‘Good work will find its way’
Remember the cute cousin of Geeta and Babita, Omkar Singh Phogat, from the blockbuster Dangal? If not, here is a reminder. He was child artiste Ritvik Sahore, who made quite a mark with his short, yet impactful stint in the film.
Well, Ritvik never wanted to become an actor in the first place. As luck would have it, he was spotted and how! Today a well-known name in the industry, Ritvik’s first break came with the film Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012), for which he received the Screen Award for Best Child Artist nomination. “I was roaming in a mall with my parents on a Friday evening, where I was coaxed into going, as I was more worried about my homework. Thank God, I went! The assistant director of the film Ferrari Ki Sawaari spotted me and the rest, as they say, is history. That night changed my life.”
Not a trained actor, having performed in only a handful of plays during his school days, Ritvik learnt it all on ground. “It is not often that one gets a break like I did. I had no training in acting, but worked hard. My family is not from the industry, but I give all credit to them for never imposing their views on me, even when I was a child.”
Dangal for him was an experience of a lifetime. Working with a superstar like Aamir Khan must be quite a daunting task? “On the contrary, it was a breeze as Aamir sir made everyone on the sets very comfortable. Even when I met him for the first time, he invited me and my family to a function at his home. He is a very calm person and a fantastic actor, something that goes without saying. I was 16 when I did Dangal and it was everything that I could have ever dreamt of.”
Having rocked at the box-office, Dangal catapulted Ritvik into a different league, “The film gave a fillip to my career and I am thankful for that. In fact, it boosted the careers of all the young artistes who were a part of the film.”
Ritvik, who is currently seen in Amazon MX Player’s web series Highway Love Season 2, has previously been a part of successful series such as Laakhon Mein Ek, Indori Ishq, Escaype Live, Highway Love, Flames and Jamnapaar. “If a series goes into a second season, it is an indication that the audience has accepted and admired your work. I am happy that Highway Love has another outing.”
While OTT is growing in popularity, Ritvik does not like to compare mediums. “Both films and OTT have given me a lot in life, but there is no comparison. Having said that, I believe the latter has provided more space for not only actors but all creative people, such as writers, directors and more. It offers opportunities, hope and motivation.”
As for how he chooses his roles, Ritvik, says, “When I get a script, I never bother about the length of my role. It is all about whether I am enjoying the story, crying and laughing where I am supposed to. I have not done television yet, but am open to it. I believe good work will find its way, whichever platform it is.”
And what kind of roles does he prefer? “I love doing romantic roles and they have worked greatly in my favour. But as an actor, I want to explore more genres — action, drama, thrillers, comedy.”
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Ritvik’s family hails from Una in Himachal Pradesh, and he has some fond memories of Chandigarh too. “My nana ji used to read The Tribune,” he beams.
Ritvik, who admires the work of Ranbir Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, keeps his word of advice for upcoming actors very simple, “Work hard, there is no substitute for that. Treat every audition not as a test but a learning experience, as an opportunity to get better. Keep exploring and remain patient.” Way to go!
