Amandeep Singh: Stars In His Eyes | Shares His Journey With TMM
Words: Deepali Singh
Amandeep Singh is an actor and model who hails from Punjab. Shares his journey with TMM who hails from a small town called Jagraon in Punjab, to star in a prominent role in an Australian-Indian production and be appreciated for the same, has been nothing short of a dream. The young actor played the role of a terrorist in the critically-acclaimed action-thriller Hotel Mumbai based on the 2008 terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. Amandeep Singh shares his journey with TMM…
How did your journey in acting begin?
My father has lot of singer friends in Punjab. They would take me to concerts with them and I was amazed with the kind of fan following they had. Even when I joined my civil engineering course, it was just for the sake of doing it. I failed in four out of five exams! It became clear to me that I have to do something different. I had done a couple of music videos in Punjab and so, I thought of doing an acting course in Mumbai. I told my father that I am going to Mumbai and will be there for three months and will try my luck in acting. Plan B was to go and settle in Canada, like my father wanted.
How were the initial few days of your struggle in Mumbai?
I come from a small place and I had hardly ever stepped out of Punjab. This was the first time I was living all alone in a big city like Mumbai. It opened my eyes. I realised that acting is about studying human nature, understanding yourself and your habits. It’s a beautiful craft. Then I also attached to spirituality. I realised that acting is a study of life. I was struggling for two years after that, going from one audition to another. There have been times when I have given eight auditions in a day! I started getting small roles in serials and ads. My father was not very supportive.
How did you manage to bag the terrorist’s role in Hotel Mumbai?
Before I got this film, I was supposed to do a football-based film with Anupam Kher but it got shelved. One day, my flatmate told me he going for the audition of a Hollywood film and to come along for it. I thought my English is not that great, but he insisted, so I went along. When we went there, we realised the audition is in Punjabi! The casting director gave us a few lines and told us to prepare them and get back in two days. I knew that this is going to be a big Hollywood film and I knew I had to work really hard and not let this role get away. I was so dedicated about this. The director came from Australia and took our audition. I got the role but I had to wait another month to know for sure that I am doing it.
Tell us about the experience of shooting the film in Australia?
We shot for 45 days in Australia. Before that, we were given training in how to handle guns and we rehearsed with all the actors. That’s when I realised the scale of the production. I met all the actors including Dev Patel and Anupam Kher. I told Anupam sir about the film we were supposed to do initially and he said ‘hamara kuch toh likha hua hai’.
Most first-time actors don’t get to play such a strong role. Was it tough playing a terrorist?
People have loved Imran, my character because he is so innocent. His journey has been shown so beautifully, all the confusion he is going through. I have received so many messages from across countries telling me how much they liked me in the role. Recently, somebody sent me a picture of a devil, saying it reminded them of me. In a way, it’s a compliment. I never thought I will get to play such a good role in my very first film itself and I’m very grateful and blessed.
How’s the struggle now?
I still go for auditions but now people have started knowing me. Talks are going on. I’m open to all kind of good content and something significant will happen soon. I have an agent in LA as well, so all the doors are open now.
Pictures Courtesy – Ankush Aery
The post Amandeep Singh: Stars In His Eyes | Shares His Journey With TMM appeared first on TMM.