I’ve learnt to be a self-directed actor’: Jim Sarbh gets candid

After making his big-screen debut as the menacing terrorist in Neerja (2016), this year, Jim Sarbh has impressed moviegoers with his villainous acts in Padmaavat and Sanju. However, the success of his films hasn’t prompted the curly-haired actor to focus only on cinema. Apart from his current project — the web series Smoke — he’s gearing up for a play, Constellations, which premieres next week and marks the opening of the National Centre for Performing Arts’ theatre season. The production, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal as the male lead in its Broadway version, is about one love story but infinite possibilities. Jim will also be seen in another web series and a few international films. In a chat with After Hrs, he talks about not being restricted to just one medium and why he wants to take a step back to  assess his choices…

Apart from films and plays, you are also acting in web series now...

Of course, everyone is making them these days. Its quality also ranges just like that of cinema and theatre. It’s interesting to be able to choose from this wide spectrum of possibilities.

In Smoke, you share screen space with actors like Kalki Koechlin and Gulshan Devaiah…

Yes, I have worked with Kalki in quite a few plays. Sadly, in the show, I don’t have too many scenes with her or Gullu (Gulshan). But it was fun to be in Goa with them and hear their stories as well as share mine because in the series, all of us have different tracks that don’t intersect immediately.

How has it been working with prolific directors like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Rajkumar Hirani so early in your career?

It’s been great. I couldn’t believe my luck that I got a chance to work with them so soon after Neerja. I am grateful to be part of films that did so well this year. I hope to be able to work with them again and continue to collaborate with directors who are at the top of their game for all the right reasons.

How does working with directors like them influence you as an actor?

Every director is instructive, whether good or bad. Even the worst of them is crucial because you learn how to safeguard your performance while working with someone like that. 

I have learnt to be a self-directed actor as much as I can. And when you meet the people who can really see your limitations and skill set, it’s a bonus. I believe, as an actor, you need to be a bit of an anarchist to keep trying and sailing in order to succeed.

What interesting things did you learnt from actors like Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor?

I feel that you have to come with your best game, no matter who your co-star is. I understand that they are huge stars, but part of the fun of acting is that we are all there for our respective characters. It can be crippling for actors to think in terms of stars vs newcomers when, in fact, you just work on the scene. I am like, ‘Let me do my best part and I hope that you are here to do yours.’ Both (Ranveer and Ranbir) are lovely guys, but it wasn’t about them.

Has the success of Sanju and Padmaavat translated into more offers for you in Bollywood?

Yes, it has. But now I’m taking a step back and waiting for a script that I am 100 per cent psyched to do, which I don’t have to accept simply because it’s a big film or because I need to have a release every year.

What are your future projects?

This year, I have acted in two English films — Beneath A Sea Of Lights, which features Barkhad Abdi (of Captain Phillips fame) and Michael Winterbottom’s The Wedding Guest starring Dev Patel and Radhika Apte. There are a bunch of short films, too. Recently, I also shot for Prateek Kuhad’s music video titled Cold/Mess, which releases next month. My other web series, Made In Heaven, which is directed by Nitya Mehra, Zoya Akhtar, Alankrita Srivastava and Prashant Nair, will be streamed in March.

Which has been your favourite character? 

I don’t have favourites. It’s like asking which of your ex-girlfriends you liked the most. You loved all of them (laughs).

What appealed to you about Constellations?

I told myself that I should do this play because Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favourite actors. I read the script and liked it. I went for the audition and enjoyed the exercises that director Bruce Guthrie made us do. The story is about two people and the possibilities of their relationship. Bruce has worked on the show before, so he brings all of his experiences to the table. He has an eye for detail.