"I don't consider myself a model; I'm an actor" - Nakuul Mehta 
By Satish Sundaresan, May 31, 2008 - 12:54 IST
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The scientists all over the world are baffled over the 'discovery' of a new 'star'. And guess what! The 'star' has only been seen in glimpses and that too in the promos of the forthcoming film Haal-E-Dil. He is called Nakuul Mehta, yet another model-turned-actor who will be testing waters with this film. He is literally the Blue Eyed Boy, whose chocolate look became the talk of the town after his smash hit ad for Sprite. Bollywood Hungama spoke to him at length regarding his role in Haal-E-Dil and much, much more!
Nakuul Mehta…yet 'another star-in-waiting' in the world of Bollywood. How does it feel?
Of course I am excited, because, I never planned to be a model, it just happened. And you know what; acting on big screen is something that I always wanted to do. And modeling was probably a step into that direction, though not consciously for me. I have also done Hindi, Urdu and English stage shows in the past, for around three years. Stage was a step in that direction (towards films). I can today say that I am feeling great and that I am finally living my dream.
So, it was modeling that led to acting for the literal 'blue eyed boy' called Nakuul. What say?
It all happened with my first ad that I did for 'Sprite', that was directed by Satish Kaushikji, who, one day, had spotted me in the college and instantly offered me the ad. And I never planned anything in this direction. After the Sprite ad I got lot more ads. But since I was in college then, I started doing ads for pocket money and it was fun. I never really thought that modeling could actually lead someone to acting on a big screen!
I never really thought that modeling could actually lead someone to acting on a big screen
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But you have done stage shows, which must have served you as a prelude to the silver screen, in terms of confidence and stage presence.
In theatre, I have worked for directors like Om Katare (Yatri Group). Besides him, I have worked extensively with Mujeeb Khan, who owns a group called 'Idea', which works primarily on the legendary Munshi Prem Chand's stories, in which, I have worked as a lead actor on around 25 scripts. Besides him, I have done English theatre with Sanjay Shrinivasan in the play called 'The Dressing Room'.
'Models can't act', the statement that haunts every model, both wannabe' and established ones. What's your take on it? Are you planning to break this jinx'?
If you look at it from an outsider's perspective, you will get to know that it's generally said for ramp models, because, they are meant to be looking like that. I have done TV commercials, a place where one has to act and express, very much similar to what an actor does, so what if it's just for 30 seconds. In that way, I do not consider myself as a model, as I always considered myself an actor doing a 30 sec job, and here (in Bollywood), I'm going to do a three hour job. And since I wasn't doing ramp, that tag doesn't apply to me. And even if it does, then, I think that my first film should break that notion.
What was your family's reaction when you announced your decision of joining films?
I hail from a family that's totally non-filmy. My father is in the Indian Navy and because of that, I have traveled the entire country and have changed ten schools in twelve years, which is a record in itself. But the fact remained that my family always loved watching films, which was my only 'connection' to Bollywood. So, when Satish Kaushik spotted me, I always knew him as an actor, and was unaware of the fact that he was a director too. So, when I spoke to my parents about Bollywood, I was really surprised to know that they were very thrilled that I am about to step into a field that's difficult to break in. And since I was tad sure about the completion of my studies, my parents were very forthcoming about my tinsel plans.
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I don't consider myself as a model; I'm an actor doing a 30 sec job
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The point also remained that while I was doing my degree college, I used to take time out and I started doing stage. I think that is when my parents noticed the spark in me, which was very important to me. It was very important for me to get the approval from my parents. And after my first promo went on air, I wanted to see how my parents were going to react, whether they'd like it or not. Luckily, they did and that gave me lot of confidence.
Let's talk about Haal-E-Dil. Tell us did Nakuul happen to Haal-E-Dil, or is it the other way round?
What actually happened was that I had couple of romantic film offers before Haal-E-Dil also, but they all sounded like that they are going to make me the next star! The sad part was that the focus was not on the script. And as far as Haal-E-Dil is concerned, many things mattered. The first point is the producer of Haal-E-Dil also happens to be the maker of Omkara. It was also the script that worked for me. And when I heard my role, I just knew that I had to do this at any cost. I knew that I had to crack my audition for this role, and luckily it worked out well. When this script came along, the one thing that I realized that was that I can't be choosing my script and it's the other way round. And that is exactly what pushed me to Haal-e-Dil.
Did you get the jitters considering the fact that a Godfather-less hero was being pitched against two star-children whose real-life fathers have played 'God' to many?
It so happened when Haal-e-Dil was being made, I was the first one to be signed and that to before Adhyayan came on board. That way, I didn't know who the other guy was. That kind of gave me the confidence as to despite the presence of star-kids, they still chose to have a rank newcomer like me for the main lead. And truly speaking, there was no scope of feeling insecure because, eventually, when you come to the sets; you are a professional actor there. And if you are good at your work, you will get more work and if you are not, then, it doesn't matter whose son you are.
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If you are good, you will get more work and if you are not, it doesn't matter whose son you are
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The flip side of the same question. Amita and Adhyayan were rank newcomers while you were a known face. Do you feel that will work in your favour?
Though Amita was always in the picture, there was a guy who had to be casted opposite her. It was her film all the way as it was made keeping her in mind. The way I see this is the fact that I might be a known face, but people do not know me personally. It's like when I walk on the streets, people might give me a second look, but they don't know who I am.
Also that, all these days (since modeling) whenever I used to travel, the people around me used to call me as the '5-Star model' or 'Sprite's model'. With this film's promos on air, they are getting to know me the real Nakuul.
Tell us something about your character, Shekhar.
Shekhar is 24 years old guy, someone who is very charming and someone who has two loves in life, viz., music (he is big time guitar player) and women. He is a big flirt who has a line for every girl coming his way. But he is a good guy at heart, a zinda dil type of guy. Yet he is not your typical hero. When he comes on screen, he goofs up things and says the wrong thing at the wrong places. Yet he is a clean guy, who is very charming and people like to be around him and with him, yet he is immature somewhere. And Haal-e-Dil is basically a journey film and it's a story of how Shekhar meets the leading lady Sanjana at some point in the film and how life changes post that, including the way he looks at life. I think it's a story of a young immature carefree kind of guy to a young man eventually, yet his soul remaining the same. To me, Shekhar is the life of the film.
There is also a certain 'background' behind the name 'Shekhar'? Please share that with us.
My character is Shekhar and Amita's playing Sanjana. What's really interesting is the fact that till the last hour of shooting of the first day, my character was called Ajay, because my director (who also happens to be Ajay Devgan's cousin) is very close to this name. But my producer and Ajay Devgan wanted it to be Shekhar as they wanted to recreate the golden nostalgia of Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, where both of them (Ajay and Kajol) were called Sanjana and Shekhar. After we shot the first scene, Ajay called Kumar Mangat and told him to stick to the name Shekhar. That's how Shekhar and Sanjana were born. They were hoping that it works in the same way like Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha. Even I liked the name, as it not the typical Rahul or Raj!
How was it working with Adhyayan and Amita as co-stars?
Excellent to say the least. I know Amita more personally, due to the workshop that we had done together. She is very simple girl who is very spontaneous actor. She is very accommodating as a person. She went out of her way and she gave me those rehearsals even though she didn't need it, as she comes from a different school of acting. Frankly speaking, I couldn't have asked for a better co-star than Amita.
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Amita is very simple girl who is very spontaneous actor
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And with Adhyayan, we have done one song in the film together. What I know of him is that he is a great guy to work with and to be with. He has an excellent screen presence. I share a damn good rapport with him.
There are a million faces out there, just waiting to be launched in Bollywood. So, what do you feel, is the USP of Nakuul to make his presence felt?
I think more then Nakuul to 'stand out' there, I feel that it will be Shekhar who is going to stand out I think when film comes out!
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