New Delhi: Anantvijay Joshi, better known for his roles in 'Virgin Bhaskar' and 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein', has been recently seen in a film titled 'Kathal' which was released on Netflix this month. He starred opposite the Dangal girl Sanya Malhotra. In an exclusive and candid chat with ABP Live, he said that he believes that the clever writing of the movie mixed with the simplicity of his character is what landed well with the audience. He believes that an OTT release has many more benefits than mainstream Bollywood movies having theatrical releases.


In an interview with ABP Live, he shared his experience from the sets and talked about how the final output turned out to be. He further expanded on his journey so far, how that has helped him to turn into a fine actor and his expectations from the film. 


Here are the excerpts from the interview:


Tell us something memorable from the sets of Kathal


I and Sanya had a late-night scene, it was an apology scene. I think that was the most outstanding scene. Usually, I have a tendency to cover up my mistakes but instead, me apologising as Saurabh was very special to me. It is a very rare quality. An apology is a very sweet way of expressing your honesty and Saurabh doing that became memorable for me.


How did you land your role in Kathal?


I auditioned for my part in this movie. So I got a call from the casting team, I got their memo that this is the character and this is the film Kathal. I didn't get the script that time but had a character brief and then I got to know that this is for Netflix which is a very safe and protected environment. So, I went to its audition and then I got a call regarding my selection.


You've played Virgin Bhaskar so how did the learnings shape you to play Saurabh?


In Virgin Bhaskar, it was a very different type of comedy that I was attempting and it was for a very different audience yet, I think being honest with the character is what I carried forward even with Saurabh. I learnt so much of regional lingo for Virgin Bhaskar but, for Saurabh, sincerity and honesty are what I carried forward. 


Do you think that the movie connected with the audience? Or did it miss?


I would like to believe that it did. There are many layers in this movie, one such is the dialogue "Mathura Mein Rehna Hai To Radhe Radhe Kehna Hai". It is such a satirical statement. When the song came out and I saw my family's reaction then I saw them enjoying it. I think that's what the movie is about, sharing a laugh. This is the kind of writing which you might see and forget but then later something might happen around you which would remind you of the movie. The writing is very clever and the characters are simple so I think that combination connected with the audience.


Was this film best suited for an OTT release or would it have done better if released on bigger screens?


We were actually discussing this. There are many advantages of releasing on OTT. One of the advantages I think is the global audience. Even my past projects have witnessed this. Some of the projects that I've done have actually been received very well by the foreign audience, even better than the Indian audience in terms of viewership and appreciation. The pressure of the shelf-life was removed as it got released online. Many times good scripts are left in the dust just because a lot of money is involved and the calculations of returns start dictating the way your story unfolds. I'm glad that we decided to stick to OTT with Kathal.


What are a few things that you would change about Saurabh?


I am a very self-critical kind of person. I wish I could've made Saurabh more cheap-ier. As for the story, I wish he was more kinder to the people around him. I wish I could have supported the farmer that came for help. But other than that, I think I am satisfied with my character.


Did you at any point feel that your character got overshadowed or you overshadowed anyone?


No, so we knew that Sanya is in the lead and that Kathal will be Mahima's (Sanya Malhotra's on-screen name) journey. We played our parts so there never was any feeling of overshadowing, to be honest. Everyone was playing their part and it became a well-balanced story. 


What are your upcoming projects? 


It’s Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film, he is producing and directing it. The title of the movie is '12 fail' and I am in a pivotal role.