Making independent films is liberating. It eliminates self-censorship, which mainstream films are infected with due to commercial priorities.

Arfi Lamba

Categorized in : Making Which Independent Priorities

As I look back and connect the dots, all I want to do is go back and hug my scared young self, who took a lot of steps out of impulse not knowing what will happen. So many nights of disappointment, so many others of being disillusioned where I would have just gone ahead and quit it all - I still do not know what kept me hanging in there.

look me disappointment self

I left my cushy job as an engineer in New Delhi in 2008 to pursue acting in Mumbai. I figured roles will start pouring in as soon as I landed in the city, but my bubble burst quickly.

city new job start

It is all about playing a challenging role, and whether a film is a commercial one or not does not really matter.

playing about film matter

When I didn't become the quintessential Yash Chopra hero, I got into the 'struggle' period and became negative.

become struggle hero negative

Labels are actually not to make us understand things better: they are actually to ostracise and discriminate that what does not belong to the majority.

us better things understand

In 'Fugly,' I play a very middle-class guy with whom anyone can relate. At the same time, playing such characters is not as easy as it sounds.

guy easy play time

I arrived thinking I had these amazing looks and body and that I would straight away land the lead in a Yash Chopra film. Those fancy ideas got quashed soon enough.

amazing body ideas thinking

After joining theatre, I started thinking that acting in films was not half as challenging as theatre.

theatre acting half thinking

As a true-blue Punjabi, I have learnt to tackle disappointments, especially since I have no godfather in the industry.

tackle disappointments since industry

Success is just around the corner, but I don't want to rush into anything.

success-is just want success

I think I was born to be an actor.

i-was-born actor think born

My role in 'Slumdog Millionaire' was a cameo, but it did expose me to cinema and took me to Cannes. I then did 'Prague,' which was a very niche film.

me millionaire cinema film

I've been a protected child, but I moved out for further studies when I was 16, and I have travelled quite a bit by myself.

quite out child myself

Everybody in my family is very well educated. I'm probably the only one who is not a double post graduate.

well only educated family

A good story needs equally good talent to foster it.

story good talent needs

Some independent Indian films do so well at these festivals in Europe and in the United States that when they come back, India just cannot ignore them.

back ignore festivals india

There have been a bunch of Indian films in English that found an audience.

english audience indian found

Akshay Kumar is like a guru. He made a mark in the industry without any godfather. Akshay sir is a superstar only because of his hard work and talent.

hard talent hard-work work

I had travelled to a lot of cities in Europe before, but Prague was special. It held a mysterious attraction for me for during the time I was there.

me mysterious special time

'Slumdog' initiated a chain of events like going to Cannes and being invited to the Cairo Film Festival, which changed my perspective of cinema and of being an actor forever.

like perspective cinema forever