The handsome Angad Bedi is making head turns not just with his good looks but also his acting chops. With films and shows like Soorma, Pink, Tiger Zinda Hai, Inside Edge… he’s proved his mettle as an actor playing some impressive roles. And he’s rearing to go. His courtroom drama series, The Verdict: State vs Nanavati is on the verge of its release. And there’s more coming up from the talented actor with films like The Zoya Factor, Kargil Girl… Excerpts from a freewheeling chat:
What was so special about The Verdict that you said yes to playing Karl Khandalavala even when the story has been narrated through the film Rustom earlier?
The Verdict highlights the perspective of three lawyers, Karl Jamshed Khandalavala, Ram Jethmalani and Chandu Trivedi. It’s also got a political and a religious angle to it with the divide that happened between the Sindhis and the Parsis then. It was an open and shut case but 15 top lawyers of those time refused to fight this case. Then it went to the biggest lawyer of this country, Khandalavala, who had never lost a case. It wasn’t less than a challenge for me as an actor to play such a real-life character and I took it on.
What were the challenges getting into the skin of your character, Karl Jamshed Khandalavala?
Challenges were infinite. It’s never easy to portray a real-life person on the screen. Expectations weigh heavy. Then to play someone who has been flamboyant and connoisseur of art and music, an ex-air force officer who has also served as a judge and as a lawyer and someone who had never lost a case ever. Body language had to be worked upon and the speech in the courtroom had to be crystal clear. How Karl carried himself was very important. The character had to have stature. Also, the monologues were the toughest part. My co-actors, Manav Kaul, Makarand Deshpande, Sourabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire and Soni Razdan are all theatre veterans. I was the youngest who had the toughest role.
From being in the dock in Pink to playing a lawyer in The Verdict, tell us how you prepped for the role.
To be pitched with someone as Makarand Deshpande is never going to be easy. He is the prosecutor and my character is in defence. We did a lot of rehearsals and he was very accommodating. I watched a few films like A Few Good Men, Philadelphia and The Judge. I wanted Karl to have authority and aggression in the courtroom but in his personal, life he is a caring man. So, I tried to find the right pitch in the courtroom and balance in his personal space. Makarand sir helped me a lot in the journey and so did our director Shashant Shah.
Go on…
This till date will be my most memorable role. In Pink, I was in the dock and Mr Bachchan was the one questioning me. Also, we shot the court scenes in the same courtroom we shot Pink which was surreal. I had observed Mr Bachchan a lot during Pink and did take a lot of inspiration from him and channelised it in my character, Karl.
What kind of characters attract you the most as an actor?
I get attracted to characters which have a lot of layering. I personally really like flawed characters because they are real. They have all the emotions to portray. I feel as an actor that’s a challenge and where we have reached as far as the audience is concerned they like real performances. Hero/villain are a thing of the past. Here, if the character strikes a chord with the audience, only then you are accepted as an actor, else not.
Tell us more about The Zoya Factor, Kargil Girl and your upcoming projects
After The Verdict, I have The Zoya Factor with Fox Star, Inside Edge season 2 with Excel Entertainment and then I have a film with Jhanavi Kapoor produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta under the Dharma banner. This year looks promising as far as releases go. Hope I get to grow and work with makers like Shashank Khaitan and Shakun Batra.
How’s the father to Mehr doing?
Mehr’s father is in a happy space. She brings a lot of joy and laughter to our lives. Our home is complete now. Since she has come into our lives everything has changed for the better. Mehr has made both Neha and me better human beings. She has made us realize what family really means.
How do you manage work and time with Mehr?
Neha and I, both have made a conscious decision to spend every waking hour with Mehr. We wake up early and spend as much time with her before we set off for our respective work. She’s turning out to be a very social child which is very heartening to see. She loves outdoor activities like going for a swim. She loves the water. We try and organize as many play dates for her as possible. She’s a happy baby.
How has the bond with Neha altered after you both turned parents?
Bond hasn’t altered much. Keeping the time constraint in mind, we prioritise each other even more now. We try and spend evenings together. We both like doing the same things. Our interests are similar so whether it’s going out to eat, training, running or even traveling, we try to plan in advance. Life is the same, just more planned now. We are still in the honeymoon period of our relationship.
What do you have to say about your friend, Yuvraj Singh’s retirement?
Yuvi has been a fine ambassador of the game. He’s carried himself with outmost dignity both on and off the field. Nobody has been able to fill that number 4 batting slot yet. Hope post retirement, he can give back to the game as much as the game has given him. Jersey no 12 will be missed.
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