The Unconventional Hero of Indian Cinema with Diverse Journey and Acting Triumphs
From being an engineer to becoming an actor, from doing theatre plays to starring in web series, from being a student at FTII to being a nominee for the Oscars, Sunny Hinduja has done it all.
He is the man who has made a name for himself with his diverse and powerful roles. He is one of the most promising and talented actors in the Indian entertainment industry.
His performances in shows like Family Man, Aspirants, and Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare impressed the viewers.
He has also acted in films like Bhonsle, Shaapit, and Mardaani 2.
Besides his impressive acting career, his passion led him to be a part of an international project, The Owner, which was directed by 25 filmmakers from around the world.
He is also a part of a film, Ballad of Rustom, which was shortlisted for the Best Picture at the 2014 Academy Awards.
In conversation with BFH, Sunny Hinduja talks about his journey, his challenges, his influences, and his hobbies.
He shares his insights on how he prepares for his roles, how he adapts to the changing industry, and how he learns from his mentors and peers.
He also reveals his love for traveling and interacting with new people, and how he balances his work and fun.
Upbringing and Entry into Entertainment
1. Could you briefly describe your upbringing and how you got your start in the entertainment industry?
My upbringing has been on films Because I liked films very much since childhood, that was something, I used to look forward to every day.
Whenever a new film was released, there was excitement.
At that time there used to be Yashraj films and that was something that I used to look forward to.
So that's how my childhood had been.
I decided to become an actor in my childhood, and I did not tell anyone, except my friend. This is how I started. I got a break when I was studying at FTI.
So during that time, Mukta Arts called me for an audition but I was not prepared, I thought, okay, I'll go and give the audition. So I went for the audition and got selected, but I was unwilling to do it.
My teachers told me, "Beta, you will not get this opportunity again." Then, after discussing with my teachers, they allowed me to go for the shoot and granted me leave.
So I told myself that if I had to go for the auditions, I should have full confidence in myself. So that's how my break and the film tried to kick.
That was the first film I got. There were two leads. I was one of them. And that I shot while I was studying at PI. That's how it all started.
2. You have played a number of outstanding roles recently. Which role has been the biggest obstacle for you to represent and why?
I believe, that there is no role that has been an obstacle for me and there is no easy role either. I feel like this because every character has its own thing, to become a character it has its own mindset, it has its own dialect and many things have to be created to build the character.
I feel like I am still trying to learn or experimenting, so this is what keeps me alive and excited. Every role is like a new beginning for me.
Every role has been challenging, and every role has been equally enjoyable for me.
Adapting to Industry Evolution
3. How can you stay consistent in an industry which is constantly evolving?
So I believe that change is constant and each day, I have to check on myself if I am growing from my yesterday.
That is the only way I know as of now to keep evolving.
If you evolve with time you will be on pace in whatever is going on.
I am not in competition with anyone, I am not fighting with anyone and I am not afraid that I am still evolving or not but I am growing every day and getting better than yesterday.
Inspirational Mentors in Career
4. Have you had any mentor or any inspiration who has helped you along the way?
The life that I have lived for so long has been inspirational to me and it has taught me a lot but apart from that Manoj Bajpayee, Irfan sir, and many more are there I have derived my inspiration from.
I have learned watching them,” These actors have been my biggest inspirations”.
I have read them, understood them, listened to their interviews, and learned a lot from these things, these people are also my teachers and they may not even know but I have learned from them.
Leisure Time Hobbies
5. What do you like to do when you're free when you're not working or shooting? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you like to share?
I like traveling a lot and I have noticed that my hobby is meeting new people and knowing about them- where are they from, what are they interested in, what are their ambitions, where they want to reach, and why do they want to reach and what has been their struggle in life, I don't know why but I want to understand them and not just people from different parts of our country but people from outside the country as well.
I love to know their culture, what kind of thinking they have, and everything. So you can say that traveling and interacting with people are my hobbies.
But other than this watching movies and reading poetries are also my hobbies. But all of this is also a part of my job.
Anticipated Future Roles
6: In the upcoming future what role or collaboration are you most excited about?
The Railway Men has released recently and I am really excited with the kind of response it has garnered.
Apart from this another new project of mine has started, and its preparations are ongoing, I am really excited about that.
Dream Collaborations in Bollywood
7. Which Bollywood celebrity would you like to work with or collaborate with if given a chance?
I would like to work with Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor.
I mean I really look up to them, and if given a chance I want to work with Manoj Bajpayee sir again.
I also want to work with Nashi Rubin Sahab and so many more talented actors. I want to work with and learn from them.
Impact on Acting Generations
8. How do you hope that your effort in the field will affect both your contemporary and upcoming generation of actors?
I don't think of impressing anyone, I think of myself, I think of what I performed yesterday, and whether I am improving it in the present or not.
I don't know whether I will impress anyone or not, or what I will do with my contemporaries.
How to give 100% to a role is more important to me.
I put my energy there, and how much better I can perform a particular role would be something I invest myself into rather than thinking about other things.
Advice for Aspiring Actors
9. What advice would you like to give to budding actors?
My advice is that whether you are a budding actor or anyone who is an aspirant in life, you should try and try; if not today, it will work tomorrow.
I have experienced it personally.
No matter where you go, just be courageous.
If you have the intensity to achieve something in life, then 100% that thing will happen, that’s what I have to say.
Message to Fans
10. What's up next for Sunny Hinduja and what would like your fans to know if they follow your journey?
I would like to tell my fans that everything takes time and it takes time for any wonderful thing to happen in life.
Poetry takes time for words to come from the heart to the tongue.
It takes time for the ovary to become a flower. In the same way, life takes time.
It takes some time to make everything happen.
Career Turning Points: Notable Films
11. In the last few years you have starred in some incredible films. Could you list a few of them that in your opinion represented an important turning point in your career and why?
I feel like there is a film called Brij Mohan Amar Rahe that came on Netflix, and from there, things started.
After that, The Family Man, which again was a one-night rate, and then Aspirants came, then some kind of ignition started when Family Man 2 arrived at the OTT platform.
I think all these things have been important in my career; even Bhaukaal. All these projects have been incredible.
Now that Aspirants 2 has been released, we just keep on making fire. This fire is not for the ones who spoil, it is the fire for love, it is the fire for those who teach us, and they can make us better.
Most Meaningful Role
12. What, according to you, has been the best role/roles you have played so far? What was it about these specific roles that spoke to the public and to you as an actor so deeply?
All the characters are good, but the role of Sandeep bhaiya is very special for me because the Aspirants show came in, I played the role of Sandeep bhaiya and I got so much love from that character.
I also learned that family is very important because if you go somewhere and you live alone, you will not be able to share happiness and you will not be able to understand things.
I have learned a lot from Sandeep Bhaiya. Because as an actor and an artist, you only want one thing- you are able to live the pure graph of that character.
It has been a really wholesome experience for me as an actor to delve into the character of Sandeep Bhaiya which has been really special to me.
13. Is there any specific role that you have played in your career that you would really like to go back to or do you want to get deeper into in a spin-off or a sequel?
I feel that Milind is the character in Family Man.
I would like to understand this psychic and what things can be said in his life that would be an interesting aspect and if I play Milind and Zoya is being played by Shreya then what could have been the story that remained sidelined in both the seasons, that would have been something interesting to delve into.
Rapid Fire
Are you a beach person or a mountain person?
I Like both, in winter mountains and in summer beaches.
Who do you think is the most fashionable person in the industry?
Deepika and Alia Bhatt
If you weren’t an actor, what career would you have pursued?
Footballer
Who is your favorite actor?
Alia Bhatt
Your go-to comfort food on a film fit
Poha, Chai, Makhan, Milk
What is your favorite movie of all time?
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Three things that you always carry with you?
Phone, Card, Perfume
Favorite Adventure Sport?
Skydiving, Paragliding, bungee jumping