When you work with a director multiple times, you start to understand how they think and you feel secure, says actor Kumud Mishra, explaining why his collaborations with filmmaker Anubhav Sinha are always special.
Sinha is one of the filmmakers with whom Mishra has worked extensively, including on "Thappad." Others on his list include Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali, and Nitin Kakkar.
"When you work with someone for years, you get a sense of what the director wants from you. Your preparation starts with understanding the script… If you have any doubts, you can discuss them, and it's not just about that specific character, but about the world he inhabits."
"As actors, we are often self-focused, and we approach our roles that way – me, my character, my scene, and how I portray that role. But the director sees the whole picture. So, when you work with a director where you understand their perspective, you feel very secure as an actor because you're part of that world, not just a character within it. That's a huge relief," Mishra said.
Mishra recently starred in Sinha's critically acclaimed film "Assi," alongside Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, and Dia Mirza. "Assi," which means "80" in Hindi, refers to the number of sexual assault cases reported daily in India. The film was released in February.
Over the years, Mishra has been a regular in Sinha's films, including "Mulk" (2018), "Article 15" (2019), "Thappad" (2020), "Anek" (2022), and the Netflix series "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack."
He first worked with Sinha on a film that is still in production. He also collaborated with Sinha on "Mulk."
The film, which explored the alienation of the Muslim community through the story of a family caught in a terror plot, was almost complete when Sinha cast Mishra as a judge.
"I initially declined because I thought it wasn't a significant role. But when Anubhav was convinced, there was no way I could say no. I took on the role, and we continued to work together."
In "Thappad," Mishra received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of an empathetic father who supports his daughter's decision to divorce her husband after she is slapped. He considers this role one of the most challenging of his career.
"It was difficult to portray the character in 'Thappad'... The term 'good father' is so generic. There is no such thing as a perfect father; it's just a part of a person... I struggled a lot, but I couldn't express myself properly. It was a very personal struggle."
Mishra describes Sinha's filmmaking process as unique, as the director involves everyone in the process.
"If he has any doubts, he will ask for your opinion, or if he's shooting and you're around… He asked me for my opinion, and I simply said, 'hmm.' I was lost in my own character ('Thappad'), and he thought I wasn't happy. I don't know how he came to that conclusion. But he later explained it to me," Mishra recalled.
Mishra found inspiration for his character from his interactions with Ratna Pathak Shah, who played his wife in the movie.
"She is a fantastic actress. I was struggling until then, but when she started delivering her lines, everything fell into place. When Anubhav asked me later, 'Are you not satisfied with this character? I said, how could I be? I was struggling to embody this role. So maybe I couldn't express myself properly. I was lost in myself," he said.
In "Assi," Mishra portrayed Kartik, a man haunted by the sexual assault of his colleague's wife, prompting him to question the failures of both the legal and social systems.
According to the 58-year-old actor, Sinha's films always spark discussion, which is important in a society where the space for discussion is shrinking.
"I think there's no greater reward for a filmmaker than a film that sparks conversation, whether it's 'Article 15,' 'Thappad,' 'Bheed,' or 'IC814.' That, in itself, is a huge advantage… There is always discussion, even if people disagree, it's very interesting because we live in a society where there is no space for discussion.
"But in a healthy society, there are always different ideas and discussions, and we agree on some things and disagree on others. So, we leave it open until we have a better understanding. Anubhav's films are compelling because they reignite important conversations," Mishra said.
Mishra has collaborated with both Kashyap ("That Girl in Yellow Boots," "Nishaanchi") and Ali ("Rockstar," "Amar Singh Chamkila") twice, and with Kakkar three times for his comedies "Filmistan," "Jawaani Jaaneman," and "Ram Singh Charlie."
His character of Khatana Bhai in "Rockstar" is still remembered, especially the dialogue where he scolds Ranbir Kapoor's Janardhan Jakhar and tells him that there is no art without pain and heartbreak, which is popular on social media.
Reminded about that scene, Mishra said he has fond memories of working on the 2011 film.
"If you really look at the dialogue, it's beautifully written. If another actor had said that line, it would have had the same impact. I'm not generalizing, but I'm sure I delivered a decent performance, which is why people still like it. But if something is popular on social media, it doesn't mean you've achieved anything.
"For me, 'Rockstar' has always been a special film. I don't worry too much about the final outcome; the process is more important to me. I really enjoyed working on this film, with Ranbir, Imtiaz sahab, and Irshad Kamil. And Imtiaz sahab is an extraordinary director. I really loved working on this film," he said.