Television heartthrob Barun Sobti is ready to test Bollywood’s choppy waters again. The big star of the small screen didn’t make an appreciable splash three years ago with his debut Hindi film Main Aur Mr. Right. That was a romance. Barun’s next releasing this Friday is a slice-of-life film. Rather intriguingly, it’s titled Tu Hai Mera Sunday. Aamir Khan has already praised it. And the film that premiered to critical world appreciation at the prestigious 60th BFI London Film Festival in October 2016, then at the 18th Jio MAMI in Mumbai shortly after, is finally coming before curious Indian audiences. If it’s Barun’s second Bollywood outing, then it is writer-director Milind Dhaimde’s first. The Hollywood Reporter’s review of Tu Hai MeraSunday was described as a “pleasant update on the Indian rom-com”. Barun unburdened his excitement onto Peeping Moon.com in a chilled out interview.
Why did you opt for this unconventional subject of five recreational Sunday footballers and their daily struggle in Mumbai rather than look for a film that cashed in on your popular TV image of a romantic hero?
“The film has a lot of anecdotes from real life. It was Milind's idea and I hope I have done full justice to it. He told us there is a team which plays football on Juhu Beach every Sunday, no matter what. The players are regular 30-year-olds who escape from their dreary, monotonous lives by chilling out with friends on a holiday and football is very dear to them. It’s a serious business, no monkeying around. One day, Milind decided to go to Juhu Beach and while watching the game, the idea stuck him – what if this was taken away from these people? This part? The football? What will happen? He approached me for the role and here we are today," Barun replied.
Tu Hai Mera Sunday is already a festival-acclaimed film and Barun feels this is its USP. “Films and careers do not have any set pattern. People keep thinking I will do this and that, trying to follow the others in the race. But careers can’t be modeled on anyone’s career or a pre-defined way, just like films,” he said. “Each film has its own journey. When we were looking at the release of Tu Hai Mera Sunday we were not getting a favorable date. At that time NFDC’s Film Bazaar was coming up and our producers decided to give it a shot. This was the last film watched by the panel and they absolutely loved it. From there, the film was taken across the globe on platforms like BFI and our director and producer returned after getting a warm response from all quarters. That's when we decided to release it!”
Barun's transit from TV to films hasn’t been a smooth one. The actor reportedly left his super hit show Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon in 2012 to venture into Bollywood with Main Aur Mr. Right. However, the film tanked at the box-office. Barun took on the rumours behind his sudden exit from the TV show. “The common perception was I left IPKKND because I got my Bollywood debut film, but it’s not true. I had already done the film while I was shooting for the show. So for 36 days, I was working double shifts – half a day on Main Aur Mr. Right and the other half on Iss Pyaar… This entire process saturated me and I had no time left for my personal life. I had just got married to Pashmeen during that time and we were barely together. One day, I came from the film’s shoot and was so tired that I didn't even open my bedroom door and crashed on the sofa in the living room. Two hours later, I got up and rushed to my IPKKND sets. And then it hit me, ‘No, I don’t want to work like this all my life. I want to work reasonable hours and spend time with my loved ones.’ I want to tell my fans that I didn’t quit Iss Pyaar... because of my big Bollywood dream. I just needed a break.”
Did the failure of Main Aur Mr. Right affect Barun?
“I wish I could answer that accurately but I can’t without hurting anyone’s sentiments,” said the actor. He added, “Thankfully, I didn’t take the film’s failure as a downfall. I am not that kind of a person. I love my work. There’s always the fear that people are not going to like it (the film). But what was heartening was that all the reviews said that ‘Barun is the only saving grace of the film.’ I always think that people see what they like. I don’t agree that you get a star and the film will succeed.” Meaning, the real star of any film is its script? “That’s what I am saying,” Barun agreed. “That's how it should be. Everyone has to do their own job and a company will only be successful if each department executes its duties in a proper way. Likewise for films. There’s nothing different. Hence, I am always okay with things not working. That means people have not liked it. Simple."
Barun’s got 22 yards coming up next. “The first cut and two songs are done. We are going to start the second cut and the background score soon. It will be out early next year,” he revealed.
Any other film in the pipeline?
“Nothing as of now, I was committed to IPKKND 3, and with its end, I am yet to figure out my plan of action.”
