Adarsh Gourav has managed to make an impact with every part that he's played. The latest is his turn as Jugnu in Guns and Gulaabs, now streaming on Netflix, in which the young actor nails a complex, layered part with trademark ease. Even as he makes a firm foothold in India, Adarsh has already ventured into the West, earning praise for the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations which also starred Meryl Streep. Next, Adarsh, 29, is slated to star in a prequel series to the classic film Alien. A t2 chat with the actor.

You possibly have the most powerful scene in Guns and Gulaabs — the one in which your character Jugnu aka Chhota Ganchi visits his semi-comatose father in the hospital dressed in women's clothing, signifying his coming out of the closet. It arrives as a curveball in the narrative. How have viewers been reacting to that particular scene?

That scene was one of acceptance of who Jugnu really is. It was a testament to how he never felt he belonged to this world of gangsters and toxic masculinity though he was born into and surrounded by it all the time. He has grown up without a mother and, in fact, there is no female presence in the house. I think that really impacted the way Jugnu and his father (played by Satish Kaushik) thought and functioned and the kind of decisions they took. The only friend that Jugnu had was Nirmal (played by Sanchay Goswami) and he was Jugnu's friend only because he was scared of saying 'no' to him. If you ask me, Jugnu has actually had a very tragic and unfortunate life.

The last scene is just a culmination of all these things. Jugnu decides that he's had enough and he can't keep leading his life according to what's expected of him. He decides that at the age of 24-25, he wants to live his life the way he wants to and for that, his dad has to die. But even while Jugnu doesn't belong to this world of gangsters, taking a life doesn't feel heavy on him because he's seen that happen around him all the time. The fact that he could kill his father so easily points towards that. It was a very complex scene but I tried to keep it as simple as I could.

What was it like being directed by Raj & DK?

It was very special. The fact that they come from such humble beginnings and are self-made people makes them the film-makers they they are. They are not from the fraternity or even from the city (Mumbai). They grew up in Andhra Pradesh, studied to be engineers and came back from the US to pursue their passion for making films. The way they talk about cinema tells one how much they love what they do. When you meet them, you realise that they are actually very humble and they don't take themselves too seriously. They are always up for a good laugh.

That quality also extends to their film-making. Their characters don't take themselves too easily, there is always a self-centred mockery and a kind of self-deprecating humour in their work. Their ability lies in telling stories that may otherwise seem heavy but the moment they feel things are getting serious, they flip a scene on its head. They crack a joke or they do something silly and the viewer is able to laugh and yet connect with that scene and with that character. That makes the whole experience very special.

It's been quite a few crests in the short career that you have had so far. What would you pick as the turning points?

The turning point, by all means, was The White Tiger (2021). Just the fact that I got to play Balram Halwai, the central character of a bestselling book (Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger), is an immense opportunity for any actor. I wanted to make sure that I made the most of that and I really pushed myself in every capacity to make sure that I looked and felt like Balram in the best way I could. I will always be grateful to Ramin Bahrani, the director of the film, who thought I was capable enough to play that character. The process was made collaborative and so much fun. The film, of course, got a lot of praise and I earned a bunch of nominations (including a BAFTA nod). My life changed the day I was cast as Balram.

You have told me in the past that you are pursued consistently by moments of self-doubt as an actor. Having done quite a few projects here as well as in Hollywood, does self-doubt still persist?

I doubt myself all the time (smiles). I have realised that it's just who I am. Actually, I am glad that there is some element of self-doubt because it helps me to not take it easy, it makes me not take my job lightly. When I say I am lucky, I genuinely understand the importance of being lucky because there are millions of people in this country who want to be actors. The fact that I get to be one of the chosen few and work with big names is not something that I am ever going to take lightly. So self-doubt helps me to stay rooted and grounded and it helps me push myself as an actor. At the same time, I also have fun! This is what I love doing.

How has working in the West enhanced your skills?

Essentially, the difference that I notice in the work culture between here and there is just in terms of the number of people on set... there are fewer there and more here. The process is a bit more automated in the West and in India, things are done manually.

Extrapolations (his show with AppleTV+) was a very special experience. In my segment, I got to work with Keri Russell, Waris Ahluwalia, Zuleikha Robinson and Gaz Choudhury. It was a very creative experience. We shot in America in the middle of the pandemic. It was the first time I stepped out of India.

As far as Alien (the series adaptation of the classic) is concerned, I am not allowed to talk much about it. It's a massive show and I am playing a fun character and I am very excited about it. As an actor, I just hope that I am able to transform as much as I can for the characters that I play. That's what gives me a kick... to convince people that I am not Adarsh, I am the guy who I am playing.

Are you actively pursuing a career in Hollywood?

I definitely am pursuing one though I have not thought about shifting there. I am open to going anywhere where there is a good opportunity. I am lucky that I have agents in America and in the UK who get me these auditions. Honestly, I audition for so many parts and then I end up getting one part out of 200 auditions (laughs).

You were singing even before you were acting. What's happening on that front?

Singing will never take a backseat. I start my day with singing practice. I will be putting out my music very soon. I am working on two songs that I plan to release by the end of the year.

Who would you pick as the most exciting young Indian actor today? Tell t2@abp.in