Kangana Ranaut shares the challenges she faced in performing the action sequences in Tejas — directed by Sarvesh Mewara and streaming on ZEE5 — and her learnings from working on the film.
You have done a few action movies. What do you like most about being a part of this genre? Any challenges you particularly face with action movies?
Kangana Ranaut: For me, action is like any other form of expression, whether it is dance or singing. However, performing action requires intense physical training and it can be exhausting and draining at times. However, with Tejas, action took a different dimension. It was synchronised with the machines, especially the fighter jets. This made it exceptionally thrilling, especially when portrayed on screen, like the aerial action scenes in the film. This was something very unusual for me, and I applaud my director for pulling it off so well.
How do you feel about Tejas reaching a global audience and what do you hope international viewers take away from the movie?
Kangana Ranaut: What I hope people take away from this is a sense of pride when they see the Indian Air Force. I want the whole world to look up to our defence forces, and that’s the endeavour.
In your journey with Tejas, did you experience personal growth or learnings?
Kangana Ranaut: I have always had immense respect for the soldiers of our country. However, after doing the film and stepping into their shoes, it has given me a very emotional approach to the way we look at them. The pride lies in the hands of our defence forces as they are on the war field fighting with the enemies. Fortunately, I have gotten to be a part of a film like this especially when we don’t know them personally. It’s a sense of a spiritual love that they have for the country, a dimension that I was able to explore — that kind of spiritual love for people whom you may or may not know personally, as there are millions of them. It’s a truly selfless job, and my respect and unconditional support for them have only multiplied manifold after I played a soldier myself.
