Director Anurag Kashyap's Kennedy is finally set to hit the digital space three years after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite its censorship clearance, the film faced a long delay due to multiple factors, including financial elements. Much like the film, even Aamir Dalvi has had a long wait to make his debut in a feature film. In an exclusive conversation with CE, Aamir spoke about his experience playing an antagonist in Kennedy, its Cannes premiere, what it was like to work with Anurag Kashyap, his favourite films from the director, star culture in Hindi cinema, and more.
Excerpts:
What brought you to the world of films?
When I started off, I never told myself that I wanted to be a film actor. I just wanted to act, be it in any kind of a medium. When my journey started, I was doing television and getting to do what I wanted to do. I was part of theatre also. That hunger was being fulfilled. Of course, we all aspire to do films and graduate to cinema eventually. This was a gradual step to that. It took a good 24 years for this to materialise. But, you know, sometimes things are written a certain way for you.
Many actors and even directors say it is more fun to play a villain. How is it from an actor's point of view?
I agree. As an antagonist, your boundaries are way bigger than a protagonist. At the end of the day, a protagonist has to come across positively. Being bad could be anything; even spitting on somebody or just shoving someone in public is considered bad. So the horizon is much bigger. The spectrum is much bigger. As an antagonist, you can really go crazy with your thoughts and ideas. While it is fun that way, it also comes with its own set of challenges.
Does that freedom increase because it is an Anurag Kashyap film?
Yes, definitely. No two ways about it. His process is very different, you know. He will always trust an actor with what he's doing. And if he's convinced with it, then there's not much he has to say. And he also follows that route where he doesn't believe in the actor learning the lines and coming to set. It's all about the situation and the environment—he takes his actors there and lets them perform accordingly.
Anurag has also acted in films. Has that brought about a difference in his approach to direction? Has anyone told you about this?
He's a brilliant actor. Trust me, whatever I've seen of him. As a director you're visualising your characters, and he's able to play them also for himself. He has that directorial vision and the ability to execute it himself in front of the camera.
He has played many antagonists. So did he tell you anything about how to approach your character in Kennedy?
He would only tell you the basics while explaining the scene to you. He would also show you the paraphernalia and ask you to 'scan' it. When he saw the first shot, he was impressed by it, but he also started feeding me with information. I found this a little surprising. I thought directors would feed actors with the information first. Maybe this explains how much he trusts his actors. It is like him saying, 'Show me what you can do, and we will take it from there.' I would love to work in such environments where you're completely given that open hand.
How did the long delay of the film affect your journey with it from an emotional sense?
I kept wondering 'Why the film is not releasing.' It played emotionally on me like that rather than that the character staying with me or the entire idea of the film staying with me. It was like we've created something nice. Why doesn't it come out? Further, when somebody sees your work, it always opens up other doors for you. With Kennedy, that has not been the case. So it has definitely taken an emotional toll on me.
When you are a debutant, the audience has no preconceived notions about you. Is this beneficial in any way?
I'll give you a very close experience. When Anurag sir saw my first shot, he was like, 'Have you just started acting recently?' I told him that I have been around for 24 years. He was surprised to learn that and he asked me how he had not seen any of my work, not even through auditions. It means a lot when somebody is asking me, 'How come I've not seen your work?' Because he's actually appreciating your work in a way.
Do you not invest in marketing and PR a lot? Is that a factor you think?
Marketing and PR have taken a boom in the last couple of years, I would say. I think it probably started in the pre-COVID era and then reached a peak. It has become the norm right now. But I always believe that your PR can make you be spotted. How you connect with the director and the creative team, how convinced they are about having you onboard... It is all up to you.
So how did you get into the film?
A close friend of mine happened to meet Anurag sir at a social gathering. They happened to know each other. They got into a conversation, and she told him that there is this actor. She asked him to consider me when he is doing screen tests for his next project. He asked her to send my details to him. After seven months, I received a call from the film's casting department for an audition. When I spoke to him on a few occasions, he told me, 'I had seen you then and you had registered in my mind.' That's a big thing. Even seven months down the line, somebody remembers that 'this is one person I would want to test and see if he can do it'.
What are your favourite Anurag Kashyap films?
For a long time, it was Black Friday. I'm from Bombay, we were very aware about the events that had happened. When I watched the film, I went and read the book. This man has completely interpreted the book. The film makes you feel just the same way the book makes you feel when you read it. But, then, I am also a fan of Manmarziyaan. The day I saw Manmarziyaan, I fell in love with it.
Anurag has a big collection of films. Has he introduced you to it?
Yes, he has. He called us home for the first cut of Kennedy. Back then, I took a picture with the entire library of Anurag Kashyap's films in the background for keepsake. He talks about films all the time. The amount of knowledge that man has... Sometimes you feel, 'I don't know a damn thing' compared to him. He talks with so much of fluency about filmmakers and films, even internationally. He knows it all like the back of his hand.
What was the experience at Cannes like? And what has been the response like after its premiere on Letterboxd?
The Cannes experience was surreal. People who were there, appreciating the film, appreciating Anurag Kashyap sir, were all non-Indians. This man's reach is so vast, and these are the kind of people who watch his films. I think he's our Indian Kurosawa; I always look up to him like that. We have had the likes of Shyam Benegal. Anurag sir will have a similar legacy.
What was the first thing that came to your mind when you heard the news about Kennedy releasing on ZEE5 on February 20?
ZEE5 has always been studio involved with the film. However, after its Cannes premiere, I dreamt about the film having a theatrical release, so that I could tell my friends that it is running in theatres near them. This would give a different high as compared to watching the film on OTT. Then again, it is coming out on a platform which probably has a bigger reach. Plus, OTT means that you can watch a film at any time of your preference. That's how positively I'm looking at it.
Is there any truth to this notion that Bollywood is very star-centric? That it's so hard for newcomers to get into it...
There is some truth to it, but it has also changed. In fact, it has not been all that star-centric for a long time now. Otherwise, Shah Rukh Khan sir would not have been where he is today. Nepotism does exist not just in cinema but elsewhere too. I've heard about so many actors who were completely from non-film backgrounds and have made it really well for themselves, and their work is still appreciated.
There's also another Aamir in the film hailing from a theatre background...
Oh, yeah! Aamir Aziz. I could not catch up with him because we were not shooting on the same day. I did meet him on a few occasions post the film, at either the technical screening or some events happening with regard to it. He's a creative soul and he's done a very good job with the film's soundtrack. Anurag Kashyap sir has got that eye. He knows where to look for what and how to hunt people down and get them for the job. That's his mastery.