Skand Thakur reveals he shot for Khalbali Records before his hit film Article 370 with Yami Gautam – Exclusive

In an exclusive chat with MoneyControl, Skand revealed that he bagged the lead role in Khalbali Records before Article 370.

Bollywood actor Skand Thakur, who made his big appearance in this year's hit film Article 370, is making his debut as a lead in the new show Khalbali Records.

In an exclusive chat with MoneyControl, Skand revealed that he bagged the lead role in Khalbali Records before Article 370.

He shot for the movie with Yami Gautam post Khalbali Records. The actor impressed all with his role of NIA officer Wasim Abbasi in Article 370 and says now he gets recognized whenever he steps out.

In a freewheeling chat with MoneyControl, Skand also said that he learned many things from Yami Gautam and his co-actor Ram Kapoor in Khalbali Records.
Ram Kapoor plays the role of Skand's onscreen father in Khalbali Records, which will stream on Jio Cinema from September 13.

The actor was all praise for both Yami and Ram; he said he wants to inculcate their qualities going forward in his professional life.

Excerpts from the interview:

Why did he sign Khalbali Records?

Skand: One of the few reasons was because, when I was briefed up about the show, I knew what a big part music was going to play in this show. I think at the end of the day, for me, at least, music is the central character, at least me. Everything revolves around music. So that was one of the biggest reasons I thought I would want to be a part of it because that's how special music is for me personally as well. And I think it's for everyone to escape, who doesn't enjoy music. Yes. Of course. Of genres. So that was one of the key reasons. Also, Devanshu sir (director), we've all seen Chintu Ka Birthday, and I wanted to work with the National Award-winning director. Also, honestly, it was my first show as the lead, so that was another reason I wanted to nail the audition. I wanted to grab it as soon as I could. I put in a lot of hard work in the audition as well."

Shot for Khalbali before Article 370

Skand: So fun fact, we shot this show first, and then I shot for Article 370. I did Khalbali first, and 370 was something that I did last year. Absolutely blessed to have an opportunity to play such a bold character that maybe every actor craves for it. We all want to do different parts, and this is just a great blessing that in the same year, I have 2 releases where both the parts are so different. I hope I get an equal amount of love for this as well.

Thanks to OTT, getting good work

Skand: I personally cannot turn away from the fact that whatever, wherever I am, the biggest turn in my life, the biggest milestone started from an OTT platform.
So that is where a lot of things changed for me. It was a blessing. So, I have to be very honest; that's a very scary question. Agar OTT nahi hota toh, I would still work with the same amount of honesty and hard work, that's for sure. But, yes, the pool is bigger. The market, the opportunities are much more. So, the credit has to go where it's due. So I'm sure if it were not for OTT, it would have been even tougher than it already was actually to be very good.

The struggle period was more confusing than difficult

Skand: It was more confusing than difficult, to be very honest, because you have to figure out everything for yourself. What is good work? What is bad work? Production offices, production houses Who are the casting people? Auditions from scratch, from, like, even facing a casting director and giving her an audition, is something that you have to figure out for yourself.

Starting as a theater actor

I started off with theater, and theater gave me a lot of confidence. But then a set is a set, a camera is a camera, and then that process is completely different. So it was very confusing and very difficult. But eventually, things started happening. I did have a little confidence in me while I started off because it was time pay. I'm sure you know, there used to be a lot of episodic shows that used to come on TV. Yes. I had started bagging those episodic shows, and a couple of them, I was in the lead. Okay. So that gave me a little confidence here. Maybe if I keep this positive attitude and maybe if I keep pushing myself and maybe if I'm, you know, honest and honest with my work, maybe maybe I can bag something bigger.

Got appreciated post Article 370

Skand: I honestly did get a couple of messages, but they were words of appreciation from some people that I was and didn't see coming. And that was really special for me. A couple of them really appreciated my work and, you know, kind of mentioned that maybe we could do something sometime soon.

Fans recognized me in public and got attention.

Skand: I mean, basic, the most lame example is, like, now people at some spaces recognize me. Okay. Now sometimes, if I'm in a cafe, one out of 10 times someone might just come and say, Oh, you were in Article 370. They might not know my name, and they don't know what I've done before or anything, but then okay. So you were there in Article 370. But in my workspace also, the casting directors that I have known for so long, the people, the actors that I have known for so long—they all definitely, you know, I got their attention. And that's what we want end of the day, jo log aapko kaam dete hai, aapko unka attention chahiye, you know. We want them to see your work and appreciate you.

Working with Ram and Yami

Skand: Ram sir is playing my father in the show. And, after working with two such great actors and two people who've been around for so long, one thing that I learned is key: the position that they're in. There is definitely a reason why they're there. A star is a star because of a reason. So, same goes for Ram sir also. He's so easy to work with, and he remembers his lines so well. He will never have a script in his hand once he steps out of the vanity. Never. Even if the scene is for 5 pages, he'll remember each and every full stop in comma. If I get stuck somewhere, he's always there, and he'll just make a face as well. It's silly. Just do it. It's okay. And if I forget something, I'll take that another day. And, very professional.

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Again, and this is one quality that both of them had: very professional. I mean, Yami ma'am, was so hardworking that, I remember when we were training for the film, I joined the training a week later because I was cast a little late. She had already started her training. So there were days when she used to guide me. She used to show me stuff. This is how you do this is how you have to run and do, and so this is like I said, great people are great for some reason. They are there because they are special. They have something special. And I was blessed. I was there all around. I picked up a lot of good things from both of them. I plan to inculcate them as I move forward in my professional life.

Preparation for the diverse roles

Skand: I think it's been different for all of them. Article 370 was extremely physical. It was; there was a lot of action. So, our prep was inclined towards being a little more physically learning all the mannerisms of a uniformed officer. And when it came to Khalbali, everyone was really, really nice, and they gave me a lot of freedom to spend time with Azadi Records. So, basically, that is one word that I didn't know much about. So before I dive into my questions, I at least have to know what that world is like. So the owner of Azadi Records, Mo Joshi. I spent a lot of time with him. Okay. He used to have a big roster of artists. So they used to do a lot of live shows. So I used to go to those live shows 3, 4 hours before the show used to start and see how the setup is done and be on the all the post-show meetings that they used to have, and I should see how he's treating his artist because that's how that's what Raga was doing. Yeah. In the show also. So that happened. And then, obviously, sitting with Devanshu for days. I've sat with him for days with my script and filtered all the super important scenes and, you know, rehearsed them multiple times with him.

Khalbali Records will start streaming on Jio Cinema Premium from September 13.