EXCLUSIVE Interview! Divyendu and Avinash Tiwary on Kunal Khemu & Farhan Akhtar’s’s Madgaon Express | Not Just Bollywood

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy, actors Divyendu and Avinash Tiwari talk about their train journey experiences and what made them accept their roles in Kunal Khemu’s Madgaon Express where the train was the hero. For Divyendu, a good producer for a film is as important as the cast and the script.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Train is one of the heroes in _Madgaon Express_ . How much do you like train journeys and any fond memories that you would like to share with us?

Divyendu: Trains were very special in a way, because that used to be the time we spent with our family for a holiday. And traveling in a first class coup was so much fun. For the longest time, as a child, it was such a thing for me, because, you know, in a train you are static, but it’s still moving. You can see everything moving outside that used to really fascinate me. I used to keep asking myself…How is this happening? Train journeys help in connecting with people and making memories. Each station has something different to offer. It used to be a perfect joy ride.

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Avinash: If I remember correctly, I actually started reading on my train rides. I used to buy magazines and comics from the station. In fact, the first English novel that I read was on a train journey. The ability that you could just sit by the window, see the world passing was an experience by itself. I could sleep very well in trains, because it would kind of probably give that cradle-like feel to you while you are in the train, and it would put me off to sleep. They are a unique experience, the fact that you could isolate yourself, be in your own world, and at the same time engage with people who are around. That is something that you could easily do in trains, personally for me. So I think those things have really stayed with me. I still enjoy sitting in a train and looking outside the window, seeing everything pass by. It’s still one of the most fascinating things for me.

When you saw the script, what made you agree to this movie? And did you realize it’s going to be so much loved by the people, the audience, and the critics?

Divyendu: Comedy is a really difficult genre. When I read the script, I was like, this is genuinely funny. Writing is the toughest job ever, according to me. The comedy was flowing through the screenplay with different characters through different situations. I found it genuinely funny. And I was like, if I’m having so much fun reading it, I would definitely have more fun performing it.

Avinash: I think the first time it was narrated to me, and if I’m not wrong, Kunal just did such a fantastic job of narration that everyone was laughing their heart out, and I constantly add this feeling that maybe just Kunal being the performer that he is, he’s been able to pull this off.

On getting the role…

Divyendu: See, for me, honestly, I mean reading a good script is one thing. Liking it is another thing. Also, I was very sure about who’s producing it since I was coming back with Excel. I know I collaborated with them for Mirzapur for 2 seasons. So I was comfortable with that bit. I believe a perfect producer is very important, who would let you make the film how you imagined it. So good script, great cast, good technicians, and a powerful producer. This made a lot of sense to me, it was a full package.