EXCLUSIVE | Rahul Bhat Calls Anurag Kashyap ‘Gifted’, Sunny Leone ‘Brilliant’ Ahead Of ‘Kennedy’

New Delhi: ‘Kennedy’ is all set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2023. The Anurag Kashyap directorial stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone in the lead. Rahul Bhat is reuniting with Kashyap after his acclaimed film ‘Ugly’, which also premiered in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Now, with ‘Kennedy’ as a selection from India for the Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival, Rahul Bhat has a lot to celebrate. The actor spoke about the film, Anurag Kashyap, co-star Sunny Leone, and much more in an interaction with ABP Live.

Excerpts from the conversation

Why such a long break after Ugly? Were there not enough offers or were you looking for something else

I take time. I am very selective about my roles. I also have to be confident about the roles I am doing. For instance; ‘Dobaaraa’ was shot during the pandemic (I also had COVID during the time), and it was during that time that Anurag Kashyap came up with the idea of ​​’Kennedy’. It gradually developed into a film and he called me to play the part in his movie. So, I don’t rush. I take my time.

Do you regret quitting TV at the peak of your career? Was producing TV shows a means to sustain yourself financially?

Yes, ‘Heena’ was a big show. But I always wanted to do movies; do some experimental work; something different. I can’t say, I regret it. When I look back now, I feel whatever happens, it is for the best. Thinking about it, I feel my decision back then to quit TV was probably a good one. Well, I don’t know how it would have turned out if I had continued working in TV. I feel I would not have enjoyed it.

In the meantime, I produced TV shows on Doordarshan, Star, Zee Network etc. I mean, you have to look after yourself financially also. So I thought, rather than act in them, let me produce some television content. But, acting has always been my first and foremost love. I had been waiting for the right offers and the right scripts to come my way which has happened now.

What kind of prep went for your role in Kennedy?

‘Kennedy’ was a very tough part to play. Apart from bulking up, it was something else. It was the state of mind of Kennedy which I had to get right because Kennedy might seem like a person who is very calm and quiet on the outside but he has done a lot of violence. So, to get the psychology of the character right was a challenge. Plus, I was going through a hard time at that time, with COVID and in terms of work too. Kehte hai na, agar aap kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh sari kaynat ko shish karte hi hai aapko us se milane ko(It is said that the universe attracts that which you truly desire) That is how ‘Kennedy’ was born.

We also didn’t do any workshops, I was in my own Kennedy-state-of-mind; Workshops were going on in my mind. And that 8 month workshop was a more internal process. And, the day I walked onto the set of ‘Kennedy’, I knew it was not Rahul Bhatt but Kennedy himself.

What’s your equation with Anurag Kashyap like? You haven’t done these gray roles with any other director, any specific reason

Anurag and I have worked together on two other films so we share a rapport; we have a relationship of an actor and a director.

For ‘Kennedy’, I totally surrendered myself to him. I became like water. He could maneuver me in whichever way he wanted. And if you have a director of the caliber of Anurag Kashyap, you don’t have to worry about anything.

This is also my third film with Anurag Kashyap and he has guts. He is a filmmaker who experiments. He has too much confidence in his own craft. He also had a certain kind of stake and confidence that I could pull off roles like Kennedy.

Having said that, I give my 100%. I have given everything to ‘Kennedy’. I have given my life to this film because it was not an easy part to pull off. Physically, I had to bulk up. I gained around 90 kgs for that part and mentally, I had to break down to go into that deep-dark well and put my heart into it.

What was Sunny Leone like as a co-actor?

You know how romance is in Anurag Kashyap’s films but you know my co-actor Sunny Leone was brilliant in the film. She is a very good human being and a very professional person. And, she is fantastic in the film, as are the other actors who are part of it.

Are you excited about the film’s Cannes premiere?

‘Ugly’ was also at Cannes. But, Kennedy is an official selection and this is going to be a part of the main event. So, I’m really excited to walk the red carpet because the movie will be shown in the grand premiere. I’m really excited to be there. It’s a once in a lifetime’s experience for any actor to be at Cannes. I am so thankful that God has given me that kind of experience.

After the ‘Kennedy’ teaser launch, many have been talking about the music of the film. What can you tell us about the background score and music of the film? Why is the music so different in an Anurag Kashyap film?

Anurag Kashyap had gone abroad, to the Czech Republic and to Germany for the music of ‘Kennedy’. The whole background score with the orchestra was done abroad. You know, Anurag has a great sense of background music. Even ‘Ugly’, you know. It is not just the image that says everything, it is also the sound. So, he has a great knack for it, as to what kind of sound should go with what kind of image. We are actors; Humne act kar liya to boht ho gya, baki director pe hai (We have done our acting part, rest is up to the director).

What would you like to say about the content on TV today, would you like to go back to it?

I have nothing against TV or the content that goes on it. Now, there are so many channels, OTT platforms etc. The times are also so exciting, so much content is being made. So, I feel actors like me, in this time, who really want to explore their craft, this is a great time to be in the entertainment industry. There are so many possibilities to do so much.