Jimmy Shergil made his debut working with big names: Gulzar's Maachis and Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein. Yet the actor feels he would have preferred if debutant director Shoojit Sircar's Yahaan had been his launch film.
In fact, Yahaan has all the bearings of Maachis, which had Tabu and Chandrachur Singh in the lead roles. Both films are about love in the time of strife.
Jimmy spoke to Patcy N about Yahaan, which releases on July 22, shooting in Kashmir and his journey from Maachis to the present day.
Tell us about your role in Yahaan.
I play an Indian Army Captain who falls in love with a Kashmiri girl. This is taboo in Kashmir and the consequences are disastrous. But falling in love is not intentional; it just happens.
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This couple fights against the system, the political set-up, the army and their families to achieve their love.
Why did you take up this film?
When I heard the narration from Shoojit Sircar, I realised that this guy is going to make a really good film. I am very thankful to Tigmanshu Dhulia because he had told me about this film. I am a part of Yahaan because of him.
How is Sircar as a director?
Amazing! I have worked with many big directors and I rate him as the best till now because he is a complete filmmaker -- be it shooting songs or action sequences. He picturises everything himself.
This is Sircar's first feature film. Weren't you apprehensive?
Not at all. The script is very powerful. Besides, Shoojit has experience as he is an ad filmmaker.
How different is Yahaan from Maachis?
Yahaan is an extension of Maachis or Roja or Haasil, as it deals with love in troubled times. It is similar to that extent but everything else is different.
Which do you feel is better among the two?
One cannot compare Yahaan with Maachis. I am very attached to Maachis but Yahaan is the best film that I have done so far. This is my best role. I wish Yahaan was my launch film.
How was it working with newcomer Minissha Lamba?
Amazing, because she had gone through training for about seven months with Shoojit, Piyush Mishra and others from the NSD (National School of Drama).
She went through intensive training. When I started shooting with her at the end of it, I couldn't believe Yahaan was her first film.
Was it difficult shooting in Kashmir?
Every shot was a challenge.
Since the film was shot in a volatile place, we would hide the cameras and shoot. They (the director and his crew) would call us and give us instructions. Or they would send us in a boat, and take shots from another boat, far away from us. So we didn't know what was going to happen next.
Your career started on a great note with big films like Maachis and Mohabbatein. Yet, you are not in the top league of actors today. What do you think went wrong?
Destiny. It's all destined when you are going to reach that level. You do a film and your work is appreciated but you still don't make it to the big league because that one solo hit still eludes you. The day I get that, people's perception about me will change.
I will still remain the same person and the same actor. It's not like suddenly god will put some magic potion into me. Given a good script, any actor will give his best to the film. But he needs that one solo hit.
Do you regret doing any film?
Every single decision that I have made in my career has been my own. Nobody has forced me to do any film. Earlier, I worked to survive in this industry. I had a family to support.
Even if nothing clicked, I kept working. My logic was that at least I was getting the experience. I got to play different kinds of characters. You learn from every single film, be it good or bad. Every film is a learning experience.
Which is your best film till date?
Yahaan is my best film till date.
What has been your filmi journey like?
I have been in the industry for 11 years now. My graph till now has been slow but steadily upwards. I have done films that have done extremely well, and films where my work has been appreciated.
Every year you have a film like Yahaan, or small roles in films like Munnabhai MBBS to lift your career. As an actor, that is good enough for me because getting a hit is not in my hands.
All that we can do is work hard and deliver a good performance.
I need to come a full circle. I need to do action, comedy and all kinds of films. Once you have done all that, and people watch them, you get confidence to say that I have come a full circle as an actor.
Forthcoming films?
My next film is a Punjabi film called Yaraa Naal Bahara, made by (the man) who is called the Yash Chopra of Punjab, Manmohan Singh. I started my career with him when he was the cameraman of Maachis and Mohabbatein. Now, he is made two Punjabi blockbusters. This is his third film.
I am very excited about it as I am Punjabi and it's my duty to do a Punjabi film. Manmohan Singh has a great market in the North and I hope the film pushes me ahead.
I'm also doing a thriller called Khaafa.
