Youth Incorporated Magazine

A sneak peek of our interview with Bollywood actor, Sidharth Malhotra!

 

Is there anything you miss about Delhi, where you grew up?

So many things. I miss the food and my family, since I don’t have any family in Mumbai. I still don’t know a lot about Mumbai, I still feel like a foreigner when I go towards town. I am yet to explore Mumbai.

Was there a particular moment after the success of Student of the Year, when you realised that your life had changed?

One week after the release of the film, we went to two malls in Mumbai, to promote the film. By this time we were actually tired of the promotions and were getting pakaoed by it. We were expecting about 300 people or so and we thought we would interact with them and ask them to dance. But when we reached the first mall, we found a difference in the energy of everyone, right from the person who was opening the door for us. That was the first time we thought that we actually need security because it was really crowded. When Alia, Varun and I entered, the roar that went out in the crowd, we were not expecting it. There were about 800-900 people in the mall and the big difference was that now, these guys had seen our film. And by now, they had made their choice that “I like this boy” or “I like this film”. You know that they are rooting for you. I think I had the most amount of fun dancing for them that day, because anything we would do, they would start cheering. This really helped our confidence and gave us a boost; this is the power of Bollywood in India. I think, especially for me, I realised that I could have very easily been in the audience. Who would’ve thought that coming from Delhi and trying to make it films, one day I would be standing on a stage and get this kind of a response from the audience? It was a great moment; it was the best feeling to watch people cheer and take your name. I think that’s what every actor aspires for. There is nothing that can compare to that high.

Is there any one actor you see as competition?

I think not one, but all of them are competition, we’re all pitching for the same film. Suddenly there is a big pool of young actors that’s come in but I don’t think any one of us can do a particular thing to get a film. I don’t think it works like that. I think there is competition; I can’t particularly pick Varun or anybody else because we are all pitching for the same roles.

Did you find people in Bollywood were more welcoming because you were starring in Karan Johar’s film?

Of course, because Karan is friends with all of them. All the other actors are aspiring to work with Karan, and we’re the only ones who’ve come from nowhere and worked with him. We’re probably the only ones who’ve launched with such a big director, except for Saawariya, though Ranbir was still from a filmy background. After him, we’re the only ones who’ve worked with an A-lister in our first film. Karan is very considerate about how he portrays us or introduces us to people. Varun and Alia still had a lot of friends in the industry. I think for me it was more important. Till now everyone has been nice and cool, I think I’ll find out later if this lasts or not.

Short Takes:

Favourite memory from your student days: Eating chicken rolls in PVR Saket which is near Delhi University

The one actor you’ve always dreamed of working with: Mr Bachchan. It would be cool to share screen space with him. I don’t think I’ll be able to do much, but it’ll be cool to perform with him

Party at a club or cosying up and chilling at home: I prefer chilling at home, probably calling some friends home.

Sachin Tendulkar or Lionel Messi: I grew up with Sachin, but because of the football I played for SOTY, I’m leaning towards Messi now.

One place you can holiday year after year: I would like to say New York, but I can’t afford it year after year, so it would probably be Goa. They’re totally different cities, but I’ve been going to Goa recently, and it’s the most convenient place to go.

If you were a drink, what would you be: I was actually told by my stylist, that I am like champagne – sparkling, bubbly and not so over-the-top; it gives you a high much later. I thought that was a compliment.

A film you wish you’d starred in: Agneepath. I’m a big Bachchan fan, I find the ‘hero entries’ and things like that quite cool. The film demands a very intense hero and I like that. If I get a chance to do a film like Agneepath, I would love to do it.

With respect to Hollywood, I would love to do a superhero film. More than Batman, I think Superman because they’ve still not figured it out. The last one didn’t work out, so maybe I’ll audition for the next one.

Your fitness mantra: Eat home cooked food as much as you can.

An actor whose body you admire: Katrina Kaif is hot. And I’ve seen recent photographs of Hrithik and I think he’s at his fittest right now. So I would aspire to be like that.

Your most sinful indulgence: I like jalebis. But it’s too much sugar so I haven’t had one in a while

The one actress you secretly wish you could romance on-screen: Lots. I haven’t romanced any of them. Kareena Kapoor, even Kajol. I would love to do a film with Kajol, I don’t know if I can romance her, but it would be an interesting script, something like a younger boy-older woman story.

Another dimension of Siddharth Malhotra few people know about: I like copying cartoons, instead of starting from scratch.

 What songs would be on your recently played list: I’m a Bollywood buff so I was listening to Hookah Bar right now because my cousin really likes it. I also like progressive house, a friend of mine introduced me to it.

Your ideal woman: Fun, sexy, fit

 

Want to read more about his love life and his career boost?  Grab a copy of our Feb 2013 issue today!