CONFIDENT

BY; Rachit Gupta
Inspired by his mother Anjana Mumtaz’s career, Ruslaan Mumtaz is all set for his first break in the film industry. This young actor is armed with self- belief and the will to learn something new. In a tete-a-tete he waxes eloquent about his life,career and upcoming films
Q:What inspired you to take up acting as a profession?
A:I was in the second year of my college, when Rajshri Productions approached me with a proposal. They were head-hunting for a new face for one of their films and thought that my looks were really good. I then met Rajkumar Barjatiya and although he wasn’t too impressed with my acting, he did ask me to brush-up my acting skills and make good use of my good looks. One of the biggest production companies of the industry considering me is what got me inspired.
Q:How significant was your mother’s influence in your choice of profession?
A:My mother was never in favour of my taking up a career in acting or any other performing art. She wanted me to do something more stable in life, like an orthodox blue-collar job. But I was clear about my passions and when I joined a theatre group it really irked her. She was very nervous and thought I was perhaps taking things too lightly. But once she saw me performing on stage and in Shiamak Davar’s Academy she took to it merrily. She’s had quite a career in this industry and she is my guiding light.
Q:How did Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar (MP3) happen?
A:The producers and director Robby Grewal were looking for a young and fresh face for MP3. Robby took note of me through my stint in TV advertisements and got in touch. I gave their audition a shot and after almost a month of auditioning with around 900 guys I was given the final nod.
Q:MP3 being your first film, did you go through any special preparation for getting your debut act right?
A:Well, to be honest I was actually ready and itching to get my first film going. I was already a part of amateur theatre while I was still in college and learnt quite a lot from it. I did a lot of plays based on Premchand stories, while The Dressing Room was one of my theatre highlights. My preparation was done with three exhaustive years on stage combined with Shiamak’s Academy’s performing experiences. All that, was enough to make me confident of my acting abilities.
Q:Tell us something about your role.
A:I play a 17-year old rich, spoilt and pampered brat named Rahul, in MP3. Rahul is the cream of his friends’ circle and adored by everyone. He takes everything in life for granted and when he falls in love with Aisha, played by Hazel, he takes her love for granted as well. Eventually, life teaches him an important lesson as he discovers a new meaning to love and relationships.

Q:Was the transition from performing on stage to acting in front of the camera difficult?
A:I would not call it difficult but it was definitely a challenge. Where stage allows you to be loud and bold, the camera asks for subtlety. In fact, while shooting for MP3 Robby asked me to keep a check on my emotions and expressions. Initially as an actor it was quite frustrating to be underplaying my role to such a degree , but once I saw myself on screen I realized it was necessary. In hindsight I also understood that being different is the key, I could not just emulate the style of known stars and expect to get noticed.
Q:Any upcoming films?
A:I’ve signed a Satish Kaushik film titled Tere Sang, a young love story with a twist. Satishji was looking for a newcomer and after our initial meeting he turned me down. Three months later he gave me a call and asked me to give the auditions a try. Interestingly, I auditioned almost 30 times and it was my sheer perseverance that impressed Kaushik ji and got me the part in the film.
LINK: http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=16012