By Abhigna Ghosh
Ashish Verma has always amazed his audience with his spectacular performance. Starting in humorous roles, he soon moved on to much more intense characters with movies like Article 15 and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero.
His refined skills and amazing portrayal of each character have garnered him a loyal follower base and helped him win millions of hearts.
With his upcoming movie Helmet which is all set to release on Zee5, he is once again back to impress his fans with a never-seen-before story and staggering avatar.
In a candid chat with us, he talked about his experience of shooting for Helmet, his upcoming projects, and much more.
The movie helmet is based on a rather interesting topic. What was your first thought when you heard the script?
Ashish: The script is very well written and the way it approached the topic made the information accessible for everyone. In India, we do not openly talk about sex or condoms. So the movie delivers an important social message in such an entertaining and humorous way that you can even watch it with your family.
What is the one thing that attracted you to your on-screen character?
Ashish: It’s not just my character but the entire cast of Helmet and the story surrounding the trio that appealed to me. So, the entire chemistry and the individual energy that each character will be contributing was evident even in the script. That’s the biggest thing that attracted me to this project.
The trailer hints at what an amazing and fun-packed movie it will be. So how was your experience while shooting for the film?
Ashish: The experience was incredible because we were having a lot of fun on the sets. We all are friends and we were the same on camera as well as off-camera. Sometimes, our director Satram would have to scream that that the scene is done. The team was so amazing that it didn’t feel like work.
Condoms and other types of protections are a hushed topic in India. Do you feel that a movie like this will help normalize the stigma surrounding it?
Ashish: Films are indeed a very powerful medium and the topic will definitely be talked about once people watch Helmet. However, I feel to bring about a real change sex education and topic about sex should start at the grassroots level. Schools should teach their students about this and parents should also talk about it with their children without making it a big issue. Other than that, films being powerful mediums should continue to talk about all other socially relevant issues.
The type of movie you have been doing in recent years is very different from typical commercial rom coms or action thrillers. So, was this shift to more message-oriented movies a deliberate choice?
Ashish: It’s a deliberate choice. I feel an artist should have an opinion and the kind of work he does should reflect those ideals. I wanted to do films that I believe in and I have been lucky to be offered films like Article 15 and Bhavesh Joshi where the message of the films aligns with my beliefs. If I don’t connect to the script, I would be doing injustice to the film as well as myself.
In your journey in the industry so far, is there any particular memory that’s closest to your heart?
Ashish: There is not one particular memory or mega-event that’s special to me, It’s the entire journey and each step I take. Like, I got to work with some of my dream directors like Anil Mehta Sir and Anubhav Sinha sir. So, for me, it’s the entire journey that’s very special.
The acting profession looks rather lucrative but comes with its own fair share of challenges. What according to you is the hardest part about being an actor?
Ashish: Acting is often perceived as a glamorous career that brings you fame. But for me, it’s an art form that requires discipline, effort, and hard work to excel in. It’s very easy to get distracted here and if your focus on making money or getting fame then you won’t be able to succeed.
What is that one genre you would like to explore in the future that you haven’t done yet?
Ashish: I would like to play a very dark character someday. Comedy comes naturally to me and I also get offered comedy scripts a lot. But I think casting shouldn’t be restricted to one’s physical appearance. So yes, I want to try my luck with an evil character someday.
What’s next in your pipeline?
Ashish: There is a show that I’m doing for Sony Liv, the title for the project hasn’t been decided yet. Apart from that, I just finished shooting for Atrangi Re which is a movie directed by Aanand L. Rai sir.
