In addition to the audience, Sunil Grover is excited to see himself in a different avatar in Tandav. The actor, who rose to fame with his comic avatars on television, is expected to play the cunning, ruthless character Gurpal in the original Amazon Prime Video series. Grover is seen playing the most reliable man of Samar (Saif Ali Khan), who has a dangerous and mysterious history.
In a separate conversation with indianexpress.com, Sunil Grover talked about breaking out of his comic image, working on multi-stars, collaborating with director Ali Abbas Zafar and more.
Extracts from the conversation…
Tell us something about Tandav and your career.
First of all, I feel very happy and lucky to be a part of this beautiful show. It is a work of fiction based on the world of politics. Gurpal Chauhan has a very different role from what you saw me doing but I can’t say much about it.
As for Tandav, everyone is running to achieve power and the chair, and the show gives us an insight into what exactly happens behind the curtains. It’s a real drama but when you look at it, you realize that it’s very human, and that’s when you connect with it and connect with it.
Breaking out of your comedy image or working with such a famous star – what was more interesting to you?
Honestly, I never came even if something like this came my way. Ali called me and I was excited, because it was a new world for me. What made me even more confident was his confidence that I could do something like this. This was a list of things I didn’t want to do anymore for a long time. And because Gurpal is a very different part from what I did, or was offered, Tandav was inspiring to me. The team is absolutely amazing, and I had an amazing time working with them. It is always a rich experience to be with such good actors. I can only hope that the chemistry can translate well on screen, and the audience enjoys seeing it.
When working with such a large team, does the fear of being lost in the crowd ever creep into your mind?
There is no fear. Instead of thinking of getting lost I take it as a great opportunity to be a part of something so wonderful. That’s an amazing thing for any actor. Also, one should trust the script and the makers. Gurpal is a very defining character, standing on his own. Since it was so new even to me, I’m sure the audience will pay attention too.
Most of your views seem to be with Saif Ali Khan. How did the experience work with him?
Yes, Gurpal belongs to the same party as Samar Pratap Singh (Khan character). It was amazing to work with him. He is such an enthusiastic, passionate actor. Saif has done so much work but he has the energy of a new person. He knows the script and is always prepared. Also, I remember, even when others would shoot for their close locations, he would stay around to give ads. That was very sweet and kind to him. I never felt like he was such a profound actor, who has seen the world. His new approach to his work was a learning experience for me.
This is your second collaboration with Ali Abbaz Zafar. How did he work with it again?
It ‘s so painful, there’s no change in that (laughs). It’s always lovely to work with him because he’s so talkative and easy to go. You can always have a healthy conversation with him. He is calm but has a lot of fun with his team. Also, Ali has a good knowledge of his script and designs them before he comes on set. Therefore, it will be very easy for actors to achieve his vision. Having worked with him earlier, I also share a strong trust feature with him, and I know that whatever he does will be good for me, and for the project.
What aspect of student politics do we see in Tandav. And what do you think of it?
The show will showcase the power game, and how students and politics at the center engage in an interesting way. For me, I never understood politics then, and I don’t now. I have always tried to recite them and their speeches, and I still do the same. However, I feel that the seeds of politics are entering at this stage, and we can all hope that power reaches the right hand. That’s how they train to become future world leaders.
The teaser had a conversation- Iss desh ko ek hi chiz chalati hai, rajneeti. Aur jo pradhan mantri hai wahi iss desh ka raja hai. Will there be any mention of the current government?
No, Tandav is completely immersed in the world of fiction. There is no mention of a political party. The line you are referring to was said through a character view. Neither the show nor I, personally, believe in the same thing.
What does Tandav mean to you?
It is a form of dance, which is very aggressive. And we all use it as a metaphor for describing something that creates damage. In the demo, you can see how the game of hunger to achieve power leads to a dance of agony.
If you had the chance to play a political figure, who would you choose?
If you ask me to copy someone’s approach, I can do it but I’d like to play a fictional character. Just that the story and character should inspire me. However, if I can get the case ahead in a biopic of our historical heroes and leaders, I would do so.
In 2020 the website featured amazing content. As an actor, to what extent does the medium motivate you?
It is a new medium that is growing very fast. Also, there is a lot of freedom, creatively and with time. A maker can tell a longer story, so it gives actors a better chance to play their characters. However, keeping the audience’s attention for such a long time is also a big challenge. It’s a challenge mostly for writers, and then of course the actors and the director. Over the last couple of years, we’ve found some mind blowing content and achievements, and I hope you all enjoy Tandav as well.
Digital media has recently been placed under the I&B Ministry. Do you think he can restrict his freedom?
We need to follow new rules that come our way. Personally, I feel that something should be left to the liking of the audience. They know what they want to see and should have a choice. There is, of course, some content that can cause tooth decay in our society but other than that, I think stories that bring about change should be well encouraged. Stories that reflect the mirror of society, and help to get positive thoughts. I think there were a lot of topics that were taboo but through a web series, it became a dinner table discussion. And that is what we need right now.
Produced by Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Ali Abbas Zafar, the nine-part political drama also features Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Gauahar Khan, Amyra Dastur, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Kritika Kamra, Sarah Jane Dias, Sandhya Mridul, Annup Sonii, Hitten Ttejwani, Paresh Pahuja and Shonali Nagrani among others. It will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from January 15th.