Suhail Nayyar was all smiles and was feeling quite humbled by the success of his recent web series, Jee Karda, when Bollywood Hungama had an exclusive interaction with him at a café on a rainy afternoon.
EXCLUSIVE: Suhail Nayyar speaks about Jee Karda’s success; opens up on his intimate scenes with Tamannaah Bhatia: “I confessed to her that I am nervous. She replied, ‘What are you saying? I am really nervous’”
What feedback have you received for Jee Karda?
It’s very positive. The audiences in general have appreciated the show and our work. My Instagram is flooded with messages. It’s a very good feeling (smiles).
Have you got reactions from members of the film industry?
Yes, I have but I would not like to share them (smiles)! The moment I mention names of actors and producers who messaged me, toh wohi headline ban jaati hai. Also, it’s a very personal thing. But I can say that some very important people in the industry have messaged. It has made me feel good.
You are seen as an ideal boyfriend and husband in Jee Karda. Have you got marriage proposals yet?
(Laughs) Nahin, yaar! Some people however have messaged that ‘Rishab se pyaar ho gaya’ and ‘Aisa hi ladka chahiye shaadi ke liye’. Someone tweeted, which I also retweeted, that ‘Ek Rishabh Rathore toh main bhi deserve karti hoon’! That made me really happy.
How did you bag the show?
I auditioned for it during the second lockdown, in 2021. Due to the pandemic, it took time for things to move forward. I read the episodes and realized that this is something I have never done. I wanted to tap into this space because whichever characters I had played before, I had to prep physically as well. I even played a dark character, like that of a terrorist in Hotel Mumbai (2019). That wasn’t the case here. He was closer to how I looked in real life. He is a cute, Bombay guy. I wanted to show this side of mine to people and prove that sirf gaaliyaan nahin deta hoon. Main cute bhi hoon (laughs)!
You are a lead actor in Jee Karda. How important has this show been for you?
My hard work has been consistent. Even if I have done four scenes in a film, toh maine utni hi mehnat ki hai. Nevertheless, it feels good to see that I am carrying the show. My character is very important to the story and people are appreciating me. I am just #Grateful (smiles)!
And do you know what’s the best part of this whole affair? For the first time, my billboards have been put up. I came to Mumbai 9 years ago and dreamt of this day. And when it finally happened, it humbled me as it’s been a long struggle to reach this point. It’s something that I can’t express in words.
Is Jee Karda inspired by real-life incidents?
Yes. Arunima Sharma, Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal have lifted episodes from their lives. In the writer’s room, they used to begin conversations by saying, ‘Mera ek dost hai. Uske saath pata hai kya hua hai?’. They would jot it down and eventually, it would make its way into the script.
Whose idea was it to make you wear the sling while your character gets married? We have never seen a dulha in a sling before…
(Laughs) It was Arunima’s idea. I even remarked, ‘Mere saath sab ho raha hai iss show mein. Mera haath toot raha hai, meri biwi cheat kar rahi hai, mere paise doob rahe hai’.
Ultimately, you do amass millions of dollars…
Yes, I guess the makers thought ‘Isse sab le liya gaya hai toh isko kuch de dete hai’ (laughs)
Season 1 ends on a cliffhanger-of-sorts. Will there be a season 2?
Ideally, there should be. We’ll get clarity in the next few weeks. We really want that there should be not just Season 2 but also Season 3! Yeh kahaani badhti rahein. Most of the people who message me ask me about the second season. I feel it’s a very good thing.
How was it to work with Tamannaah Bhatia?
It was amazing. She has no airs that she’s a big star. Shayad usko pata bhi nahin hai ki woh kitni badi star hai! We had so many scenes together like the couple fight sequences for example. They are very real and she gave me a lot of space. During rehearsals, I would improvise at times and she would act on it. She never told me, ‘Yeh mat karo, woh mat karo’. She worked on her process and I worked on mine and were able to co-exist neatly in our scenes together. It has worked beautifully.
During the Bollywood Hungama Actresses Roundtable 2022, Tamannaah Bhatia commented, “I have seen more men being uncomfortable or being awkward with intimate scenes”. What are your thoughts since both of you get intimate in Jee Karda?
Our first intimate scene was shot on the first day of the shoot. And it wasn’t pre-decided. This is the scene where I say ‘Yeh jungle hai toh main bhi sher hoon’. It was initially planned to be shot on the third day. But due to some problem with the lighting, the makers decided to shoot this scene instead. When the plan was changed, there was nervousness. I am a trained actor and I was determined to deliver. But I was nervous about how to go about it. I confessed to Tamannaah that I am nervous. She replied, ‘What are you saying? I am really nervous’! I was like, ‘You are nervous! Fir toh ho jayega’ (laughs)! When you are figuring out how to touch, what to do and what not to do, your co-star’s contribution is immense. In that regard, Tamannaah really made me feel comfortable. We concentrated on the shot and the scene was beautiful.
And nowadays, there’s also an intimacy coordinator on the sets…
Absolutely. They conduct workshops which give a lot of clarity about the technicalities and emotional graph of the characters.
Your character gets betrayed by his best friend. How would you react to betrayals in real life?
It varies from incident to incident. I take my time to let things sink in. Luckily, I have had minimal betrayals. Main waqt loonga. When Rishabh learns that he has got $10 million, he doesn’t react as he’s too shaken by what just happened. Also, after whatever happened, do these $10 million even matter? Aapka zindagi ka sab luut gaya lekin aapko zindagi mein kahin aur success mil gayi. Even in life, you wait when you get a piece of devastating news. Two days later, you’d be like ‘Manage kar lunga’. We should do the same to the characters. Give time. We are too quick to react.
Have you ever been cheated in relationships?
I have been and I have also cheated. We go through phases in life jab aapko itni samaj nahin hoti. Whenever I have done this mistake, I have always apologized and have tried to correct the mistake. Having said that, if I am in a relationship, I am very loyal. That’s how I expect the other person to be.
Who was your closest friend on the sets of Jee Karda?
I am very close to Hussain Dalal and Ashim Gulati. I am fond of Anya Singh. Actually, I have had close bonds with all. Sayan Banerjee and I have had deep conversations about the craft. Samvedna Suwalka and I have had deep conversations about life. I had maximum scenes with Tamannaah and we vibed the most. Ashim ko dekh ke lagta hai ki woh mera bhai hi hai. The way our camaraderie is on the show, no one can imagine that we met just 12 days before the shoot. The scene where Ashim and I go to pick up Hussain on the bike was our first scene together. We were so much in sync that people must have thought ‘Yeh toh kaafi saalon se ek dusre ko jaante honge’.
You were a part of Sharmaji Namkeen (2022). The film went on floors and the shoot paused due to the pandemic. Rishi Kapoor passed away and he was replaced by Paresh Rawal. What was the experience like?
I believe that Sharmaji Namkeen has had a huge contribution in my life. That film taught me resilience. It took three years for it to be made. It taught me how to let go of expectations and be in the present moment. I acted the same way with Rishi ji the way I acted with Paresh ji. It also gave me confidence in my craft that I can act in any circumstances. Also, to get to work with Rishi ji and Paresh ji is a huge feat in itself!
How was it working with Rishi Kapoor?
It was simply amazing. Woh itne pyaare insaan the. Humne sirf khaane ki baatein hai, shooting ki baatein ki hai, gaanon ki baatein ki hai aur fir khaane ki baatein ki hai!
How has your journey been since the release of Udta Punjab in June 2016 to Jee Karda in June 2023?
It has been difficult. I didn’t break out after Udta Punjab or Hotel Mumbai. I don’t think anyone pointed out any issue in my performances. Everybody appreciated it and these films were also well-received. But it didn’t translate into work the way one would expect. Lekin iska yeh matlab nahin ki saari zindagi nahin hoga. Ab ho raha hai (smiles). This is not a race for me. It’s a marathon. Till the time I am walking, I’ll win. Aur main rukne waala hoon nahin!
Have you got more offers after Jee Karda?
The market is slow. Also, a lot of people don’t know that baarish ki season mein offers kam aate hai. But I have some interesting films in the pipeline like Nikita Roy And The Book Of Darkness, Ishq-E-Nadaan and For Your Eyes Only, and a show called Radical. There’s also a series named Keep Rolling in which I have a special appearance in one of the episodes. Lastly, I have worked on Homi Adajania’s Murder Mubarak.
How was it to work with Homi Adajania?
He’s the best. Working with Arunima and Homi sir is a similar experience because Arunima has been Homi sir’s associate. Also, there’s no hierarchy on Homi sir’s sets. He’s very welcoming and gives you space. You’ll feel that he loves you and he actually does.
Would you be interested to work down South?
Yes, why not? Offer dilwa do! I am ready to work in any language. Mujhe sirf acting karni hai. Usme mujhe bahut mazaa aata hai. I have seen some very dark times. As long as I am acting, I feel that everything is good. When things are tough in real life and you get to play a different character, bahut kuch balance ho jaata hai life mein. Some actors grouse that certain characters were heavy for them. I have never felt so. In fact, acting is very therapeutic for me! I know that whatever my character is going through, it’s not real. That distinction is clear in my head. I don’t get characters home. Once we wrap up a show or series, I move on effortlessly. Also, Sharmaji Namkeen played a big part in this as it was in the making for 3 years. I wasn’t sure whether or not it’ll be made. You tend to move away and suddenly, it used to come back into my life!
Who has been your pillar of support?
My family, friends and well-wishers have stood by me through thick and thin. Everyone supported my dream to become an actor.
That’s a feat since several actors, who are not connected to the film industry, often have had it difficult in getting support from their families…
Yes, but then this journey will be difficult, right? Itna bada sapna agar aap dekh rahe ho, itne log chahte hai jo aap chahte ho, toh mushkil toh hoga na, yaar! Aasaan hota, toh har koi actor hota. Jaise verification kitni aasaan ho gayi hai Instagram pe (laughs)!
Who are the directors you’d like to work with?
Raj-DK, Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap.
Would you like to work on international projects?
I have, with Hotel Mumbai. I am open to it and I will do it. when I look back in life, I know that whatever I have aspired for, I have managed to achieve it. Hence, I know that I’ll work on international projects as it’s a joyful experience. The work culture there is too good and you get to explore a lot as an actor. Also, people in the West are open to casting Indians. They are no longer stereotyping them and giving them the role of a cab driver.
OTT has been a boon for actors like you…
100%. OTT is the IPL of the film industry. It has given work to so many people and technicians. Aur sab accha kaam kar rahe hai. Earlier, we had to rely on films and the opportunities are few. We came to Mumbai during a transitional phase and we have been really lucky.
Also Read: Tamannaah Bhatia says Jee Karda gives a peek into the challenges of adulting; calls Prime Video show “fun slice of life”
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