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He may have just a handful of films in his kitty, but Abhimanyu Dassani — in his short yet extremely adventurous career — has given two award-winning films, worked across six different genres, and with industry stalwarts with whom he shares an extremely special bond. So, when you ask him if he feels the jitters ahead of a film release, Abhimanyu — son of Bhagyashree and Himalay Dassani — says that what he feels is excitement. As such, while speaking to us ahead of his upcoming movie, the Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota star opened up about belonging to a filmi family, the pressures that come with it, his vision, and his career.
The actor also gave a glimpse into his diet and fitness, and how his mother — who is also a “fitness addict and nutritionist” — advises him to take time off from his strict diet and fitness regime, but herself takes no “off days”. Read the edited excerpts below:
You may have done only three films until now but have worked with established actors. How would you describe your short but successful journey?
I’ve been a part of this industry since 2008-2009 when I was an assistant director on a film called Dum Maro Dum (directed by Rohan Sippy). So, I won’t call my journey short but would call it sweet, and an adventure. I’m grateful that I’ve been fortunate to have worked with actors such as Paresh Rawal sir, Vijay Raaz sir, Divya Dutta, and Mahesh Manjrekar sir in such a short period. I can only say ‘thank you’ to the directors who chose me for their films, and to these stalwarts and actors for being a part of these films and also helping me out whenever I got stuck on set, letting me absorb their processes, and for believing in me. They’ve always supported me while working and also been so sweet and accommodating. They are more than co-actors or people I respect; in them, I found someone that I could confide in. Today, I can pick up the phone and call most actors I’ve worked with out of the blue moon and ask them for help, they would reciprocate with all their love.
Your film Aankh Micholi has just been released. How does it feel? Do you feel the jitters before every release?
As I said, my journey may have been short but I’ve experienced a lot of life in these few years in the industry. So, there are no jitters but excitement (of course). To get the opportunity to showcase my talent to the audience always feels good. Also, I’ve mentioned in a lot of interviews before that a win or a loss today does not phase out my effort for tomorrow. My vision is a long-term one — being the hottest flavour one season or a trend does not excite me. For me, it’s about pushing the envelope of conversation further through the work I do and that will only be seen over the tenure of the next 10-20 years. So, my vision is for the world of tomorrow.
Your mother is a well-known actor. Do you ever/often take tips from her — about the profession, and ways to navigate the cut-throat competition in the industry?
Have you seen my mom? I doubt anyone can be cutthroat towards her. So, I don’t think she has the experience of facing the cutthroat nature of this industry. But, it is something that I experience daily. However, no, we keep work away from home and focus on other aspects of our lives — that’s how we bond and spend time. The only time we speak about films is when we’re watching something we like. Otherwise, our personal decisions are usually discussed after they’re made. So the person making the decision is the one held accountable. That’s the way I’ve been raised — that we have to be accountable and responsible for the decisions we make. Our life is in our hands and we make do with what we have. Basically, you play the cards that you are dealt.
She is also a ‘fitness addict and nutritionist’. Is she very strict when it comes to your diet and exercise regime?
(Laughs) She’s the one who’s telling me to take time off from my diet and my fitness regime. But her diet is great and her workouts are amazing. I would say that she is more disciplined than I am in certain ways. And also, she is she doesn’t have off days — she exercises when she’s travelling, on vacation, and even on Sundays. But yeah, she usually asks me to take time off or to try some yummy food.
As such, what does your daily meal and workout plan look like?
I usually have about five meals a day, starting with chai and toast, a couple of eggs, and a little bit of whatever is made at home (idli, dosa, poha, upma), and so on. The rest of my meals are more or less similar. It consists of a bowl of rice, a bowl of green veggies, a bowl of lean meat (usually chicken or eggs). Also, I have four liters of water every single day. Workout-wise, I split my workouts to about 5 times a week, which is usually 8 to 10 workouts. I do gym training about three or four times a week and the other sessions are usually skill-based training like martial arts, boxing, dance, Pilates, running, football, and a mix of that.
You belong to a Bollywood family. Did you ever feel extra pressure/burden to live up to certain expectations?
There are two sides to that coin: pressure that is put on you externally and that you put on yourself. Now, did I experience pressure from external sources such as the public, directors, casting directors and media. I also received a lot of flak from these stakeholders. But then, only when you put pressure on coal is a diamond made. So, I guess, I work well under pressure. I’ve given two out of three award-winning films, one of them has been international. And when you count all my films, I’ve done six different genres and worked with some amazing people. So it’s going pretty well.
One thing your mother is most strict about/just does not tolerate?
Honestly, it all depends on her mood. When she’s in a good mood, everything is allowed. And when she’s not, nothing is allowed.
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Being an actor and being in the limelight can take a toll on one’s mental health. How do you deal with negativity and trolls?
I stay out of the limelight. I’m available when my films are releasing. At other times, I try and balance my life with family, sports, and stuff like that. Also, I do not take myself that seriously because if you take yourself seriously, you might not get out alive.
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