I’m lucky to have been here for so long: Ankush

The actor talks about completing 22 years in the industry and explains why he enjoys doing ‘atrangee’ roles

Known as a prankster and an entertainer on the sets, actor Ankush Chaudhari turns into a different person when the camera switches on. A stickler for his character’s nuances, Ankush ensures his clothes, accessories and mannerisms match the description of every character he plays.

He says, “The audience trusts me to give them a good film, so it is my job to be sincere and make a great film. When I’m not in front of the camera, I spend time with the technicians on the set, we have misal-pav, ice cream, and card parties. I treat them as a family, as they are the most important part of film-making.”

Ankush adds that he likes to play unusual characters. “I like to play ‘atrangee’ (unusual) characters and make sure each role I play is different. I put in extra effort to make the character seem realistic and look into the attire and accessories. For instance, in my upcoming film Deva, I have styled my hair in a certain way, my clothes are colourful, and I wear harem pants, sport a tattoo and accessories too,” says the Duniyadari (2013) actor.

Ankush will be seen opposite Tejaswini Pandit in Deva. Speaking about working with Tejaswini, he says, “Over the years, we have both matured as actors. Tejaswini has evolved as an actor and she has such power in her performances. She is a sensitive and expressive actor. It is a delight to see her on the screen.”

This year, the actor will complete 22 years in the entertainment industry and he is thankful that his fans have kept sending him love and accepting his movies. “I feel fortunate to have been in the industry for so long. I feel I have done something right to have survived so far. I hope to continue entertaining the audience with varied roles,” he says.