For someone who never wanted to be an actor, Dhairya Karwa has been spoilt for choice. Dhairya is still in the nascent stages of his career but has managed to bag some vastly different roles. One was in Uri, where he played Captain Sartaj Singh Chandok. The other was in 83, with an ensemble cast that recreated the iconic moments of the Indian Cricket Team winning the World Cup. Both roles were physically intensive and required him to look a certain way to do justice to the characters. Needless to say, he delivered. But his latest offering, a relationship drama by the brilliant Shakun Batra, demanded something completely different from Dhairya. He didn’t have to be buff or work on his physique, rather he had to delve deep into the layers of the character Shakun had sketched — a lazy writer who, like most creatives, dives into his world of stories and forgets the one he is living in.
To understand how he made the leap, we got in touch with him. Excerpts from our conversation are below:
How did acting happen?
There was actually one defining moment in my life where I thought I would never, probably, act ever again. I was in class three or four when my teacher forced me to act in the play for the school’s annual day. The auditorium was packed. And in the final act, me and my co-actor broke during this very intense conversation where he thought it was my line and I thought it was his turn. It obviously wasn’t the best day.
But years later, I did move to Bombay to do the unthinkable. Before that I was working in a corporate firm because I wanted to get some work experience under my belt. After which I had planned to take my entrance exam for GMAT, CAT, et cetera, find a good business school and go pursue my MBA. That was the plan.
And where did you grow up?
I was born in Jaipur, then I went to Welham Boarding School for years and then did my graduation from Sri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi. My grades weren't bad but I got in through the sports quota. I played basketball a lot. I have played Nationals in basketball. And after I graduated, I started working in a multinational firm. But soon I realized that a nine-to-five job is not what I want to do. So I thought let’s just go to a business school. But all along this point, when I was studying, I used to watch films and see posters and think this could be me. My friends pushed me initially to try my hands at modelling. So one fine day I decided to just put in my papers. The initial few months were great. I came here with an open mind to just explore what the city has to offer to me. When I tried my hands at acting, I was terrible in the beginning. I used to start hyperventilating as soon as I came in front of the camera, but you slowly get used to it.
You’ve done some very physically intensive roles in the past but your role in Gehrayiaan was a major departure from them. How did you prepare for it?
I was very new to the whole filmmaking process during 83 and Uri, but by the time Gehrayiaan came to me, I knew what happens on a movie set, had worked with a few big actors. The environment, which was so conducive and very comfortable, where everybody was equal and treated so nicely, with so much warmth, I could perform. I have a blueprint — read the script, understand the writer and the director's vision first, how are they looking at it? Shakun is very collaborative; he will listen to you and introduce your opinions as well in the script. My character in Gehraiyaan is like that one guy in every group who's always taking it easy. Takes it a day at a time. Doesn’t plan too much and doesn't stress about things. I am a little like that in real life, and then you also look at your friends and try to borrow some of their traits. Shakun told me to go easy on the weight. He didn't want a writer to be buffed. A writer is always on his desk, will have a certain posture and stuff like that. All of that really helped.
Was any of it overwhelming for you?
Yes, of course. But you know I gave so many auditions before getting the films I wanted. Sometimes the auditions lasted for a month. I'm a big admirer of Shakun’s work. So before auditioning, I saw his films. When I auditioned for Gehraiyaan, I had a good feeling about it from day one. But even when you get it, it doesn't sink in that what just happened with you is really big. This film ticked all the boxes. It doesn't get better than this. Everyone on set made it very comfortable for me, really. All credit goes to them. It has nothing to do with my confidence, but it's got everything to do with their warmth and them being big-hearted.
You've just started your journey in the films, so what kind of roles are you looking for? Do you have a five-year-plan?
I just follow one plan — a good story, a good part. That's all. It has to be just a good part. No genre specific, nothing. And what do I bring to it? How am I impacting the story? All the other factors play a part too, but primarily it is just the story. I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of stories which have been loved unanimously by everyone. I've been fortunate to be able to work with some of the finest actors. There was just so much to observe and learn by just being around them. My job was to grasp what they have.
Text Hansika Lohani Mehtani
Date 11-02-2021