With thrillers having a mass appeal on OTT, do you believe you’ll stick to a genre or would you want to explore a bit of everything? 

I’ve done a few crime dramas myself and I understand the appeal. They are really intriguing. Solving a case is like solving a puzzle. So, it’s very engaging for the audiences and it’s a genre that does well, not just in India, anywhere. I’ve done a few of them and I don’t want to restrict myself to this particular genre. I’m open to everything. In fact, I think my last two, three shows were in this zone of like really intense crime dramas. I’m actually very happy to do something breezy and light now, but I do understand the appeal of the genre. Having said that, Gyaarah Gyaarah is a fresh spin on it because it’s also like a fantasy drama. It’s got an element of mysticism in it, a bit of sci-fi. So, that’s what differentiates the show from any other police procedural drama. 

If you had to pick three genres that you as an actor are really pulled towards, what would they be?

Oh, that’s very tough. I think we haven’t seen a great comedy in a very long. I think a smart satire would be very, it’s a very interesting genre to me. Like I said, investigative thrillers are very interesting because they keep you engaged. They keep you, they’re immersive. You feel like you’re participating in solving that crime. Something like Mindhunter, for example, is a great watch because it’s like putting pieces of a puzzle together, getting into the psyche of somebody you can’t relate with, of a criminal. You know, it’s just, it’s just fascinating because you don’t know much about them and you’re always kind of wondering what drives people to do these extreme things. So, that’s another great genre. I think third, I have to say, we’re all brought up on Bollywood and, we’re all big Shah Rukh Khan fans. So, romance is another genre that will always, always attract me. And a well-made, progressive love story is timeless, I feel.

What kind of prep went being playing a police officer in Gyaarah Gyaarah?

There were two kinds of things that had to be done. There are certain characters that require specific physicality. This is one of them. When you play an officer or somebody in uniform, there is a way that you carry yourself. And you feel that sort of pride and responsibility. Luckily, half the job is done by the uniform itself because the moment you put it on, you transform. You start walking differently, talking differently. You’re more upright. You feel like you have a purpose. We also trained with weapons. So that our stance and the use of guns looks professional. I also learned how to drive a manual SUV in the hills, because we shot this show in Dehradun and Mussoorie. Apart from this, because my character is in both the past and the present timeline. I’m playing about like 20 years old in the past and 35 years old in the present. So, I had to build the arc in a way that it looks like an evolution of the same person. And because we don’t shoot chronologically, I had to differentiate with my behaviour and performance. So, young Vamika has some kind of a nervous energy. She slouches but she’ll be erect as soon as her senior comes. She’s eager to prove herself. You can see that she’s a little new here. The present day Vamika is more sure-footed. She’s confident. She’s leading a team now. She can’t let her emotions show on her face. Because it’s not an age where you can grey your hair or use any kind of prosthetics. It had to be really internal. But it had to be there so that you could differentiate between the two timelines. Because 15 years have passed. So, that’s what my focus of prep was.

What were you the most excited about when you started rolling? 

I was most excited about this fantasy element. Because when it came to me, I was like, do we need another police procedural drama? We made some great ones off late. If you see the streaming space, there are some good ones. But when I started reading, I realised that this whole connection of two walkie-talkies connecting every time the clock strikes 11:11. And this sort of surreal element in a very realistic world is a fresh spin. And we haven’t really explored the idea of time travel in our films and series before. So, that was really unique. While reading, it kept me engaged. And I thought that this would be something new for people to watch. And I’d like to be a part of it.

So, coming to 11:11, are you a believer or not?

 I’m  honestly do not believe in it.  I don’t really believe in any such phenomenon. I’m not religiously inclined or anything. So, I don’t. What I believe is that you do good no matter what. And you have an inner voice that tells you every time that you do good. And anything that you want, you go out there and get it. So, I don’t really manifest myself. But I know that it’s a big thing. I have friends who make a wish every time they see 11:11 on their phone. But I’m a skeptic in life. So, I don’t quite believe in any other phenomenon.

How was it working with Dhairya Karwa and Raghav Juyal?

 It was very interesting because we’re very different people. And we’re very different actors. Each one of us has a different process. And our director, Umesh Bisht is very sensitive and understands people. And he understands what they need. So, he nudged us in different ways. There were some times when Raghav and I would be in the same scene. But the direction that Raghav would get would be totally different from what I would get. Or when Dhairya and I would do things, the rehearsals would be totally different. Because the director was constantly customizing according to what we needed. Which was a new experience for me. Which was a treat, actually. Because it was truly collaborative. And he was very sensitive to our needs. And was willing to adapt to us. Which doesn’t happen because it’s usually vice versa. It was a different experience when Raghav was on set. Because he’s more spontaneous. He’s got a certain fluidity. He comes from the dance discipline. So, he’s got that in him. He prefers that. Dhairya is more… He’s like his name. He’s very calm, composed. He likes to rehearse everything. And come absolutely fully prepared. And knowing what he wants to do. So, as a co-actor, acting is reacting. And you can’t really do things in isolation. So, you have to keep adapting according to your co-actors. And I did that with both of them. I also learned this about myself. I learned that I could adapt. 

Do you think you’ve evolved as an actor over the years?

 I hope so. I mean, I hope so. I’ve learned everything on the job. I started acting when I was 18. So, I’ve literally picked up all the skills, everything on the job. This is an art and a craft, right? You have to have basic talent or basic sense for it. And then there is a huge amount of skill also required that you need to fine-tune and keep learning. Because it is, at the end of the day, done under certain circumstances. You have to hit a mark. You have to take the light. You have to know camera. What I’ve definitely not learned is to stop being critical. I cringe watching myself. I am unforgiving. I want to redo everything that I watch. But I also understand that I can’t be a pain for the director. So, I never tell them anything. It’s just my internal dialogue. Or when I watch at home or something, I have this feeling. But on set, also one thing that I’ve learned over the years is that your conduct is everything. Character is bigger than talent. And how you conduct yourself and how professional you are and how good you are to work with as a professional takes you far. And that’s something I think I take pride in. My work ethic. Because that’s something that I’m very conscious about. Because talent without that is honestly nothing. I completely agree to that. 

What’s the one role that you’d love to do but you haven’t been offered yet?

There’s so much. I mean, sky’s the limit today. The writing is so good and diverse. I’d be limiting if I had a wish list. But top of my list right now, coming off of these intense dramas, like I was saying earlier, I’m really craving to do a musical, romantic, something that requires me to pick up a skill like a certain dance form or something. Like something in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali world. Maybe. Like a costume drama with opulence and dance numbers. Everything I’ve done is very realistic and gritty which is a lot of fun. And I love watching it. But just to switch things up, some romanticism would be lovely. 

If you could go back in time to a day in your life, which day would you pick? 

Oh my God, this is really tough. You know, increasingly, I think I have started realising that my parents are getting old. I think that’s a feeling that often troubles me, because I’ve lived away from home for many, many years. And they come visit me very often. And I always feel like I don’t have enough time with them. Like I’m not spending enough time with them. Why am I not going back home more often? And I have this feeling. And, you know, as you grow up, I think it’s true for all of us. As you grow up, you realise that you’re growing up, but they’re growing old. And so I get quite emotional thinking about, our simple childhood when I was back at home with them and there was nothing to do. And that time we used to get bored because we used to be like, there’s nothing to do. But now what I’d give to do nothing with my parents, so, a day like that, a regular day from my childhood is what I’d like to relive again.

What is the one thing that you would love to do before this year ends?

I’m shooting for two things and I’ve been promoting Gyaarah Gyaarah, so I haven’t travelled much this year.  I think I want to travel to a place where I can watch something that inspires me. So, I’m most likely going to go to New York sometime next month. And just watch some Broadway, some theatre. Like I feel like watching something live that really inspires me. So that’s something I want to be able to do.

Pick movies or series that inspired you this year?

So I, I’m a big fan of the show, The Bear. Oh my God. I’m a big fan. I’ve been a fan since the first season. I love that show and I love where it’s going. It’s a show that does not pander to its fans. It’s a show that’s brave. It’s a show that’s clutter breaking. It’s a kind of a show that I want to be a part of so badly. I also watched other interesting show called Shogun. The insight that it gives you into Japanese culture is amazing. And I feel like Japan has always been that place that has fascinated all of us. I also really liked One Day. It was one of those you know, when I say a well-made romantic drama, I mean that. Baby Reindeer, that show disturbed me, positively shook me up. And I think there are very few things that can affect you so much. It’s one of them.

In the latest episode of In The Ring with Filmfare, Kill star Lakshya spoke about a pivotal moment in his career when Dostana 2 which was supposed to be his debut film got shelved. Reflecting on the setback, Lakshya shared how this experience shifted his perspective. “When I lost Dostana, that’s when reality hit me really hard. Tab laga ki yaar, kuch bhi ho sakta hai life mein. So, I think the importance of being grounded became very personal to me after that incident. I think it was required.”

Watch the full episode here: