Vijay Varma Passionately Talks About Acting, Naseeruddin Shah, & The #IC814 Cast ❤️
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81265804
Follow Netflix India on:
Website: https://www.netflix.com/
YouTube: http://bit.ly/NetflixIndiaYT
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/netflix_in
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NetflixIN
Twitter: http://twitter.com/netflixindia
The Actor’s Calling: Vijay Varma on Passion, Mentorship, and the Power of Ensemble in #IC814
Vijay Varma, the actor who has carved a niche for himself with his chameleon-like versatility, from the chilling antagonist of Darlings and Dahaad to the stoic hero of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, possesses a raw, infectious enthusiasm for his craft that shines through every interview. In a candid conversation, Varma passionately unpacked the philosophy that drives his career, the formative influence of acting legend Naseeruddin Shah, and the incredible experience of working alongside a constellation of stars in the limited series IC 814.
For Varma, acting is not just a profession; it is, quite literally, his first love. He credits this deep-seated conviction to a piece of advice he received, which has become his lifelong mantra: “The vehicle that is driven by passion lasts the distance.”
The Unwavering Path: Varma’s Passion for the Craft
Varma’s journey is a testament to the idea that single-minded dedication trumps all other options. He recalls being told by his mentor, Naseeruddin Shah, that if one has a “Plan B” outside of acting, they should simply take it, because pursuing acting demands a willingness to face significant hardships. Varma chose the one path, a decision that has paid off handsomely.
He approaches his roles with the desire of a “greedy actor,” constantly seeking characters that challenge and expand his range. This curiosity led him to initially embrace dark and complicated roles, a choice he attributes to his early heroes like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who “never played it straight.” However, his recent shift to more nuanced, heroic characters, such as the one in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has been a welcome change, proving that he is determined not to be defined or “bracketed” by any one image.
Key Principles Driving Varma’s Career:
- Passion Over Experience: Following the wisdom of picking passion first, as it is the fuel for longevity in the art.
- Embracing Complexity: Varma sees the actor’s job as holding a “torch” to the darker flaws of human beings to foster social conversation and identification.
- Avoiding the ‘Image Trap’: He believes getting stuck in a single image is a “sticky bomb” that can deteriorate an actor’s craft, constantly striving to present something new with every project.
The Mentor and the Muse: Naseeruddin Shah’s Profound Influence
The admiration Varma holds for Naseeruddin Shah is not merely professional; it is a deep, student-teacher connection that has profoundly shaped his artistic soul. Varma admits to having “hero-worshipped” the veteran actor since his early 20s.
Varma’s first taste of mentorship from Shah came after a remarkable display of perseverance. He and a friend had travelled to Pune to attend Shah’s acting class. Initially turned away, they stood outside the classroom all day. This unwavering patience eventually moved the veteran, who invited them to join the next session. Varma describes the following two months under Shah as a “transformative” experience, a period that made his life “successful.”
He lauded Shah’s teaching style, recalling how meticulous and exacting the master was, saying, “If you try to be smart about it, boss, you’re gone! He’s got a very sharp eye!”
The two actors have recently shared screen space in two major projects:
- IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: While their characters’ storylines were largely separate—Varma playing the pilot Captain Devi Sharan and Shah a crucial role in the crisis management team—they were part of the same historic project.
- Gustaakh Ishq: Varma highlighted their relationship in this film as a non-romantic, profound bond between a teacher and a student, a dynamic filled with shared conversations about “poetry” and “passion,” calling it a relationship with “a lot of soul.” This film offered Varma a “sweet pause” from his intense roles.
The IC 814 Cast: Grazing with GOATS
The limited series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha, provided Varma with an opportunity to work alongside an ensemble cast of industry titans, including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Dia Mirza. Varma’s deep reverence for his co-stars is palpable, as he affectionately referred to them in a social media post as the “Thespian Gangstas” and “Grazing with GOATS” (Greatest Of All Time), expressing his gratitude at sharing a poster with these “cinema gods.”
Varma portrayed the lead pilot, Captain Devi Sharan, whose character was based on the real-life head pilot of the hijacked flight. He received a high compliment directly from Captain Sharan and his wife, who felt Varma had captured the true spirit of the person.
Despite the star-studded line-up, Varma’s own performance was physically isolated from the main ensemble for much of the shoot, presenting a unique challenge:
- Confined Shooting Space: He spent most of his time “locked in a six-foot-by-six feet space”—the cockpit.
- The ‘Co-Actors’: Due to the demanding nature of the scenes, which were often shot against a green screen, Varma humorously noted that his primary “co-actors” were inanimate objects like “the seat belt, my landing gear, my tools, and my co-pilot.”
- The Power of Imagination: He had to use “every bit of my imagination” to perform, having to continuously re-orient himself to where his flight was supposed to be—from Kathmandu to Kandahar—without any real-world visual cues.
His work in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack successfully broadened his on-screen persona from a master of darkness to an unsung hero, demonstrating an incredible range that ensures his vehicle of passion will indeed last the distance.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: What did Vijay Varma say about his passion for acting?
A1: Vijay Varma has passionately stated that his “work itself is my first love” and his craft is his “greatest love.” He operates on the principle that an artistic career driven by genuine passion is the only one that will “last the distance.”
Q2: What is Vijay Varma’s connection to Naseeruddin Shah?
A2: Vijay Varma has described Naseeruddin Shah as a figure he has “hero-worshipped” since his early twenties. He underwent a two-month “transformative” mentorship under Shah in Pune and credits him with teaching him everything about the acting craft. They have since shared screen space in both IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and the film Gustaakh Ishq, which explores a deep student-teacher bond between their characters.
Q3: Who did Vijay Varma play in the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack?
A3: Vijay Varma portrayed Captain Devi Sharan, the head pilot of the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight IC-814. He received high praise for his performance directly from the real-life Captain Devi Sharan.
Q4: How did Vijay Varma describe the ensemble cast of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack?
A4: Vijay Varma holds the IC 814 ensemble cast, which includes legends like Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur, in high regard. He affectionately referred to his co-stars on social media as “Thespian Gangstas” and “GOATS” (Greatest Of All Time), expressing profound gratitude for working alongside what he called “cinema gods.”
This Post Has 0 Comments