EXCLUSIVE | Netflix's 'Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein' actor Gurmeet Choudhary: 'The reason why south Indian actors are becoming stars is because...'

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein on Netflix is a campy and pulpy ode to the kind of cinema that faded away as we progressed towards what we call as ‘realistic’ cinema. It’s a show that oscillates between restrained and heightened sense of drama and tension. It has a wonderful ensemble where every character has its own motivations and conflicts. You’re likely to rekindle that essence of nostalgia as it reminds you of those thrillers of the yore.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Gurmeet Choudhary, who is the new entrant of season two, spoke about his character, the way he prepped for the role, and the importance of heroism in cinema.

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Edited excerpts from the interview

What is the one quality about your role you wish you had in real life?

Just like my character Guru, I should be able to arrive anywhere without a cable or jumping off a chopper. You should destroy everything to save someone you love.

How would you describe the role that you have played in the show?

My director knew what my character would be like. We had a lot of discussions where he told me that I had to cut my hair short and lean in some scenes. I went through a proper look test, at least 3-4 times. It was a challenge for me and Siddharth Sengupta to fit me into the world that was already created by him. It had to be done in a solid way or else the audience would have rejected me. I sleep by 9:30 pm and wake up by 5 in the morning. So I used to sprint and train for my character. I was a fan of the show, Netflix, and it was also my OTT debut so I was excited.

How has the definition of heroism changed or evolved?

Our audiences in UP Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, we need heroism for them. Of course, content is important and so are the characters but heroism is something that you would like to see on the big screen; this is something that will never change. The reels that most of the people make on social media are from the movies and songs of the 90s. Because that is the error in which they can see heroism. If we are forgetting heroism, we are leaving our audiences behind. The south Indian stars are becoming stars because they have not left heroism and they are really proud about their language.