‘I want to play the lead,’ says actor Suraj Kakkar

How has been your journey so far?

I was always enthusiastic about sports and entertainment, so my friends motivated me to work on my body and get into shape. When I got into shape, people started telling me to get into modelling, and that eventually led to acting.

How did you get your first break in the industry?

I came to Mumbai and started with modeling. I started giving auditions every day. That’s how I got my first big break in Lajwanti. I played a character called Chaman Lal.

Tell us about a character that’s close to you.

The character that has been very close to me is Sameer from Sayunkt. This was a story about a father with four kids. I played the youngest one.

How do you prepare for a role and polish your skill as an actor?

I just observe how everything works—acting, auditions, camera, technical knowledge, so that I can plan my journey accordingly.

What kind of roles do you want to play?

I am 24 and I have played six different characters, all on TV. Now, I want my own project as the lead. I am looking for web series and films. I like playing negative characters. One can actually experiment a lot with a negative character.

Who are your favourite Bollywood actors?

I love Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah. I have never missed any of Shah’s plays. I have seen all of his plays. He stands alone on stage for three hours and no one can take his eyes off him.

If not an actor what would you have been and why?

If not an actor, I would have been a businessman. Our business is more than 40 years old.