Ever since his breakout act in his debut film Mardaani seven years ago — a film that saw him turn the Bollywood antagonist on its head and play it with swag and style — Tahir Raj Bhasin has grown as an actor, one film at a time. As a charmer, the 34-year-old looker has always been on point, as we (re)discovered in a freewheeling chat recently on t2 Instagram Live. Excerpts from Star Talk with Tahir Raj Bhasin, that had the young actor engage in conversation with Priyanka Roy.
Hi Tahir! Loving the stubble and the just-out-of-bed look...
Tahir Raj Bhasin: Thanks! Yeah, it’s my perpetual look! (Laughs)
After a break, you have plunged right back into shooting. What’s the mindset now as compared to what it was a year ago?
Tahir: Well, this time last year, we were in the midst of the first lockdown. And, of course, it was a terrifying time because it was something the world was collectively experiencing for the very first time. This time around, with another lockdown, things have been way more serious. There is still a lot of precaution in the industry, but at the same time, there is this huge sense of relief that there is now some semblance of normalcy and that a certain percentage of people are getting vaccinated. Overall, if I were to describe in one word, it would have to be ‘gratitude’. You just tend to appreciate life and work and friendships so much more.
What’s it been like getting back to work? When we spoke last year, I remember you were enjoying your time away but also wanted to get back on set as soon as possible...
Tahir: Yeah, completely! When you do something that you love for work, just getting back to it is the most relaxing thing that can ever happen. It was really a forced holiday that everyone was on. And that’s really how I see the time around the second lockdown.
Having said that, I have spent the last year shooting some incredible projects back to back. But none of these see the light of day until post-production finishes. It is a very unglamorous aspect that rarely gets seen, but it is possibly the most important process of film-making.... As an actor, it is incredible to see everything that you’ve been doing getting pieced together. And that’s what is happening now because it is hard to do post-production when everyone is in lockdown.
If we could go a little back... how did a boy from a family of fighter pilots get into films?
Tahir: As a kid who grew up in the Air Force, we moved homes every two years. I grew up in Gwalior, then we moved to Allahabad, Chandigarh, Jamnagar, Tamil Nadu.... The permanency in my life at that time was the movies. It was this one window out into this dream world and it was sort of this thread that ran throughout my childhood... it was the only commonality. It was something that I always wanted to do.
And when we finally moved to Delhi, I joined my first theatre workshop at the age of 14 with acting coach Barry John, who has trained incredible talent like Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Bajpayee and Shah Rukh Khan. That was my first exposure to knowing the nuts and bolts of what goes into acting, and from thereon, I was hooked. I knew that this was what I wanted to do... It was a push with the family, trying to convince them that I want to do something different. But, once I got to Bombay, there was no looking back. There was honestly never a plan B.
Aamir Khan & Pooja Bedi in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Sourced by the correspondent
Was there any particular film, actor or role that had an early impact on you?
Tahir: The first film I saw in a movie theatre was Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. I was around five and I was blown away by the college, by the competition, by the drama in it. Just seeing the way an audience reacts to a film and how you can leave the theatre feeling uplifted. And for me that is what the movies stand for. That they can have this intangible impact on the human spirit through storytelling. And when Chhichhore (2019) came to me, it was like life turning full circle... it was about college, competition....
And, of course, being a ’90s kid, there was the impact of Amitabh Bachchan, and then Shah Rukh Khan. I remember watching Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and, of course, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and all the romantic songs of the ’90s. I have a very ’90s Bollywood upbringing, the impact of which lasts even now....
Bollywood romance of the ’90s had such an impact on you, and yet you started out playing an anti-hero. I know that Mardaani came to you after years of struggle and scores of auditions, but for a boy who wanted to be a hero in the conventional sense of the term, was there ever any apprehension about starting out with such a dark part?
Tahir: I am so glad that you call him an anti-hero because that is very different from the so-called ‘villain’ of Bollywood (smiles). What was interesting about Mardaani was how he (Tahir’s Karan aka Walt) was mounted, how he was projected in terms of being your boy-next-door. He could pass off as a total charmer had you did not known the work that my character was into.
When Mardaani came to me, I was already in Bombay for two-and-a half or three years. Pradeep Sarkar was directing it, Rani Mukerji was acting in it, it was being produced by Aditya Chopra and Yash Raj Films. It was just an opportunity that I had to grab and make the most of.
When I look back at it, I’m so glad I did it because it cut the clutter in terms of how fresh it was; it was a different way of portraying a bad guy. The reaction that I got was not something that I could have ever predicted. I’m eternally grateful for it. Even today as I’m reading the messages (smiles as he reads the questions/ messages popping up on the t2 Instagram Live screen) that are coming in, people are still mentioning Mardaani and that is flattering and humbling at the same time.
When we had spoken just after the film released, which was probably one of your first-ever interviews, you had mentioned that you had gone for a screening of the film and had planned to slink away before the end because you were scared people would hate you because of your character. But you actually got mobbed! Did that balance out the disappointments and the rejections that you had faced in all the years before Mardaani?
Absolutely! A lot of what fuelled me during those years was the fact that one day I will have a chance to show the audience what I can do in front of the camera and what I can do between ‘action’ and ‘cut’. And Mardaani will forever be that moment for me (smiles).
You are right. I remember being in a Delhi theatre, and Delhi audiences can get very moved by performances and by films... and ‘moved’ is a nice way of putting it! (Laughs) I do remember thinking five minutes before the film ended that I should really get out of there. But I was amazed by the overwhelming reactions! It just goes to show the maturity of today’s audience... they may hate the part, but they end up loving the actor, and they manage to distinguish that fact. Which is why it is a great time to be an actor because you can explore different kinds of parts.
Tahir Raj Bhasin as Derek (above) in Chhichhore and (below) as Walt in Mardaani
Has the transition to protagonist parts now been organic? Or have you had to really work towards it?
Tahir: It has been a conscious decision because I think that when you do something well, the tendency in any industry is to perpetuate that. So the parts that were offered to me after Mardaani were parts of antagonists and anti-heroes. But the conscious choice was to do different things. Even when it was a considerably smaller part. I did Manto, which Nandita Das directed, and for me that was a phenomenal experience because I got to share screen space with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. On the back of that came a film like Chhichhore, which was directed by Nitesh Tiwari who had done Dangal. Things started to change after that film because it was my first blockbuster success and where studios began to see that, ‘Okay, this guy can do something different’. It opened a lot of doors.
So would you pick Chhichhore as the turning point?
Tahir: You know, it’s hard to pinpoint one big change. But if I had to pick, it would be Chichhore. The fact that he (Tahir’s character Derek) was the hostel ka dada, but also had an emotional soft spot and had this sense of romanticism to him, worked for me. It showed a different shade of me to the audience and I really look back fondly at that film.
The Tahir I have known over the last seven years is someone who exemplifies calmness, humility and an innate rootedness. The word ‘thehraav’ is perhaps what describes you best. In an industry where one is expected to be a go-getter, you seem almost laid-back, for want of a better word. How does that work for you?
Tahir: Thanks, Priyanka (smiles). The reason I’m smiling is because it comes with a lot of practice. That’s not who I am otherwise. I’m a pretty jumpy, hyper person, but I think that is one of the things that Bombay teaches you. And also if there’s any learning that 2020 and 2021 has taught us is that thinking too far ahead can be counterproductive. You just have to appreciate the moment.
It is something that has taken a fair amount of work and I’m someone who always believes in authenticity as far as possible. Whether it comes to parts or whether it’s relationships in life, authenticity just makes you more relatable, more genuine on screen... and I think that’s really that one thing that I would love to bring on camera.
Following up on that, a follower on the feed has just said you are one of the most down-to-earth actors he’s seen. So is that something that you work towards or is it simply who you are?
Tahir: Again, something that I work towards. We have been talking about Mardaani, and I am someone who has had this really filmi experience of life changing for me on the Friday that Mardaani released. Nobody knew my name on Thursday and on Friday your film releases and on Saturday you are there (gestures upwards). So that can either make you feel really humble and grateful or you could become too big for your own head. And that’s where the downfall starts. That is something I’m very conscious about. I try and be as grounded and as grateful as possible. But at the same time, I would like to say that it doesn’t mean lack of energy or lack of being a go-getter! (Laughs)
With Taapsee Pannu in his upcoming film Looop Lapeta
Got that! You have some very interesting projects coming up. There’s Looop Lapeta, Bulbul Tarang and Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, among others What can you tell us about these projects?
Tahir: The reason they are so exciting is because each is different from the other. Looop Lapeta is a heist film based on Run Lola Run. For me, this marks a transition into the quintessential lead romantic hero. I am opposite Taapsee Pannu, who I’ve seen make that journey from being a good actor to a star and playing off someone like her was a huge challenge. I’ve seen some of it in the edit and I don’t want to speak too soon but I’m really anxious about how the audience will react to it.
Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein is a Netflix drama set in a small town. It’s again a romantic lead opposite Shweta Tripathi. It has a very different vibe from Looop Lapeta and it was challenging because this was the first time ever that I was shooting two things parallelly. We knew that we were running against time because all of this was done between the first and the second lockdown. So it has been a productive year and I can’t wait for people to see what we have been up to.
A follower here is saying that he’s the biggest fan of Derek from Chhichhore and wants to know if there will be a ‘Chhichhore 2?’
Tahir: That is really a producer and studio question and not something that I can answer. It’s amazing... when we were shooting in Bhopal (for Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein), people would yell out from their balconies and ask, ‘Can I have a Derek special?’ It’s just such a massive compliment when the audience hangs on to those parts.
There is a follower who wants a Derek spin-off film...
Tahir: (Laughs) Yes, I just read that! I feel he should write to Fox Star Studios (the film’s co-producers) soon.
Moving away from films for a bit. Travel is a big part of who you are. You spent a considerable amount of time earlier this year backpacking through Ladakh...
Tahir: I was actually there to shoot Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, and for me, that’s the most incredible colliding of two universes. Work and travel get combined when you go to places where you really want to go and you are doing something that you are really invested in. What I tend to do, if time permits, is to stay back after the shoot finishes and then travel around, and that’s what I was doing in Ladakh.
And yes, you are right. Travel is such a defining part of who I am and what my teenage years were. For me, there’s only that much education that you can get from the classroom. Everything else I think comes from travel. It is really where a lot of my character and a lot of my ideas come from. Things that you are unfamiliar with, music that you hear, a great conversation that you have with someone, the food that you eat.... Solo travel, instead of travelling in large groups, works for me any day. I miss it and I cannot wait for a time when it’s safer to do it again.
I remember you had told me that after attending the Cannes premiere of Manto you had backpacked through Italy...
Tahir: Yes! Wow, I’m amazed that you remember that! (Smiles) I have only just held on to the idea of backpacking... otherwise it’s more the glamping format of things. Things have changed over the years, but what I do really like is exploring new places, and not necessarily with a guided tour.
Has there been a travel experience that has been life-changing or at least perspective-changing for you in any way?
Tahir: I studied acting and film for a year in Melbourne and that was a life-changing experience. It made me realise how spoilt an existence it was for me here. As kids in India, we have domestic help and our parents with us and it’s only when you are there by yourselves that you realise that you have to do school work and housework.
That’s when I really grew up. I also remember backpacking in Prague, and just soaking in the phenomenal beauty of eastern Europe.
Is there a travel bucket list?
Tahir: I want to go back to Prague. I have never been to Spain, I reaaaally want to go there. And New Zealand. It almost sounds like science-fiction now to go to all of these places, but I really hope it happens soon. In the meantime, while that happens, there are so many places in India that I want to explore. I want to go to the North-east, I want to visit the Andamans....
Have you been to Calcutta?
Tahir: I have been there very briefly. I have been there for work. I love it! The food there, and the architecture and vibe... you don’t get it anywhere else in this country.
So you should make a trip to Calcutta before you go to Prague or Spain or New Zealand, right?
Tahir: Definitely! Like I said, this is the time to explore places in the country where you haven’t been and I feel like Durga Puja is coming up as well, so it is a perfect time to visit!
Tahir starts reading some follower comments
Tahir: @Khushi_13 just said that my interviews motivate her. Thanks Khushi... I think all motivation, all positivity in these times should be encouraged... so, thank you! (smiles)
And Khushi is also asking if there is any role that changed your life?
Tahir: That would have to be Mardaani. The first role, like first love, is always special.
Your style is very easy-going yet it has an impact, a lot like your personality. What does fashion mean to you?
Tahir: One of my favourite quotes is, “Fashion you can buy, but style you must possess”. In today’s world of Instagram and people putting up photographs in fashionable clothes, if you are not feeling it, I think the cost and value of the label that you are wearing is immediately gone. A lot of fashion depends on what makes you feel comfortable and brings out who you are rather than you putting on something, trying to change yourself.
When you aren’t working, what would we find you in?
Tahir: It would be track pants and a T-shirt! If I’m feeling a typical colour that day, I will go with that colour. If I’m going for a dub (dubbing), and it is something that the character would be wearing, I would wear that. On days when I don’t really have to think too much, comfort is the number one factor.
Have you ever picked up a costume from a film you have worked on?
Tahir: That’s such an interesting question! No one’s ever asked me that! Yes I have. Almost from every character, I take one piece of clothing, just so that at one point if I want to have a throwback or just live that part once again.... So from Shyam Chaddha in Manto, I have a jacket when he meets Manto (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) for the first time. There’s a T-shirt from Walt in Mardaani, there’s a jacket from Force 2, there are other pieces of clothing from the other projects. I think it is just one memorabilia that says, ‘Okay I did this’.
Is there a look from a film that you have really liked?
Tahir: I would say Satya from Looop Lapeta. It is possibly the most stylish film that I have done so far. Satya is a bit of a ‘jholar’ who has shortcuts for everything in life and that is represented in his fashion sense... it looks fashionable but it is bought from thrift stores. It is inexpensive, sustainable fashion that looked great and was really cool to pull off.
As Satya, you wear a nose stud. Would you be game to wear one as Tahir?
Tahir: I absolutely would. Unfortunately, as an actor, you can’t play around with your personal looks. When I was in college, I had an eyebrow piercing and two ear piercings. Nose pins weren’t in fashion back in the day, otherwise I would have had one for sure.
The other day I was talking to my younger cousins, who are now Gen Z, and they said that one of the cool things about nose piercings is that they break down gender norms and I feel like... more power to that! I would really encourage people to do it.
So you had to get rid of the eyebrow piercings when you started acting?
Tahir: I do have a tattoo on my back. It reveals what the ‘calm persona’ was like back in college! (Smiles)
As far as fashion is concerned, will we ever see you pull off something like a Ranveer Singh?
Tahir: As someone who really likes to explore things out of the box, for sure! If the right designer comes along and we can jam with a good stylist, we would do it for sure. But Ranveer is a ball of energy and I have a lot of respect for how he carries it off. It’s also him.... I know people who do it for Instagram or for a photoshoot, but he pulls it off so well because it is him!
Apart from acting and travelling what are your other passions?
Tahir: Music, reading.... I have learnt to cook a little bit during the pandemic, but not really well! I was going to say hanging out with friends and then I realised that I haven’t done that for the longest time!
So what do you cook best?
Tahir: This is going to sound boring to anyone who is not on an actor kind of diet, but I can do good salads! (Laughs)
What’s on your playlist right now?
Tahir: A lot of hip-hop.... Kendrick Lamar, Drake. In soft indie, it is a lot of Ben Howard, Bon Iver....
What are you reading right now?
Tahir: During the pandemic, I finished reading Reality is Not What It Seems by Carlo Rovelli. It is part-philosophy, part-science and I thought that the lockdown was a perfect time to be pondering on the facts of the galaxy which you otherwise don’t think about in your everyday life. And when I’m not doing philosophy, it’s more business and skill-oriented reading.
So no light reading for you, is it?
Tahir: That’s my idea of light reading! (Laughs)
Someone here wants to know if you are single...
Tahir: That’s a tricky question, but I am.
A follower wants to know if you have ever dated a fan?
Tahir: (Smiles) No, I haven’t.
If someone wants to woo you, what’s the most romantic thing she can do for you?
Tahir: If you were to plan a trip that I had no idea of, and showed up with tickets or a car to go somewhere, just out in nature, that would be my idea of romance. With good food!
Who are your friends in Bollywood?
Tahir: A lot of my friends in the industry aren’t necessarily actors. I get along with DoPs (director of photography), with editors, writers, fashion designers, costume directors. Otherwise, I have picked up and learnt a lot from all of the co-stars that I have worked with. Whether it is Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Taapsee, Pankaj Tripathi....
Who’s your favourite cricketer?
Tahir: With a little bit of bias, Sunil Gavaskar! (Tahir plays Gavaskar in his upcoming film ’83) In today’s generation, it would have to be Virat Kohli because of the kind of dedication he has to fitness and he carries the responsibility of captaincy with a lot of swag. Love him!
Are you a sports fan even outside cricket?
Tahir: I am! It’s a very regular guy answer! (Laughs)
