Im Very Upset That I have been sidelined in the Publicity of KUCHH KARIYE Vikrum Kumar

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April 24, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Vikrum Kumar tells Jyothi Venkatesh that though while acting in Jagbir Dahiya’s film Kuchh Kariye, he had given tips to Sukhwinder Singh on how to build his body for his role, and Sukhwinder in turn had given him tips on how to sing in sur, he is upset that Sukhwinder has hogged all the credit a the leading man of the film in spite of the fact that he has already acted in six films till date and a senior to Sukhwinder in the industry.

What is your role in Kuchh Kariye?

I play the role of Javed Khan, a journalist in Kuchh Kariye. The film is a character-driven film on the lines of Rang De Basanti and sets out to tell the story of people who try to change the world so that it can be a better place to live in. Shreya Narayan, who is also playing a key role in Prakah Jha’s film Raajneeti, plays the love interest of Sukhwinder in the film. With Kuchh Kariye playback singer cum music director Sukhwinder is all set to re-invent him and try his luck as a leading man in Hindi films, whereas I am playing the parallel lead. The film also has Rufy Khan, who is a popular model in an important role.

Is Kuchh Kariye your first film as an actor?

No. It was Deepak Balraj Vij’s Mumbai Godfather, which was my maiden film as a leading man opposite Rinku Ghosh, though I had earlier acted in a music video called Velocity for Babul Supriyo for T Series. Besides that, I had also acted in films like Souten, Old Is Gold Royal Utsav and Trump Card. In Mumbai Godfather, I had acted alongside legendary actress Seema Biswas. I am passionate about acting and I am happy to have had the opportunity to break into the industry alongside a legendary actress like Seema Biswas

Was bagging Kuchh Kariye easy?

I guess, yes! My secretary learnt that Jabir Dahiya, the producer and director, was looking out for an actor to play an important role in the film. I was apprehensive initially because this was Dahiya’s first film. I read the bound script nevertheless and got convinced. That is how I became part of this film.

Did you want to get into the slot as an action hero like Akshay Kumar?

I am a huge fan of Akshay Kumar and am looking forward to work with him some day. Just like Akshay, I am also working hard and trying to make a mark in the industry. I have been awarded a bravery certificate from the government of New Zealand for skydiving from 12000 feet without any formal training. It is true that it is my burning desire that people should remember me as an action hero, like Akshay Kumar. This year is mine and I hope to receive appreciation from the audience & the film industry.

Tell me more about your role in Kuchh Kariye?

I am playing Javed, a freelance writer, who wants to change the world by the power of words. He strongly believes in the adage – Pen is mightier than sword. He is a thinker like Baba Bulleshah and wants to change the system. He wants the people to believe in humanity and make the peaceful.All four us –Sukhi, Shreya, Rufy and I struggle against the odds. In spite of death threats from the militants, I set out as a young maseeha to make a film to drive home the message that at any cost we should ensure world peace but the terrorists from POK prevent us from making the film, which preaches world peace, because their agenda is to build tension in India. How we win and make the film forms the crux of the film, which is also entertaining to the core.

How was your chemistry with Sukhwinder on the sets?

Sukhi Paji and I got along very well like a house on fire. The best thing about is that we ended up with a barter system on the sets. While I used to give him about how to build his body because he had show off his bare chest in a scene, he used to give me tips in singing.

Is it true that you are upset with Sukhwinder because he has gypped you of your credit?

I would not say that he has gypped me of my credit. I am upset that he and the producers have completely sidelined me in all the publicity by claiming that Sukhwinder is the hero and I am just a friend of his in the film whereas the fact is that I am a parallel hero with Sukhwinder Singh.

You had played the romantic lead opposite Mahima Chaudhary in Souten!

Yes. It was a wonderful experience to be pitted opposite a big star like Mahima Chaudhary who did not let me feel that I was a rank newcomer when I did my romantic scenes with her in Souten in which she played Gulshan Grover’s wife who strays when she comes across me. Kiran Rathod who had played one of the leads opposite Hrithik Roshan in Subhash Ghai’s Yaadein was also cast in the film opposite me.

Was Old Is Gold an adaptation of the hit film Shaukeen?

Yes. The film was called Old Is Gold and had a bunch of oldies like Shakti Kapoor, Asrani and Kader Khan. A new girl called Madhurima played the role which Rati Agnihotri had essayed in Shaukeen, while I had stepped into the shoes of Mithun Chakraborty in the original.

Why did you do an inconsequential film called Royal Utsav?

It was a challenging role for me as an actor and by no means an inconsequential film I played the lead in a historic film called Royal Utsav in which I played the role of the real Alexander - The Great, whereas another actor played the role of the reincarnation of Alexander - The Great.

Is it true that you tried to ape Rajat Sharma when you were cast as a news channel owner in Trump Card?

I confess that when I was cast as the owner of a news channel in Trump Card, I followed the mannerisms of Rajat Sharma and set out to play a channel owner who resorts to sting operation in the film.

Besides Kuchh Kariye, which is seeing the light of the day this week, which are the other films now up your sleeves?

I have two films on hand now. One of them is Rahul Dolakia’s Society along with industry stalwarts likes Om Puri, Paresh Rawal, Randhir Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Sarika, Seema Biswas, Javed Jaffrey and the other is an out and out comedy film called Shaadi Ke Liye Loan, directed by Rikshit Matta, a new director. Though I had shot with Mrinalini Sharma, I do not know what went wrong, because she is being replaced by some other actress.

Where do you think that you went wrong as an actor?

In the last five years that I have been in this industry I have acted in seven films, which, come to think of it, is not a bad average. However, I would not at all hesitate to confess that I went wrong in choosing some films. I admit that I also did not know how to promote myself in the media because I was confident of my films like Souten and thought that my work would speak for itself, especially because they were big films.

What lesson did you learn from your experience?

I learnt that every film is not a piece of cake that you eat and it becomes a hit and you will also have to encounter several moments when you have to puke. All said and done, at the end of the day, I’d be frank enough to admit that though I am not happy with the way my career has progressed, I am not at all sad, because I know that I am young and have a long way to go and I am not in a tearing hurry at all.

-Jyothi Venkatesh/ Sampurn Wire