Actor Nikhil Angrishh, who has previously been seen in projects such as ‘Sam Bahadur’, ‘Paatal Lok Season 2’, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ and ‘Gaanth: Chapter 1′, is now part of Maddock Films’ ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’, starring Mrunal Thakur and Huma Qureshi. The film has premiered on ZEE5.
Nikhil, who plays Mayank Joshi, feels the film goes beyond its dramatic storyline to examine rejection, consent and the way society responds to complex situations. In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat Assistant Editor Abhishek Ranjit over a phone call, Nikhil gets candid about his new project.
Talking about what he feels lies at the heart of the film, Nikhil says, “Pooja Meri Jaan, I think, at the very core of it deals with rejection-and our response to it. In this particular case, a lover facing brutal rejection and his fatal response to it.”
He adds, “Yes, it’s a drama, giving a crucial message that a no means a no-irrespective of the gender. And of course, how society has to mature up to that.”
Nikhil feels the film also looks at how quickly public opinion can be shaped in the age of social media. “The social media trial and our impulsive response to it. That’s the mirror the filmmaker has shown to the society.”
While his role as Mayank is relatively brief, Nikhil’s character becomes part of the film’s courtroom narrative, where his testimony reveals aspects of Pooja’s past and adds another perspective to the events surrounding her.
Talking about his experience of working with director Navjot Gulati, Nikhil says, “This is his labour of love. We all had waited quite long for this film to release-literally. On the set you’ll find him quite simply dressed, hardly a word, engrossed in front of the monitor. He gives ample space to his actors to do their thing.”
Recalling a moment from the courtroom sequence, he adds, “I remember, in the courtroom scene, him walking up to me post a take and saying, ‘Nikhil isko aise kar sakte hai kya… ya jo bhi tujhe thik lage… aise kar ke dekh.'”
According to Nikhil, that relaxed atmosphere also extended to the film’s lighter moments. “Yes, that aspect of comedy you will see here also-some hilarious one-liners! Being on set with Navjot bhai is a whole lot of fun. There is an ease around him which is good for an actor.”
Pooja Meri Jaan is available for streaming on ZEE5.
