Friday, November 15, 2024

‘I’ve dealt with false accusations and rumours as well’

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Actor Ashmit Patel, who is currently enjoying the responses he’s been receiving for State v/s Ahuja, gets candid with The Pioneer, sharing his hiatus days, insights about the project, and more.
Tejal Sinha
A much-awaited comeback! Actor Ashmit Patel marked his acting return with the currently streaming State v/s Ahuja on Watcho. A gripping web series helmed by Tarun Chopra, the series follows the story of Bollywood star Ansh Ahuja, who faces rape accusations by his maid. But is it a comeback? Because for Ashmit at least, during our exclusive chitter-chatter, he says he isn’t quite sure if this period could be labelled as a comeback. However, it’s certainly been a brief hiatus of a few months to a year since his last film release.
“It’s been even longer, perhaps a couple of years, since my last series aired,” shares the star. However, just a couple of months ago, “I did make an appearance in an episodic show on Jio Cinema. Each episode showcased a different story with various actors, so it wasn’t exactly a complete break from the screen. Nevertheless, if you’d like to call it a sabbatical, I suppose we could. As for my feelings on the matter, it’s hard to say. I’ve been continuously working throughout this time, staying busy with shoots and other commitments. It’s just that many projects have faced delays. In the interim, I managed to complete two other feature films, both of which are now in post-production. I recently finished dubbing for one of them, while the other was wrapped up last year. Hopefully, both of these films will see the light of day this year. Interestingly, another show directed by Shoib Nikash Shah titled Scammy Boys was released on Zee5, marking two consecutive releases.”
Oh, so we are really looking forward to what Ashmit has in store for his viewers. And no doubt, he was very preoccupied during his ‘break’ days.
Well, just like how every actor has some or other factor that they considered while selecting a project, in this case, it was the script and the character, making it a no-brainer for him. However, “When I met the director, Tarun Chopra, his clarity and passion while narrating the script to me, along with his insights into the character, truly resonated with me. It felt like he was someone I wanted to collaborate with. We clicked, and our rapport was excellent. I believe that synergy between the actor and director is crucial to creating a high-quality product. Additionally, working with the producer, Suresh Thomas, was a natural choice for me. He has been an old associate of my dad from his time in the music business with Crescendo Music and Crescendo Films. Now, he has ventured into the production of shows and movies. I’ve known him since I was a child, and theres a longstanding association there. It was satisfying for me to be able to work with him after working with my father in the past.”
The show offers a glimpse into the world of actors. It explores their challenges on the personal and professional fronts, the persistent rumours around them, the issues they handle, and the complexities of striking a balance between the advantages and disadvantages of leading a public life. And so he reveals, “I’ve been through another situation, not exactly the same, but I’ve experienced some of the ups and downs that actors commonly face, such as dealing with rumours and false allegations. I’ve had my fair share of challenges in the past. So, I’ve experienced this rollercoaster of emotions that I just have to navigate through. Drawing from those experiences obviously helped. Even if one tries to overcome all those feelings and emotions, a part of them still lingers, and I still carry those memories. So, it was relatively easy for me to tap into those memories and confront whatever emotions were necessary for specific scenes that required a high level of emotional intelligence.”
Going ahead, during his self-imposed hiatus, he delved into music production and devoted his attention to his company, Ashram Collective, which is now his primary focus. “While there’s always some concern about financial stability when choosing to work less, my DJing gigs help sustain me. For me, it’s not just about survival; it’s also about engaging in the creative process to keep myself mentally stimulated and avoid negative thoughts. While there’s no pressure, I do aspire to explore new avenues, perhaps in business, leveraging my educational background in that field. So, I’m keen to broaden my horizons and delve into new ventures while continuing to pursue my passion for music,” he says, adding that he did take a couple of acting courses, although they were more like brief workshops lasting 2-3 days each.  Despite their brevity, “I found them valuable. Additionally, I auditioned for a few ad films and regularly read scripts. So, even though I may have declined some roles eventually, I remained engaged in the process of character-building and considering how I would portray various characters in scripts. My mind is always active in this regard. I’m also an avid people watcher, constantly observing and noting down certain qualities and idiosyncrasies of individuals. I keep these observations in mind, as they may prove useful for future roles. In essence, my brain is always working, even during my break period.” That makes it crystal clear that for him, it’s not just about survival but also about “engaging in the creative process to keep myself mentally occupied and maintain a positive mindset. Therefore, there’s no pressure to solely stick to what I’m currently doing. I’m eager to explore new ventures. With a business degree and educational background focussed on business, I aim to channel my efforts in that direction and expand my horizons further.”
But again, looking at the other side of the coin, he has also been the younger brother of the renowned actress Ameesha Patel. Does that bring in some sort of pressure, we wonder? Well, not at all, he says. “I’ve always maintained a clear distinction between my public persona and my identity, and I believe this is evident to everyone. I don’t rely on or exploit my public image in any way. So, there’s no pressure on me in that regard. I’m content with the way I’ve built my career and life independently, without depending on anyone or anything else.” Negativity, undeniably, is something one faces in daily life, especially for celebrities, who are in the public eye most of the time. How do you deal with negativity? We ask him, and he immediately shares by avoiding negative content and focusing on positivity. “I’ve cultivated a feed that uplifts and inspires me. On my profile, I strive to spread positivity, encouraging others to prioritiSe their physical and mental well-being. Consequently, I’ve been fortunate to receive mostly positive feedback. However, negativity is prevalent elsewhere, such as on television and in the news. To maintain my mental well-being, I refrain from having newspapers delivered to my home and avoid watching news channels. While I stay informed about current events, I prefer not to dwell too deeply on the negative aspects.
This approach allows me to maintain a balanced perspective without feeling overwhelmed by negativity.”
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