Exclusive Interview! Vicky Kaushal Says, "I Would Want The Audience To Keep Expecting Better Out Of Me"

Vicky Kaushal is one of the most talented actors we have in the industry. He started his career with a small role in Bombay Velvet (2015), and in the same year, made his debut as a lead with the movie Masaan. In these eight years, Vicky has been a part of some amazing movies like Raazi, Sanju, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Sardar Udham, and others.

Earlier this year, he was seen in Zara Hatke Zara Bachke which did well at the box office, and a few days ago, his film The Great Indian Family had hit the big screens. The YRF's production didn't do great business at the box office, but Vicky's performance was appreciated.

Flmibeat interacted with Vicky a few days ago and spoke to him about the audience's expectations, not winning the National Award, and more...

The audience has a lot of expectations from you. So, does that put pressure on you whenever you pick up a new project?

I really want that pressure to keep adding and their expectations to keep adding. There's no middle ground here. When you become an actor, the audience will applaud you for what you do and they will love you, but the care and expectations will come along. So, they will have expectations from you. Otherwise, they are not affected by your performance and there's no care and expectations. So, you have to choose the road that you have to go, and I have made that clear choice that I do want to be on this road, after that, I can't expect their love to come without expectations, it will come along. I want love and expectations to keep growing with every film that I do. I would want the audience to keep expecting better out of me because that will not ever make me take things for granted, and I will keep testing myself as an actor.

You didn't get a National Award for your performance in Sardar Udham. Many people on social media were really upset about it. What do you have to say?

Firstly, it's very sweet of them. When you get that kind of affection from people that itself is a huge award. But, I keep saying that being a Punjabi and getting the role of Sardar Udham Singh ji is a huge honor. This is a story that I have heard since my childhood and always wondered why is it not known to the world. When a film gets made on that and you are the chosen one to do that part and live that journey, for me it's like a medal that no award can replace. After that if I sit and say that this didn't happen and that didn't happen, so then I will never be satisfied. Also, on the other hand, there's a jury comprising commendable people, and they have made a decision that should be respected. It was a decision made for a brilliant performance. So, it's all good.

Do you have a small complaint for filmmakers that they always give you roles of a middle-class boy and never give you a character who is rich?

(Laughs) I actually joke with my friends that they (filmmakers) always take me to Benaras, Amritsar, Balrampur. I joke with Neeraj Ghaywan that the boat that left from Benaras in Masaan's last shot, if you make a part 2 take that boat directly to Amsterdam as I want to shoot in a foreign location. I keep on saying, I will play poor man, but of a foreign country. But, it's all in fun (smiles), the story has to be rich even if the character is a poor man.

Tell us something about your upcoming projects after Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam and Sam Bahadur.

I will be collaborating with Laxman Utekar and Dinesh Vijan again, so that's something we are working towards and we will start shooting soon.

Are you a part of Dunki?

I can't talk about that (smiles).

Vicky surely has some interesting projects lined up, and we are sure his fans are excited about them.