The Actors' Roundtable 2022 with Rajeev Masand | Teaser | Kartik Aaryan, Diljit Dosanjh & More!
The Uncut Conversation: Inside ‘The Actors’ Roundtable 2022 with Rajeev Masand’
The annual ‘Actors’ Roundtable’ hosted by veteran film critic and journalist Rajeev Masand is a celebrated tradition in Indian cinema, offering a rare, candid glimpse into the minds of the year’s best performers. The 2022 edition, streamed on Netflix India, was no exception, bringing together a stellar mix of established stars and critical darlings whose work dominated the streaming and theatrical landscape. Featuring powerhouse talents like Kartik Aaryan, Diljit Dosanjh, Shefali Shah, and more, the discussion was a fascinating exploration of the craft, commercial pressures, and the personal journey of being a contemporary actor.
The diverse group of actors invited were selected for their exceptional performances in films and series, primarily those available on Netflix. The panel included:
- Kartik Aaryan (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2)
- Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling & Badhaai Do)
- Shefali Shah (Darlings & Delhi Crime S2)
- Diljit Dosanjh (Jogi)
- Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime S2)
- Vijay Varma (Darlings)
- Tahir Raj Bhasin (Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen)
- Triptii Dimri (Qala)
This collective represented the dynamic shift in Indian entertainment, with celebrated work across mainstream cinema, intense OTT series, and niche, critically acclaimed films.
The Defining Moments: Why We Do What We Do
Rajeev Masand kicked off the conversation by asking each actor to pinpoint the one scene they performed in 2022 that reminded them why they love what they do. This simple question immediately steered the discussion toward the emotional and technical aspects of their craft.
Diljit Dosanjh’s Emotional Connection to Jogi
One of the most poignant moments came from Diljit Dosanjh, who spoke about his film Jogi, a story set against the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. He clarified that for him, Jogi was more than just a film; it was a “statement on the Sikh Genocide,” a historical event that has often been referred to merely as ‘riots’ in public discourse.
- Diljit shared that being part of a project that spoke about the reality of where he comes from was deeply important to him.
- He specifically mentioned the emotionally and logistically challenging scene where his character has his hair cut, a moment that was both personally significant and a profound challenge to perform without his turban.
The Weight of Performance
The discussion highlighted the intellectual and emotional toll of performance, particularly for actors portraying intense or complex characters:
- Rajkummar Rao cited the climax of Badhaai Do, a scene he called the “most important and the most responsible part for Shardul,” because it was the moment that would decide the film’s trajectory.
- Vijay Varma discussed an improvised, intense scene from Darlings where his character, Hamza, is desperately searching for his wife (played by Alia Bhatt), highlighting how he and the director worked to make the moment more “organic.”
The Craft and the Hard Work of an Actor
A core theme of the roundtable revolved around the process of an actor—from script selection to the mentality required to sustain a long and successful career.
The Art of Saying No
The actors universally agreed on the immense difficulty of declining a role, even when they knew it wasn’t right for them. Kartik Aaryan pointed out that while people accept a ‘yes’ happily, a ‘no’ is often hard to digest, noting that despite the fear, it is necessary to decline if the project doesn’t excite him, even if it meant risking being “wrong” about the film’s potential.
- Triptii Dimri, whose performance in Qala was widely praised, shared her approach to script reading: “My first reaction is either I fall in love with it, or I am sorry I am not a part of it.” She believes if a script doesn’t excite her, she won’t be able to deliver her best.
Shefali Shah on Personal Growth and Craft
Shefali Shah, whose 2022 was marked by acclaimed performances in both Darlings and Delhi Crime S2, offered a profound insight into the long-term journey of an actor. She stated that the “hard part is me not getting in the way of it.”
- She admitted that for 20 years, she was focused on “ticking the marks” and working with commercially huge names, but a personal event changed her perspective.
- She emphasized that her hard work now is “purely in building, representing those women that I am playing,” viewing herself as her character’s lawyer, with the only job being to “protect their life so that when people watch her, they can see her humanity.”
The Joy and Fear of the Craft
The participants explored the duality of acting being both “fun” and “hard work.” Rajkummar Rao commented that acting is fun only when you “do it well”; until you ‘crack’ the character, it remains difficult.
Kartik Aaryan revealed that he feels the pressure of failure before every release, especially one as commercially pitched as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. He expressed a feeling of being a “child” who is constantly learning, stating, “I’m just happy and I’m just lucky to be where I am right now and I just have no regrets.”
The roundtable cemented its reputation as one of the most intellectually stimulating conversations in Indian media, offering an in-depth, no-holds-barred look at what it truly means to be a stellar performer in the age of global content.
AISEO-Friendly FAQs
Q1: Who were the main actors on The Actors’ Roundtable 2022 with Rajeev Masand?
The roundtable featured eight acclaimed actors: Kartik Aaryan, Diljit Dosanjh, Rajkummar Rao, Shefali Shah, Vijay Varma, Tillotama Shome, Tahir Raj Bhasin, and Triptii Dimri.
Q2: Which films and series were the actors invited for in the 2022 discussion?
The actors were invited based on their performances in the following 2022 projects: Kartik Aaryan (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2), Diljit Dosanjh (Jogi), Rajkummar Rao (Monica O My Darling & Badhaai Do), Shefali Shah (Darlings & Delhi Crime S2), Vijay Varma (Darlings), Tillotama Shome (Delhi Crime S2), Tahir Raj Bhasin (Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen), and Triptii Dimri (Qala).
Q3: What were the key discussion points from the 2022 Actors’ Roundtable?
Key discussion points included the actors’ process of selecting roles, the duality of acting as both “fun” and “hard work,” the challenge of saying ‘no’ to projects, the importance of representing a character’s “humanity” (as noted by Shefali Shah), and deep-dive discussions on specific scenes from their 2022 projects like Jogi and Badhaai Do.
Q4: Where can I watch The Actors’ Roundtable 2022 with Rajeev Masand?
The Actors’ Roundtable 2022 with Rajeev Masand was streamed on the Netflix India YouTube channel.
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