Aamir Dalvi on Unlearning Acting for Kennedy: Anurag Kashyap's Quiet Direction
Actor Aamir Dalvi has opened up about his transformative experience working on the film Kennedy under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. In a revealing interview, Dalvi shared that the process required him to unlearn everything he knew about performance, embracing a minimalist approach that challenged his training as an actor.
Trusting the Silence: A New Acting Philosophy
Aamir Dalvi explained that Anurag Kashyap never wanted anything loud or dramatic from his performance. "At first, it's unsettling because as actors we're trained to fill silence," Dalvi said. "Here, he was asking me to trust it." This fundamental shift in approach marked a departure from conventional acting methods, where actors often rely on expressive techniques to convey emotion.
Dalvi recalled how Kashyap rarely over-explained scenes, preferring a more observational style. "Sometimes he'd just watch and say very little," the actor noted. "With sir, you slowly realize he wants the character to exist, not perform." This emphasis on natural presence over theatricality became the cornerstone of Dalvi's work on the project.
Creating a Disturbingly Real Antagonist
This unique directorial approach profoundly shaped Dalvi's character, Salim Kattawala, transforming him into a quiet but unsettling presence. "When you stop performing and allow stillness to take over, the character begins to breathe on its own," Dalvi elaborated. "That's when it becomes dangerous, because it feels disturbingly real."
Though this marks his first Bollywood antagonist role, Dalvi revealed that Kashyap never framed the character in terms of good or bad. "He only spoke about honesty," the actor emphasized. "If I'm going to be remembered for this, it has to be honest, even the ugly parts." This focus on authenticity over moral categorization allowed for a more nuanced and complex portrayal.
The Lingering Impact of Character Immersion
The experience had a lasting effect on Dalvi beyond the shoot itself. "There were days later when I was feeling heavy and unsettled," he confessed. "That's when I realized the character had entered me quietly, the same way he enters the film." This deep psychological immersion speaks to the intensity of the creative process under Kashyap's guidance.
Dalvi concluded with a powerful insight about measuring artistic success: "If a character leaves me disturbed and unfinished, I know something has been done right." This statement encapsulates the challenging yet rewarding nature of working with a director who prioritizes raw, honest storytelling over conventional performance metrics.
The collaboration between Aamir Dalvi and Anurag Kashyap on Kennedy represents a significant moment in contemporary Bollywood cinema, showcasing how minimalist direction can yield powerful, authentic performances that resonate long after the cameras stop rolling.
