Abhimanyu Singh: ‘I am not a social person’

Tell us about your journey.

I started my career with Ansh theatre group and for eight years, I kept on doing theatre. In those eight years, I started getting offers for TV serials and then slowly I got into movies. It’s been a long journey and I feel there’s a long way to go.

What motivated you to choose acting as career?

I don’t know exactly but I feel that may be I chose acting because this gave me a lot of freedom to experiment. I feel as an actor, I am living so many lives in one lifetime by playing different characters. That’s why this profession attracted me. I was always inclined towards arts, literature and theatre. So, here I am.

How was your experience working with Raja Ram Mukherjee in his short film Me and Papa? Please tell us about the character you play?

Raja is an old friend. When he came up with this sensitive script, I could not say no. That time, Raja’s father late Mr Ram Mukherjee had passed away and I knew him as I was staying in the same building. I could feel the pain and could understand what Raja was going through. This film is real and emotional.

Earlier, fathers used to be strict but now the scene has changed. I don’t behave with my son as my father used to with me. They were right because maybe we were more naughty but today that huge communication gap between a father and a son has really narrowed down. So, it’s based on the regular relationship between father and son that has been going on in every second family. When the son is growing up, there springs up a communication gap between him and his father. Later, everything becomes cool but there are times when the relationship between father and a son is tense and can take any form.

What are the projects you are working on?

I am working on Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi as a main antagonist and it will release in March 2020. I will be shooting in Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad for a few months. Along with that, I am also doing a couple of web series.

How was it working with Rohit Shetty?

It was a wonderful experience. He is a good man and an amazing director. He gave me a lot of freedom. He supported me throughout the shoot.

What differences have you experienced between Bollywood and Tollywood movies?

I have had good experiences in both the industries.

How do you play a villainous character?

There was no motivation when I played Bukka Reddy in Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakhta Charitra. After that, I started getting offers of a lot of negative leads and I started doing some negative leads. Now, I will be playing some positive leads as well as some comedy roles.

How do you prepare for your role?

It depends on the film and character. Generally, when they give me a script, I go through the dialogues and scenes. Then I do some homework if I feel the need to. Otherwise, I go with the flow. The director also gives a character sketch while narrating the film. I prefer to follow the director’s instruction unless it is a difficult and complicated character. In that situation, I get into the character and do a lot of studying on the behaviour of those kinds of characters.

Have you ever mixed your Bollywood life with your personal life?

No, as soon as I complete my shoot and whenever I get time, I make sure that I come back home and spend as much time as I can with my wife, my kids and my loved ones my friends and family. So that’s how I manage it.

Which actor do you find inspiring?

There are many actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikant, Robert De Niro, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, etc. I really like a lot of actors and try to follow them if need be.

You are not on any social media platform. Is there a reason that you are not there?

I think I am not a very social person. I like to keep my personal life private. I am too tied up with my work , family and friends. Moreover, social media is a full-time job. That’s not my cup of tea.