Exclusive: Everything about a story is personal, says Adarsh Gourav

What made you get on board for Extrapolations?

It’s the sci-fi aspects of it and the discussions around climate change. The story of my episode is told through two individuals who have never met each other, both criminals. How they come together for this journey, which changes their outlook on life permanently from the crux of the episode. For me, it was a compelling story of two strangers on a journey, one of whom is an eternal optimist and the other is an eternal pessimist. What ensues is life-changing for both of them.

How exciting was it to be a part of a star-studded ensemble cast?

Back then, I wasn’t aware of the other cast members, not that it matters. But it’s a bonus when you find out that there’s Meryl Streep, David Schwimmer, Tobey Maguire, and Edward Norton. But for me, it was more about the story and Ritchie Mehta directing it.

Diversity will always be dependent on consumption patterns. All the studios, channels and platforms have recognised India as a big market. Not just India but all of the Asia Pacific and Africa as well. Being diverse at the moment is necessary because people from all over the world consume the content that’s being made. So when you cast more diverse faces and the more diverse your writing is, the characters become more palatable for people who are watching. Ten years ago, an actor like me from India did not have these opportunities. I recently heard Ishaan Khatter was doing a project with Nicole Kidman. It’s amazing that all of us from this generation are getting these opportunities and making the most of them. I think the need of the hour is to have more writers from the subcontinent who are more involved in the writing and creating process for these shows. That’s when our characters will start getting more diverse.

The series showcases a bleak side of India. Do you ever worry about India’s representation in global titles?

For me, storytelling doesn’t necessarily have to be set in the truth, which is why you always have that warning before you watch something that all characters are fictitious. What I feel about India and as an Indian is a completely different thing.

The reason Gaurav is so angry and talks very curtly is because he has shut himself out of the world. He doesn’t believe in anything anymore. That loss of belief comes from a deep sense of personal loss. In a conversation that Gaurav has with Neel, where he’s asked what his family does and why he wasn’t in the war, he says, “I’m agro-exempt, and my whole family committed suicide.” That’s when you realise who his man is and where he’s coming from. For me, I really wanted to understand that sense of loss where there’s nothing to look forward to in life anymore. I wanted to meet farmers and widows to prepare for this role. They are so cut off from the world, living in these tiny pockets where all they care about is survival and where the next plate of food is going to come for them and their children. I will never truly understand them. For me, it was just a project where I went for a day or two and spoke to them. Sometimes it feels selfish because you remind them of the pain that they’ve gone through. But the older I grow, the more I realise that I need to give back to society. Doing things like this makes me more aware of my surroundings and more sensitive towards people.

You’ve done the same for The White Tiger. Is that a method you rely on often?

It’s like any other process. If an author is writing a book, he will need to know what he’s writing about. I feel it’s my quest for the truth that takes me to these places. Sometimes it’s like I’m more interested in this than in shooting. When I’m trying to find out about the person that I’ll be playing, there’s nothing there to contain me. I feel free and liberated.

How much do these experiences affect you emotionally?

Emotionally, it does get heavy. But I feel that any form of art that you deeply love will be emotionally heavy. It’s not possible to detach yourself from what you do. For those weeks and months, Gaurav’s problems became my problems, and his insecurities became my insecurities. Things that made him happy made me happy. Some things stick with you and then you move on to the next and become another person. That keeps happening.

Did the success of The White Tiger change your life?

What has changed is access. It’s gotten easier for me to work with the writers and directors I want. Now I can tell them, “My name is Adarsh,” and they’ll say, “Hello, Adarsh. We’ve seen you in The White Tiger.” So that has changed. I want access to every person I admire and look up to across the world. That is something that will be meaningful to me.

There’s Guns & Gulaabs directed by Raj and DK which is a pulpy show about the opium trade where I play a flamboyant character. There’s Kho Gaye Hum Kahan backed by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. It’s contemporary and modern. Currently, I’m shooting for Malegaon where I’m a director who wants to make films without having any budgets. That is what fuels me. I want to do things that take me to unexpected places.

What was it like working with Ananya Panday and Siddhanth Chaturvedi in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan?

Both Ananya and Siddhant are fantastic human beings and amazing actors. I was so grateful because they are such giving people. You know a lot about a person by the way they treat people around them and both of them are wonderful. Ananya is extremely observant and sharp. She knows everything that’s happening in a room. Actors sometimes forget to listen because we’re so interested in talking about things and ourselves. Ananya is the opposite. She’s a great observer and listener. Siddhant is like a volcano of talent. Every time I meet him, he tells me about something new that he has done. He’s got an incredibly creative soul.

Tell us about working with Raj and DK for Guns and Gulaabs?

Working with Raj and DK is so much fun. They work back-to-back. I have never seen them take a single day’s break since the time I gave my audition for Guns & Gulaabs. That was one and a half years ago. But when you meet them, you never see them jaded or worn out. I’m just in awe because I see burnt-out people all around me, including myself. But to have vigour and excitement for everything makes me wonder, “How are they doing it?” Working with them was precious. For all the stories they tell, once you go on set, it’s such a light atmosphere. You never hear them raise their voice, they’re constantly joking and having fun.

Lastly, between Hollywood and Bollywood projects, do you have ambitions of becoming a global star like your former co-star Priyanka Chopra?

I want to be available for everything and everywhere. I truly feel like I want to be a citizen of the world. If there’s a film being made in Zimbabwe and they have a potential character who is Indian, If the director imagines me and doesn’t mind casting someone from Mumbai, I want to be there. Everything about a story is personal. If it takes me to different countries with all these beautiful directors and writers, it can’t get any better than that. So yes, I do want to be a global star.

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