Aditya Roy Kapur on The Night Manager 2, hunt for intense love story and fighting perception of being ‘laidback’: ‘Hungry to be uncomfortable’

Edited excerpts:

How does the show’s reception feel?

It feels great because every time you put a lot of effort into something, like we did on this one, then to see the results. Expectations were high this time, and the bar was very high. So it’s good that people have given us this love, it’s a very satisfying fee to get the job done right. There was a tension to see if it was connected or not.

How do actors measure what they have done as well? What’s your process – monitoring social media, reviews, or how many text messages you receive?

I’ve come to realize that no matter how great you are, if a story or a project doesn’t work in its entirety, then… you get appreciation, but it’s another matter when something is liked as a whole. If you’re good in a movie that’s not good, you get a certain amount of recognition but not the same as when it’s good. Sometimes when the story as a whole doesn’t connect, great performances are also overlooked. But when people tell you, “We didn’t like the movie very much but you were good,” those comments are important because they remind you that you did a good job.

Have you been reading that there is some demand for a spin-off for your character from the show?

It seems interesting because Shaan is a character one would point out who actually lived a full life even before you saw him in The Night Manager. There is definitely a story out there to be explored. But of course, those who should be excited about this are the writers and directors. As actors, if you give us a good part, we’ll appear on sets, but first they have to be excited enough about the idea.

Your last few projects indicate that you’ve been in the void of something intense and action-oriented. Is this how you feel?

Maybe I was at some point, but now I don’t think about doing exciting and action stuff. I’m already working with Anurag Basu on Metro In Dino and it’s not an intense film, it’s a light romantic film. I’m so glad I do because as an actor you want to keep bouncing around and not being in the same place. I guess what happened was after Malang, which was an interesting love story, two more interesting roles came my way and I chose to do both. It’s a genre I love and when it gets good it works really well. So maybe that’s why the last few of them seem to be in that space. Having said that, these projects were different from each other. It’s not that I just want to be sexy and action- no, that’s not the case.

You rightly mentioned Metro because a section of the audience misses you in the soft and romantic roles you did in the earlier stage of your career – Aashiki, Oki Janu, Wih Jawaani Hai Deewani….

This may be something I need to consider more when I make my choices. That might be why I’m glad Metro In Dino is coming, and this section will be able to see me in that space. I love doing these movies too, it’s a beautiful genre. But yeah, I’d love to shoot another romantic movie, an intense love story. Get the word out!

Your public image is that of a calm and relaxed person, but there seems to be a very fierce work going on behind the scenes in terms of projects and the role you choose. There is a split.

From the outside one can tell that I’m laid back but I don’t feel relaxed when it comes to my work. I may be comfortable with other things, like being a public figure, public relations, or other peripheral things. But the reason I’m here is because I love my job, making characters. So from the outside, there can be a perception that I’m laid back, but working out is something I’ve always been passionate about. But I think I need that balance. I am very aggressive and intense when I’m working out, and maybe sometimes, I need to turn off where I don’t feel like it… I can’t be “on” all the time. I need to recharge and come back, so I can give 100 percent for my next thing.

At this point in your career, what are you most passionate about?

To continue to push what I can do. In Malang, I realized that I could do a job – after 10 years of working in this industry. Then when you do that, people start looking at you in a different light. But they need to see you first! So I want to continue to put myself in the places where I feel a little bit uncomfortable, to put myself in the places where I’m reaching out a little bit for something I’ve never done before. I’m hungry for that uncomfortable feeling.