I went into hiding: Sikander Kher

I am meeting Sikander Kher after years. He’s lost so much weight, he is almost unrecognisable. Lassi and vegetable sandwiches are laid out for us at his Juhu home. ‘Delicious’, I say, and he laughs. That’s because he hasn’t made them. That’s Siku (as his friends call him) trademark, wry, self-deprecating humour. The actor has been missing from the big screen as well as the social scene for quite a while. Now he is putting himself out there for the release of his next film Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive in which he has a double role. Here he talks about landing a role like Robert Downey Jr, getting an Texas accent and times when he almost gave up on being an actor.

Sequels are working now. Are you on safe ground?
Absolutely. I am really hoping that it works not just for myself, but everyone connected to the film. I am looking forward to at least one film that does well or is a hit. Who doesn’t want that? Everything is crossed — from fingers, toes and whatever else is crossable. It’s a funny film, and usually people like to see light-hearted and fun films.

You have a double role in the film.
Yes. I had great fun playing these roles. I always wanted to do a comedy. People close to me would always say that I should do a comedy. But I was always waiting for the right kind of comedy. Humour is something you just need to connect with, for it to translate well.  

I met Abhishek (Sharma, director)  in an editing studio and he gave me the one line basic plot and I was in splits! Abhishek looks so unassuming but he himself is a quirky, fun guy and the way he was narrating it, made me laugh. I connected with it and I said, ‘dude, if it’s a comedy this is what I want to do.’ He told me about two characters – David DoSomething, a white guy who comes to India on a secret mission  disguised as a Punjabi film producer. So David DoSomething, who is David Chadda, under disguise. This is a once-in-a-lifetime role for any actor and very tough for an actor. I was fortunate. People might not get a character like this in their own lifetime. I can only remember another film like this Tropic Thunder where Robert Downey Jr played a white and an African-American, so it’s rare for roles like this to happen. I wasn’t scared or worried to take it on. I knew I could so totally do this. 

Which David was easier to play?
The American one – it just came out naturally. I was comfortable playing the American part because I have been fooling around with accents my whole life – Russian, American etc. I have a Texan drawl in this film (he suddenly changes his accent into a Texan one). It’s like I do this. I like India and I do this since I was a very small child (laughs and switches back to his usual accent again). I kept watching a lot of Texan videos and movies. I had somebody who was helping me out. She would give me sound clips and some words like y’all and Gawdang it, for me to listen to. Once I cracked the accent automatically I found the character so the body language etc all came together.  I was concerned about playing the loud, Punjabi Chadda as I wasn’t getting the Punjabi accent. I didn’t want it to be OTT, though it should have been easier for me as I am a Sardar, my mom’s a Jat Sikh. We started the Punajbi workshops and then it just clicked. I don’t know if it sounds spiritual, but it all just comes from somewhere. This film is one where I really discovered myself. I feel that I can do and it’s what I am supposed to do. My life till now has not been filled with success so there have always been question marks – can I do it?

Looking back, was it a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket.
Maybe I am choosy in some respects, but I am really not that choosy if you see my past record. Sometimes, stuff doesn’t work out the way you plan it in your head you don’t get the best things that you probably want to get. I am not saying be a hero but the role has to be something I like. People are different at different times, at different ages in their lives going through different things. My life has been very out there. I have done a lot, seen a lot, I am a complete extrovert – so I had to also find myself somewhere, find my own groove…                   

Have there been times that you wanted to give up on being an actor?
Of course… I have gone through those dark times in the last few years when I was not signing films or getting the kind of roles I wanted… I am not saying I want to play a hero, but even the supporting roles I got were not worth taking up. There are days when you feel depressed and frustrated and ask yourself, ‘Did I make the right choice when I became an actor?’ But I am blessed to have such wonderful parents who have spent years in this industry. When I became an actor, they prepared me for the pitfalls that would arise and the struggle I’d have to go through. I think I am an optimist by nature and I have this tendency to bounce back. Today I feel there’s always a right time for everything. When the time is right, things will happen. That’s what made me survive those dark times. No regrets at all, because those experiences have made me what I am today – stronger with an irrevocable faith in the Universe. 

There was a big gap between your last film and next..
That wasn’t by choice. The kind of roles I got weren’t what I wanted to do. I hope with Tere Bin Laden people will get to know what I am capable of. It’s something I have put my heart and soul into… 

What was the toughest part of this film? 
Being American, I had to wear blue lenses and a mouthpiece so I had slightly protruding teeth. But giving up my hair was the toughest part…I went bald for the first time in my life. First we decided to use a latex bald cap over which I wore a wig. Then one day Abhishek said it wasn’t working and if could I shave off my hair? I flatly refused. I was horrified! How could I shave off my hair? Then I realized that it truly wasn’t working out with the cap. I agonised about it long and hard and figured it was a role I wanted so badly to do why couldn’t I shave my hair for it? I went home took a razor and did a buzz cut myself holding my phone as a camera and mirror. The next day, I went to a barber and asked him to make me completely bald.

Is that why you disappeared from the social scene?
Of course! I was not just bald but also fat. I became so unrecognisable that I went into hiding. I had to put on 16 kilos for the role. I ate everything! I used to go on 3 am binges. People would look at me with pity thinking here’s this actor who’s become bald and fat out of sheer frustration of not getting roles… (Laughs) I thought it better to be in hiding than give rise to speculation. Losing weight was tougher. I followed a diet and would walk 15 km every day till I lost what weight I had gained.

Most of your friends are married with kids… When are you planning to get married?
I guess it will happen when I meet the right girl.