His father is the illustrious filmmaker Pankuj Parashar who has to his credit a number of hit films like Chaalbaaz, Jalwa, Peechcha Karo, Banaras, Tum Ko Na Bhool Payenge and the cult serial Karamchand, as well as hundreds of tv commercials. Although Pankuj had never tried his hand at acting, his elder son Vivaan Parashar has made his debut with a short film called Sange Marmar (Skin of Marble). In this exclusive interview at his apartment in Khar, VIVAAN PARASHAR unwinds himself and tells JYOTHI VENKATESH why he became an actor and unveils his future plans.
What is the short film Skin of Marble all about?
I play a man in love with a foreign girl Violet, played by Paniza. The film is inspired by Manto’s soulful writing and is a poetic take on love and heartache. it is set in Delhi during the partition. I learn that my father, played by Naseeruddin Shah, wants to marry me off to Preeto, since he has given her father his word. Preeto, played by Taniya, is the quintessential Indian woman. A series of events leads to a very disturbing ending.
How did your tryst with acting start?
I was just 13 when director Joy Augustine who had directed Tere Mere Sapne, cast me in his ambitious film called The Little Godfather.
What does acting actually mean to you?
Acting for me is a means to enable you to articulate what the writer has written in an honest way. I feel that an actor, no matter how big he is, is not bigger than the story. As an actor, you are nothing but a tool to convey what the writer has written. And of course you add your own colour and shades to it.
How did you bag the offer to act in The Little Godfather?
One day my family and I had gone to a restaurant for dinner where a food critic happened to interview us about the quality of the food and restaurant. The next day, my photo appeared in the newspaper. This led to a chain of events where my dad got a call from Sunil Shetty’s Popcorn Entertainment to ask me to go and audition for a role in The Little Godfather that they were casting for.
Did you bag the role immediately?
I gave three to four auditions and was selected to play a vital role in the The Little Godfather. I have not looked back since. I forgot all about a cricketing career which I had set my sights earlier on and decided that acting was what I wanted to do. It was purely my own choice to be an actor.
How was the experience as a child actor in Little Godfather?
The story line of the film was based on the 7/11 blasts on the Mumbai trains. It was centered around a bunch of commuters traveling on the train at the particular moment that the blasts happened and the aftermath. The film was shot across Mumbai on the Western and Central railway stations. The most amazing memory was when I got a standing ovation after I gave my first ever shot for the film.
Like your father, you did not opt for a career as a director. Why?
I think there is too much work, effort and stress involved as a director since you are helming the entire ship. Acting is a process which I love and thoroughly enjoy. It is my calling I feel.
What role did you play in the film which unfortunately did not see the light of the day?
I played the role of a deaf and dumb boy in the film. But then , I did enjoy the experience and learnt a lot. I was a little upset when the film was stalled because people who had seen the rushes of the film had appreciated me a lot.
What happened next?
I waited till I was 16 and made my debut with Mahesh Dattani’s play The Big Fat City. I also won many best actor awards at inter-collegiate level and I was overjoyed and thrilled.
Who is your favorite actor in Bollywood?
Undoubtedly Naseeruddin Shah Sir is my most favorite actor. I am privileged enough to have got the opportunity to work with him in my debut short film as an actor and lucky enough to have been able to see him in action from close quarters.
Who else do you admire?
I also admire Salman Khan a lot , having watched my dad direct him in Jaipur during the outdoor shoot of ‘Tumko Na Bhool Payenge’, though I was just 8 at that time. I also had the good fortune of assisting Anubhav Sinha for a short while for Ra One. This gave me the chance to observe SRK at close quarters, an amazing experience at age 16!
Your journey as an actor continued with actor Naseeruddin Shah’s theatre group called Motley.
Yes. I joined Motley and observed Sir at close quarters. Just by working backstage and managing the stage, I learned a lot about the art and craft of acting and everything that goes with it.
Where did you learn acting after you left Motley?
I joined the one year acting course at the Drama School Mumbai where the attendance was compulsory from 8 am to 8 pm every day, six days a week! . It not only honed my craft, it also taught me self-discipline. It was a great experience.
What kind of roles do you want to do in films as an actor?
When you are acting in a film, the character that you set out to play in the film should have prominence in the scheme of the story. If you play the lead role but your character does not have a problem, your role is not worth playing.
Why did you not ask your father Pankuj Parashar to give you a break as an actor in his film?
I always wanted to see if I can do it on my own. I am proud of the fact that I have made it on my own as an actor without asking my dad to give me a break. Believe it or not, my dad is actually the 26th director with whom I have worked with till date.
OK. What did your dad Pankuj Parashar teach you, as far as acting is concerned?
I consider it a bonus to be with my dad 24/7. My dad has made more than one classic in his lifetime. Among the films that he has made, my favorites are Chaalbaaz, Jalwa, Peechcha Karo, Tumko Bhoolo Na Payenge and Banaras. These have become cult films now. He has taught me to have immense belief in myself, no matter whatever is said about me. My dad has always told me to do what I enjoyed the most.
Your mother Asmita is a life coach has been the family’s backbone. What did you learn from her?
My mom always told me not to get taken in by success or failure. She also told me that in life I may face good times as well as bad but I should only focus on what I do and not at all let the failure of any project deter me from doing my job well and giving it a 100%.
You have also acted in Gumraah for Channel V , besides quite a few music videos!
Yes. I have worked in the show Gumraah for Channel V besides a music video of Siddharth Mahadevan. I have also done some ad shoots.
How open are you to acting in a web series or feature films after having been a part of the theater?
I am open to acting in both web series’ as well as TV serials since I feel that digital is the way forward. Web is not at all a step down for an actor. Theater is and will always be a fantastic vehicle for an actor to hone his craft. If I had not done 25 plays till date, I‘d not have become experienced enough as an actor. It has and continues to teach me so much!
Where do you see yourself say in a span of ten years?
I suppose if I work hard , my talent will get nurtured and get its due, whether in Bollywood or for that matter in the regional film industry since I am also open to acting in films in different languages. That would be a great experience.
What next, after Skin of Marble?
Lots of exciting things on the anvil. I just did an ad film with Vidya Balan. When she met me on the set and realised who my dad was she exclaimed, ‘Your dad didn’t tell me you were an actor!’. I like to keep it that way. (Smiles).
