He’s won hearts — and awards — on debut with Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. The Vasan Bala directorial, set to release in India in early 2019, has newcomer Abhimanyu Dassani in the role of a young man called Surya who suffers from Congenital Insensitivity, a rare condition that makes him feel no physical pain.

Described as “an ode to the action-comedy genre”, the film has Surya set out on a quest to take on his foes. Last week, Abhimanyu, 26, won the Best New Young Actor Award at The International Film Festival & Awards Macao. t2 caught up with the actor — who is Maine Pyar Kiya’s leading lady Bhagyashree’s son — on his dream debut.

Congratulations for the award at Macao. The film’s given you many memorable moments, but does this feel a little more special?

Absolutely! This was the first award function I attended and this is my first award. Mabel Cheung, who is a celebrated filmmaker from Hong Kong, was giving out the award and since she was describing me in Chinese, I had no idea what she was saying and that she was even talking about me! But Vasan Sir (Bala, the film’s director) realised it’s me because she mentioned ‘Kung fu’ somewhere, but even then I couldn’t believe that she was talking about me. I kept telling him, ‘Don’t get me excited!’ But then she announced my name and my heart just skipped a beat for a second. I looked at Vasan Sir and he gave me a trademark look of his that I call ‘The Vasan’ (laughs).

What was incredible is that Mabel is very close to Jackie Chan and later when I spoke to her, she told me that in the description of me in Chinese, she had compared me to Jackie Chan. Imagine putting me in the same sentence as a legend… it’s surreal!

The film’s had long legs at film festivals and reviews have singled you out for praise. What’s the best feedback so far?

There are three. First, I met the Bosnian director Danis Tanovic for dinner and he couldn’t believe that this was my first film. He asked me, ‘Do you want to stick to only Bollywood?’ I thought that was fantastic, given that I am a newcomer and he’s an Oscar winner. Second, Mabel wants me to go to China and do some action films there. Third, when I was in Toronto with the film (it won the People’s Choice Award: Midnight Madness at the Toronto International film Festival), I was crossing a street on my first night there and some Canadian people started screaming Surya (Abhimanyu’s character in the film). It happened again in the restaurant where I was having breakfast. It left me shell-shocked and also reminded me of how my mother (Bhagyashree) still gets called ‘Suman’ (from Maine Pyar Kiya) whenever we travel, even in parts of Europe. I am happy I am known more as Surya than as Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu as Surya in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota Agency picture

What was the thought behind choosing an unconventional debut like Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota?

I went for a lot of auditions for a whole lot of films and it was during this time that I met Vasan Sir and got close to him. I knew I wanted to work with him, whatever it was. When he cast me in this film, it gave me a tremendous burst of confidence and I haven’t looked back. I signed this film in the summer of 2016 and it’s going to release in 2019. We’ve been through a roller-coaster ride… the film wasn’t supposed to happen about a million times. But both of us had our eyes on the goal, we knew we had to get it made. The core team has been so passionate about this film. I think the destiny of this film has been to win hearts all over the world, and that’s what it’s been doing.

Was it a conscious decision to go in for multiple auditions even though you had filmi connections?

Always. I believe that if I have any talent, I will be able to prove myself and get work. Standing on my own feet means so much to me. I have the security that I am here today not because of anything else but my hard work. It’s a different kind of fulfilment that doesn’t leave space for insecurity. I know I am doing the right thing.

What was the toughest bit of making this film? You had to undergo extensive training in martial arts...

I trained for nine hours every day for nine months. I wasn’t a martial artist before this, but I gave it everything I had… I was like a horse with blinkers on. ‘Jo dikhta hai wahin pe pahunch na hai’ kind of thing. Surya is such a unique character, I had no references to play him, actually. He’s vulnerable yet strong, he’s black-and-white, he doesn’t lie and he feels no pain. He’s grown up speaking to two people — his father and his grandfather. For about three months, I went into isolation; I didn’t speak to anybody in my house. I prepped myself by recalling memories of my first heartbreak, of times when I was very jealous… that’s because Surya feels everything for the first time.

Did you always want to become an actor?

Not at all. I got my degree in finance. I have been an entrepreneur from the age of 16. I set up about 10-12 businesses, made them profitable and sold them off. But along the way, I realised that what turns me on is creativity. I became an assistant director to Rohan Sippy and worked on films like Dum Maaro Dum and Nautanki Saala! as well as a documentary. Being on set for four years ignited a fire inside me. While I was working as an assistant director, I went to New York every summer for three months and did extensive acting courses. A really senior teacher there told me that if I didn’t give acting a serious chance, then he would be disappointed. That’s the kind of confidence I came back with. I worked on my dancing skills, my voice and then I started giving auditions. Fortunately, I like giving auditions… I have given a lot of them! (Laughs)

What do you like best about being an actor? You said in a recent interview that between ‘Action’ and ‘Cut’ you are like Popeye on spinach…

(Laughs) I was trying to look for an example to illustrate how much energy acting gives me and I suddenly remembered how Popeye behaves when he has spinach. He starts jumping around and that’s exactly how I feel in front of the camera. It’s during those two-three minutes, whether it’s for a film or a rehearsal or audition, that I believe I am most alive. It’s magical, ya. The energy that I get in those two minutes, I hope everyone finds that kind of passion in life and follows it. I wake up on Monday and say, ‘Thank god, it’s Monday and I can go to work!’

Maine Pyar Kiya is a timeless film. Even after 30 years, she’s (mom Bhagyashree) recognised as Suman and that fills me with pride now Agency picture

What’s your earliest memory of watching your mom on screen?

I have mixed feelings about this question! (Laughs) As a kid, I didn’t quite like what my mom did because work would take her away from me. When we were in public, people would come to speak to her and take her autographs and I wouldn’t like it because I felt, ‘That’s my mother, let her spend time with me’. Even after 30 years, she’s recognised as Suman and that fills me with pride now.

Maine Pyar Kiya is a timeless film. There are a very few films that have this quality and everyone enjoys that film now as much as they did 30 years ago.

What’s the best advice she’s given you?

She’s always told me that focus is the main thing. Her mantra has always been ‘Be a good person and everything else will fall into place and come to you’. That’s something I’m trying to inculcate in my life every single day.

What’s the way forward for you?

Over-analysing this is going to be my downfall; I will take it as it comes. Fortunately, there’s been a lot of interest in me after the trailer came out and after we won at Toronto. My thing is that I want the viewer to re-recognise Abhimanyu every time I come on screen… my roles should be that diverse. I have a couple of announcements to make next year… I hope to start the new year with a bang.