup with Ankita Lokhande. Were those reports affecting you? And at the same time, there were rumours that you were dating Kriti Sanon and speculations about you and her were all over. How were you dealing with it? 

Of course not, because that's what you do. We tend to be someone else and that's why we are actors. We are trained to fool you. I have Teflon coating for it and I know there's nothing I can do about it. Initially, I used to get affected when I just joined the industry, but then very quickly I realized that there's nothing I could really do about it and people who hire me do not take care about these things. So, what I did was that I didn't have newspapers coming in my house and I don't watch news channels on TV, so I don't get to know until someone comes and tells me. And if I feel like it's right to reply, then I do.

10. Before you, only Shah Rukh Khan had made a successful transition from TV to films. Did that play on your mind? 

Yeah, people used to tell me that right after the first film. When we were promoting Kai Po Che, they used to tell me that nobody from TV has done it after SRK and now it’s you. This is what we are trying to say through this film too, that no matter from wherever you are. It doesn’t matter. 

11. Is there anything in particular about Dhoni you got to know while shooting for the film? And you have met Dhoni’s daughter Ziva too, how was the experience? 

He doesn't take himself very seriously, but he takes his work seriously. He's very clear and very excited about his work. He is not there in the future and he's not living in the past and when you're like that, you just enjoy the moment you are in. Talking about Ziva, she is so cute that I can't tell you. It took some time to become her friend, but I did my best and last time I remember when I went again, she remembered me. So, it's a good thing and I'm improving.