Debutant Anirudh Tanwar and actor Amyra Dastur speak to The Quint about their latest film Rajma Chawal, being featured on streaming giant Netflix and making it in Bollywood. Directed by Leena Yadav, the film is about the generation gap between a son (Anirudh) and his father (Rishi Kapoor) who tries to forge a connection with him through social media.
Both the actors agree that the film’s concept is one that is very relatable. Amyra, who plays Anirudh’s love interest who gets caught between father and son, says,
The first thing I did after watching the film — I just called my dad and said, ‘I miss you, I love you’. I get that they have a greater struggle when it comes to social media. My father is 65 years old and he does not have that kind of knowledge. He doesn’t understand a smartphone completely yet.Amyra Dastur, Actor
Anirudh says that his relationship with his father was actually quite different from his character’s and more casual, but he has seen his friends and peers struggling when it comes to building an equation with their parents.
Rajma Chawal marks Anirudh’s acting debut. He was initially a commercial pilot and quit his job to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Speaking about his journey, he says, “It has been so hard, but now that the film is releasing on Netflix I feel like very lucky.”
The two also spoke about their experience working with Rishi Kapoor. Each has contrary reactions.
“I was very scared initially, and was worried that what if he thinks I’m a really bad actor. But he’s not intimidating at all. He makes it so simple. I would pray that every actor gets to work with him,” says Anirudh.
Amyra, on the other hand, was excited from the word go. “I relate to him because I’m a lot like him. He’s very honest and very positive. If you’re chill with him, he’s chill with you and I think Leena(Yadav) prepared us really well. So, it was great,” she says.
Rajma Chawal is currently streaming on Netflix.
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