Mumbai: Actor Heital Puniwala, who has been a part of movies like Oh My God, PK, Bang Bang, Gabbar is Back, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani, Judwaa 2, Despatch, The Crew, Special OPS, Atithi Bhooto Bhava, and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, among others, and was recently seen in Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, shares beyond technique, he delves into the realities of working with co-actors and maintaining emotional balance.
He said, “In my opinion, the director should let the actor be. But sometimes there are circumstances where the opposite actor is a big actor and remains in their ego, sometimes unable to connect with the other actor. But I feel they should support.”
“Like when I worked with Bachchan sir, he is very natural and explains things very lovingly to the opposite actor. When I worked with him, he also explained the character. When I worked with Aamir Khan sir in PK, he explained the entire character to me. These people are very easygoing,” he added.
He also acknowledges the challenges that come with ego clashes on set. He said, “I’ve talked about Aamir Khan sir and Bachchan sir, but I’ve also seen people who keep working in their lives and develop an ego, thinking they are working a lot. So they don’t value the person in front of them, regardless of the work they’ve done. Consequently, you can’t join or connect. When the opposite actor can’t connect, it becomes very difficult; that’s when the problem arises.”
Despite such situations, his focus remains unwavering. He said, “But still, you can’t tell such a character that I won’t work with them because they don’t connect, don’t talk, or can’t connect with us. I won’t tell the director this, but I have to do my work. So, I should focus on how to give my best in this situation, and I do that. Wherever and however I need to connect, I connect. Where I feel I need to stay detached, once the work is over, I’m detached.”
He emphasizes the importance of emotional control in an actor’s journey. He said, “It’s very important for an actor to attach and detach; one should also know how to detach. We attach quickly without much effort, but detachment is also very necessary. So, an acting approach can also depend on the situation and the opposite actor. I’ve been noticing this for many days now; as I’m doing a project, there’s an actor who can’t connect with me. So, I don’t connect; it’s okay. But I do my work 100%. The director feels that the take was great, no matter what.”
Even in challenging setups, professionalism takes precedence. He said, “Because when we act, it’s a group scene; in the group scene, I have my dialogues and I’m saying them, but the person in front doesn’t have that approach in their eyes, isn’t in character, and brings their personal life forward because the camera isn’t on thems the camera is on me. So, I should detach from that person, that actor. And if I get attached thinking, ‘Oh, they aren’t responding,’ what will I do? Keep complaining? Forget it, brother; don’t complain. Do your work and leave.”
“Or tell the director, ‘Sir, I’ll give the eye-line; look wherever you want to show, I’ll look there, and remove that actor.’ I’ve seen many big actors I won’t take names who can’t attach with you. If my close-up is scheduled after their over-the-shoulder shot, they look somewhere else instead of looking at me. They don’t meet my eyes. And I’m proud of myself that when it’s my own take, I give 100%, and even if it’s the opposite actor’s close-up or take, I give my 100%. Whether I’m visible or not doesn’t matter. I’m proud of myself for being a fine actor; I’m not an actor to be caged. I’m an actor who flies in the open sky. So yes, I can say this with pride this is amazing,” Heital added.
