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Avinash Tiwary: 'It took me 15 years to get my first opportunity in a film; I relate to resilience' | Exclusive

In a chat with Hindustan Times before the release of his film Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, actor Avinash Tiwary talks about the film and his career.

Updated on: Nov 28, 2024, 11:48:14 IST
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In his upcoming film, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, Avinash Tiwary plays a hapless man who becomes the object of a cop's obsession. For Avinash, facing such obsession is not new, as he has seen it in his fans often. But he says he can also relate to the other character (played by Jimmy Shergill) for his resilience and obsession. In a chat with Hindustan Times before the film's release, the actor talks about the film and his career. (Also read: Sikandar Ka Muqaddar trailer: Jimmy Shergill, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary pull off a diamond heist)

Avinash Tiwary in a still from Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (Netflix)
Avinash Tiwary in a still from Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (Netflix)

All about resilience

Avinash identifies with the resilience shown by both characters in the film. "What really stands out is the resilience of both the characters—the one who is obsessed and the one who is the obsession. That resilience I kind of relate to and connect with." When asked how he deals with such resilience in real life, he just smiles and says, "You try and not engage. That's all."

And while his character may be the one hunted here, Avinash says he has been on the other end, too, in his career. He explains, “It took 15 years for this man to chase this obsession of his. Similarly, it almost took me 15 years to get my first opportunity as an actor in a film. I can relate to that 15 years of resilience to stay in the game. That is something I can connect with and understand.”

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On intuition

The film's trailer was released last week and one word caught everyone's attention. A line where Jimmy's character talks about people's moolvriti (intuition) has gone viral. Talking about his intuition while picking films, Avinash says he has been lucky that everything he has let go has not worked. “Honestly, everything that I have let go has not done well,” he says with a laugh, adding, "I see and feel 'thank God'. So, there is no regret. Except for one, which I do not exactly regret leaving, but I wish I could have found time for it. I didn't want to let it go. I had chased the director, but I had already taken on something else at that time. It just kind of collided. But when I saw it, I wished there was a way I could have done both of those. I have no resentment for doing what I chose."

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, directed by Neeraj Pandey, also stars Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead. The film releases on Netflix on November 29.

  • Abhimanyu Mathur
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Abhimanyu Mathur

    Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More