It’s raining biopics in Bollywood. What’s interesting is the fact that these films are also connecting with the audience. The trailer of Soorma, which is based on the life of hockey player and former captain of the Indian team, Sandeep Singh, has got the audience interested.
Angad Bedi, who plays the role of Bikramjit, elder brother of Sandeep Singh, says that Bikramjit plays a crucial role in the latter’s life. “Bikramjit is the one who mentors him, brings him back on his feet after he gets shot. He tells Sandeep, ‘How is it possible that you will not be able to play anymore? I will see to it that you are back on the field, playing for India’. Bikramjit was one of the best players in the country. It was his dream to play for India but he couldn’t, because of Sandeep’s injuries. He was an explosive player,” Angad says, adding that it was because of Bikramjit’s sacrifices that compelled Sandeep to come back and play for India.
Soorma stars Diljit Dosanjh in the title role, along with Taapsee Pannu, Siddharth Shukla, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and others. It’s directed by Shaad Ali and set to release on July 13.
The PINK actor says that he had to physically work hard to get into the character of Bikramjit. “He is 6 ft 4 inches tall, muscular and I had to work to get that kind of body. I had to get his body language right; Bikramjit has a certain kind of bounce and energy. He had his own style of playing hockey and I had to get that right too. I also practised hockey for four months. In fact, the sports choreography was done by Bikramjit,” says the actor.
The character had two aspects — physical and emotional — but Angad says that getting the emotional aspect of the character accurate was far more challenging. “That’s because it’s a true story. Sandeep was shot in his spine and Bikramjit had to work hard to look after his family and send money for the treatment. While speaking to us about the tough moments, both Bikramjit and Sandeep’s eyes would well up. They were reliving those moments through our performances. Hence, it was emotionally challenging for all for us,” he explains.
The actor, whose last film Tiger Zinda Hai became a blockbuster, says that while working on a biopic, one cannot mimic and copy the characters as they are. “You have to understand their mannerisms and inculcate them in your own performance. It doesn’t mean that just because you have reference point, you end up copying him. It’s all about the performance,” he says.
This is Angad’s second film with Taapsee and first with Diljit. He says that working with Taapsee is a family-like affair. “I have known her for a long time since PINK released. As for Dosanjh, I am a big fan of his, because I have seen all his work. He has given strong performances but I feel Soorma could be the project from which people will know him as a solo lead.”
Angad says that he is ready to play any kind of role, be it protagonist, antagonist or even supporting as long as the character is good. “Bikramjit is a lead role because there are three principal characters in Soorma. A good role is a good role. I want to play roles which are challenging, performance based and the ones which audience should like. I can do a lead role, provided the story is interesting and can make an impact. If I am not creatively excited, then there is no point doing it,” he says.
The actor also made headlines recently when he got married to his longtime friend Neha Dhupia in a secret ceremony in Delhi. The wedding came as a surprise not just to his fans but also to his friends within the industry. The actor says that marriage is treating him well. “I am having fun,” he says.
The actor proposed to Neha in front of her parents and took their permission before going ahead. The actor doesn’t think he is an old-school guy but he confesses that he doesn’t understand the concept of dating either, because that’s the way his parents have brought him up and his sister. His parents have been married for 45 years, and his grandparents believe that you to have keep the family together, look after them.
“I was clear, ‘if we have to get into a relationship, let’s do it seriously’. If you have to give respect to an association, marriage is the best association to give respect. Why shy away from it?” he says before signing off.
