Sunny Kaushal has recently turned heads with his riveting portrayal of an antagonist in “Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba,” the sequel to the highly acclaimed “Haseen Dillruba” from 2021. The actor steps into the complex shoes of Abhimanyu, a character who falls for Taapsee Pannu’s Rani and becomes an instrumental part of this convoluted narrative. Kaushal embarked on this role with the determination to differentiate his portrayal, making its complexity and depth resonate more profoundly with audiences.
“In the intricate web of grey characters, standing out necessitates becoming a different shade entirely,” says Sunny Kaushal as he explains his approach to playing Abhimanyu. He delves into the psychological underpinnings of his character to unravel how Abhimanyu’s perpetual sense of victimhood constructs his persona. “In his mind, he is a victim. He believes he has been wronged. That’s where his greyness comes from. His constant victimhood became a hook for me to play Abhimanyu convincingly. I also understood that in the world of Haseen Dillruba, nobody is pure or fully evil. All are victims of their circumstances,” he emphasizes.
This poignant understanding underscores Kaushal’s commitment to delivering a performance that flies in the face of stereotypical villainy. According to the actor, discussing with director Jayprad Desai about steering Abhimanyu away from being a clichéd antagonist was essential. Kaushal notes, “He doesn’t turn out to be a psycho all of a sudden. He has always been this guy. At times, he is vulnerable, and other times, creepy. I told Jayprad sir that I won’t play him front-footed where, after the audience [knows his past], he will suddenly start looking menacing. He should remain the way he was earlier.”
Careful not to rely on typecasting or one-dimensional tropes, Kaushal strove to maintain the intrinsic qualities of Abhimanyu. His portrayal balances a fine line between showing vulnerability and invoking unease in the audience, a feat that garnered widespread attention and appreciation.
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Engaging discussions with Jayprad Desai further enriched Kaushal’s portrayal. By maintaining a steady character arc, Abhimanyu’s gradual descent into becoming the obstacle in the love narrative between Rani and Vikrant Massey’s Rishu was made more believable and engaging. Kaushal shares, “We delved into what sets Abhimanyu apart from traditional antagonists. We discussed the subtleties that could make him more real and less arch.”
Although having seized a challenging and meaty role, Kaushal remains unsatiated in his artistic journey. He is eager for more powerful storylines but is hesitant to fall into the trap of meticulous planning. Instead, Kaushal opts for a more organic approach to his career trajectory. As advice from his co-star Taapsee Pannu suggests, “Taapsee recently told me that life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. That is so true because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. So, it’s foolish to sit and plan. We all have goals that we want to achieve. But what you have today is no less.”
Kaushal’s philosophy towards his career resonates with a broader, existential wisdom about seizing the present and embracing the uncertainties of the future. This mindset has evidently served him well in taking on roles that are not only challenging but also deeply fulfilling.
The Netflix film “Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba” stands as a testament to Kaushal’s capabilities to interpret and embody complex characters that are far from conventional standards. The role allows Kaushal to flex his acting skills, creating a robust character study layered with nuances inherent to a person trapped in their own perception of victimhood and injustice.
Kaushal’s portrayal of Abhimanyu provides a refreshing deviation from the traditional skein of antagonist roles in Indian cinema. His assignment of grey tones to what could have been a black-and-white character underscores his adroit capacity for nuanced performance.
With “Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba,” Sunny Kaushal solidifies his presence in the genre of romantic thrillers, raising the bar for intricate character portrayals. As audiences eagerly anticipate his next move, one thing is for certain: Sunny Kaushal is an actor to watch, continually pushing the envelope and exploring facets of the human psyche with profound skill and empathy.
