Aparshakti Khurana Makes Tamil Debut with ROOT After Decade in Bollywood
Marking a significant career milestone, actor Aparshakti Khurana is venturing into Tamil cinema with the film ROOT - Running Out of Time, directed by Gautham Ram Karthik. This move comes a decade after his Bollywood debut in the blockbuster Dangal in 2016. In an exclusive interview, Khurana revealed that his decision to collaborate was influenced by seeing promising rushes from a web series by the film's director, Sooriyaprathap.
Overcoming Language Barriers in Acting
Opening up about the unique challenges of performing in Tamil, a language he does not think in, Khurana explained, "It's difficult to enact in a language that you are not thinking in. I had to think in English, translate it, and deliver the performance. This process changes your impromptu behaviour and certain reflexes." He emphasized that there is no shortcut to mastering an unfamiliar language, describing it as a mix and match of various processes. Despite the extra effort required to learn Tamil in his 30s, he expressed confidence that audiences will perceive his performance as natural and fluent.
Embracing Cross-Industry Collaborations
Khurana expressed enthusiasm about the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, where boundaries between regional industries are blurring. He stated, "I'm extremely happy about the blurring of boundaries between industries and artistes working across languages. When audiences have started accepting all sorts of languages and cinema, why shouldn't we artistes also be cast from one world to another?" He believes this trend benefits everyone involved, from actors and directors to writers and viewers, fostering creative diversity and excitement.
ROOT: A Distinctive Filmmaking Experience
Describing his work on ROOT as a "fine experience of filmmaking," Khurana shared that while other Tamil scripts had come his way earlier, this project stood out. He praised the talented cast and crew, noting that the film is extremely different from what I've done so far. His positive experience has already led him to explore another Tamil script, indicating a growing interest in South Indian cinema.
Reflecting on a Decade Since Dangal
Looking back at his ten-year journey in the film industry, Khurana became nostalgic, recalling the overwhelming praise for his debut in Dangal. "It feels like yesterday that it all happened. Dangal hit the screen, and my years of hard work were finally seen by everyone," he reminisced. He holds vivid memories of pre-release screenings, dubbing sessions, and the overall production process, highlighting how that breakthrough role shaped his career.
Upcoming Projects and Personal Favorites
Khurana is currently busy with multiple projects, including his first action film, Gunmaaster G9. He also has Badtameez Gill releasing this year, a story about a dysfunctional Punjabi family co-starring Vaani Kapoor, with Paresh Rawal and Sheeba Chadha playing their parents. Additionally, he is shooting for Side Heroes, a film on friendship alongside Abhishek Banerjee and Varun Sharma.
On a personal note, Khurana shared his newfound love for Chennai's cuisine, particularly idli and filter coffee, which he now prefers over other options. He also expressed admiration for South Indian actors and filmmakers, listing favorites like Raj B Shetty, Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, and directors such as S.S. Rajamouli and Mani Ratnam. His wishlist includes collaborations across Kannada and Malayalam cinema, praising the innovative work of talents like the Shetty trio and the versatility in Malayalam films.
