L anguage was never a barrier for Sonu Sood. When most young actors limited themselves to Hindi films, Sonu spread his wings in the South. A known name in Tamil and Telugu films, before he made an impact with commercial tent poles like Dabangg and Happy New Year , Sonu is on a high after working with Jackie Chan in Kung Fu Yoga. He is part of Indian cast of the Chinese master's new venture and is playing a baddie. Here he talks about how commercial films help an actor, how different is working in an international film and learning action from the master himself.
Excerpts:
How did you get involved in Kung Fu Yoga? Did Jackie Chan watch any of your films before he met you for the film?
It is a wonderful feeling of achievement. I still have that message saved which Jackie's team had sent me for working in the film and I will always keep it with me. Also, the production team cited that it wanted an action hero known for fitness in India and asserted that my name always used to pop up in their discussions, so that was a very proud moment for me. Yes, he had watched Dabangg and Happy New Year , which he told me that he enjoyed a lot, which was a big compliment for me.
The perceptionabout youchanged after Dabangg. Do commercial filmshelp an actor in gaining visibility?
When the film goes to public and they love your character...actors always run for those special moments when the masses are talking about the film. The main task of any actor is to get a platform to showcase the true capabilities and then only people will get to know that he/she is capable doing that. Because of Dabangg and Happy New Year , Kung Fu Yoga happened and when Kung Fu Yoga will do well, I can get some other international projects as well. This is the power of commercial cinema, as we say it, that it has a reach and it gives visibility that no other medium can provide. But for me, every film is a step for the special role which I am still waiting to get in future.
How important was itfor you to do a negative character or acomic role,as it wasa shift from your earlier action hero image?
Different roles challenge you as an actor as they test the capabilities and at the same time viewers also witness something different from what they expect. It is fun doing different characters as each time there is an excitement for new which will not be the case if I do similar roles. As far as image is concerned, people today are very intelligent and exposed to different kind of cinema and they do not expect mundane things on screen so, in order to keep them curious, one has to try different kind of roles. It is not you who choose a role but it is role that chooses you.
Your association with regional cinema must have helped you in achieving thatdynamism.
Yes, a lot, as regional cinema teaches you how to work in different environments and a different set of people which open up the mind. I was just an engineer when I came to the industry. I learnt all nuances while working with directors from regional cinema and I believe every actor should do roles in different languages as it helps in fine tuning the approach towards acting.
Are kung fu and yoga synonymous in some sense? How as a fitness icon you see the amalgamation of both art forms with cultural anchors?
Yoga is an ancient art form which is now popular around the world but India always remained the centre of its practice, which in a way places India on a global map as a health conscious country. As an art form, both do wonders. As I practice both these forms and surely as we actors from China and India have worked together if both these forms are practised together, it can result in a very positive way for good health. As a person who loves to remain fit, I want to convey that it is very necessary for us to remain in good shape not only for ourselves but also for our family.
How different was the experience ofworking in China and learning action from the master himself?
Shooting there was fun as all co-actors were very professional, especially the action part. They are very quick in it. I got to learn a new level of action with Jackie Chan who is a great teacher and his stunt team is among the best in the world. As far as the difference in economics, there are many, as the budgets are huge, the number of eyeballs and coverage is enormous. The film is released in 15,000-16,000 screens in China alone and it is a global industry in which India can be a part as more people are interested in Indian market now.
Also, you are distributing thefilm in India...
I am learning the trade as I am new to it and I tried to get as many screens as I could for the film. We have dubbed the film in four different languages for a wider audience. I have started the venture in the name of my father who recently passed away and I want to make him proud through my work.
