THE GREEN-EYED HERO AND HIS RADIANT SMILED HEROINE

Are those eyes real, is the first question that came to my mind when I met EHAN BHATT for the first time. And the big smile on EDILSY VARGAS’s face was all that was needed to break the ice. One fine day, music maestro A R Rahman wrote a story, and decided to make it into a film. Thousands of auditions and ‘n’ number of screen-tests later, he got his Jai and Sophie. Ehan Bhat and Edilsy Vargas will be seen together in 99 Songs, a story by A R Rahman. The film marks Ehan’s debut in the movies and for Edilsy, it is her first Indian film. Ahead of the release of 99 Songs, the two young stars spoke about the process, how Ehan’s depression helped him get the part, and how Edilsy feels struggle should be dealt with as a lesson. And yes, Ehan’s green eyes are for real.

-Team Cineblitz

How does it feel to finally breakthrough and get a film?

Edilsy: It feels amazing. To be working in a major Bollywood film with A R Rahman, it’s surreal. It has been such a learning experience.

Ehan: I am not able to articulate the exact words about how I feel, but it has been an insane learning process for me. I’ve been doing this film, living in the world of 99 Songs for over a period of four years, I trained myself for piano, I learned theatre in LA, and after that, I was doing voice training with my director. I feel very humbled and very privileged that he (AR Rahman) chose me from amongst all the people who would die to work with him, just to see a glimpse of him, to see him in the music concert, and he chose me. I am really grateful from the bottom of my heart, to be the lead actor in his dream project.

How was it working with A R Rahman, the legend himself?

Ehan:  I think it was the best thing that ever happened in my life. Growing up listening to his music, being his fan. He is someone who has put India on the world map.He has given music to this film, he is producing it, and he’s written the story. So, what could be better than being in his film? I feel elated, ecstatic, and excited.

Edilsy: It’s been an amazing experience because not only is he the greatest musician of ou time, but he is also very kind and sweet. He makes you feel very comfortable when you are sharing physical space with him. That truly makes him an outstanding human being.

Forboth of you, was acting always the dream?

Ehan: I don’t know if it was a dream that I wanted to pursue. But as a child, I would see movies and mimic the voices of actors,both, from Hollywood and Bollywood. But I belong to a family where all my brothers and cousins are into business, and management,or are doctors and engineers. I too had joined engineering, but after a month of college, I was bored and didn’t want to be in it. So, I left it. I don’t know, but I was trying to find myself and what I wanted to be in life. I finally realised that my passion for acting was growing.I started to watch lot of films, I was really curious to know and be a part of films.

Edilsy: I always knew I wanted to be in the entertainment business, one way or another. I didn’t know what exactly, but I knew I wanted to be able to connect with people and to share what I have inside of me. Life is really unpredictable. I didn’t know I wanted to be an actress, it sort of happened.I started modelling because I knew somehow, something would happen. So I did a few commercials, but when I acted for the first time in a movie, I felt like this is it, this is exactly what I have been looking for. I feel amazedthat I have the ability and opportunity to work in a film and  bring whatever it demands with honesty.

How was the training in AR Rahman’s institute, KMMC?

Ehan: When I went there, first, I was taught under the guidance of a piano teacher. When I went to Chennai, it was the first time I saw a piano in my life. And God, the keys were all similar. I thought they would be numbered in order. It takes a lot of time to learn to play a piano. It’s tough to start from the beginning. It takes months to coordinate with your left hand, then your right, and thenanother month using both together. I believe my biggest strength is my will-power, so, I used to rehearse 8-9 hours a day. My back would pain by night. It was because of my teacher, all credit goes to him. He made the process so easy for me, within two months, I played for Rahman sir. I remember him calling my teacher and asking him, “Can I take you out for dinner? He is playing confidently with both hands, so let me treat you tonight.” That was the biggest compliment I received from him.

Edilsy: I didn’t get a chance to get trained because I am based abroad. I did get training, but not for this film.

Edilsy, for you, will the journey with Indian films continue, considering you are based abroad?

Edilsy: As an actor you never know where your craft will take you. I am open to everything and am looking forward to working with Indian producers, directors and actors. There are so many actors that I respect and admire from Bollywood. I would love to work with Deepika (Padukone), she is amazing, Priyanka (Chopra), Alia (Bhatt). I also like Salman Khan.

Take us through the audition process for 99 Songs, we heard it was rigorous.

Ehan: For the part I was selected for, 3000 people auditioned. When I was auditioning for the film, I don’t know if it was planned that way, I was actually going through a phase of depression in my life. You know, when you want to pursue acting and you don’t get films, and all your time is wasted. You have bills to pay, the rent, so many things, and that gets you demotivated. Emotionally you are drained. You get depressed and you think, why am I not happy? Where is my life going? You’re watching yourself all the time. When I went for this audition, I found out that the character I was auditioning for was going through the same phase of depression, he is emotionally drowning. I don’t know what clicked but, I felt wow! And as an actor, when you deliver a scene, you know when you are terrible, and when you are amazing. Somehow, I felt they will call me because it went pretty well. I got a call back in a week. Then, the complete process was five or six scenes that I performed. And after a couple of months, I got a call that I was selected for the film.

Edilsy: I remember I had sent a self- tape and I got a call back from the agency and they said Mr. Rahman wants to meet you. Right there, I was sweating. I was so nervous, I don’t know what to expect. So we went to LA, where I met him for the first time. He wanted to see me in person to see if I was the one he had visualised. That’s when he explained the whole story to me. It was meant to be, is what he said, he felt it from the beginning. And I too feel Sophie on deep levels. And it was meant to be.

Describe your film characters briefly for us.

Ehan: He is a normal person, a dreamer, a believer and he is adorable. But by the norms of society, you are given choices in life, and ultimately what you choose shapes up how and where you are going to be. Jai is someone who firmly believes in his talent. But no matter what, we always need that someone who always inspires to be what we have dreamt of. That is where Edilsy comes in. But to live in the journey sometimes, you have to go on your wayalone.

Edilsy: So that moment he decides to go away and leave me behind that…. (Ehan stops her from giving spoilers). She is sweet and kind, a beautiful soul, an artiste. She sees and feels the world from a different perspective. She falls in love with this guy, it’s pure, it’s insane, it’s that love that we want to inspire people. That kind of love which is almost lost. A lot happens in between, I can’t tell. But yeah, the moment she loses him, she also loses everything, her identity.

How challenging was it, as your first time in Indian films, Edilsy? And for you Ehan, as your first film ever?

Ehan: As I told you, my biggest strength lies in my will power. It wasn’t a challenge, it was more of a joy, because it is such a beautiful film to live the life of your character before the film. I got to live Jai through this journey, I actually learned piano, and I was eating, dancing, and playing with musicians because I was in a music school. I made some lifelong friends in the school. Everyone was doing their bit in the college, they were there to learn. I also felt like a student. Our director Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy made it easy for me. You have to get into the mind of the director first to know how he is looking at the character. So, that was my job. Once these two things were done, and I got to know the ifs, whys and buts of the character, there were no challenges, it was a smooth ride.

Edilsy: It was a challenge because Sophie’s character was very close to me. Some people would think it makes your job easier, but from my perspective, I don’t think so. You are showing who you really are, you are being naked and vulnerable in front of everybody. And you are taking the risk of telling them this is me, take it or leave it. It was hard in moments, very very hard, because I felt vulnerable, I felt naked. There were so many real emotions I was feeling. There was anger, I actually got depressed in the process of making the movie. I remember going back to the hotel room and just crying. My eyes would be swollen, I couldn’t get over that pain and that loss.

What has been the toughest part of the entire journey for both of you?

Ehan: I was depressed because I wanted to bag a film,that was the toughest part.This film is the best thing that happened in my life. But to get to this film, I had to go through my own struggle to get here.

Edilsy: The struggle that we all go through, every single artiste out there is going through the same struggle. It is hard, because it is an incredibly competitive place. Everybody is doing the same, everybody has something special to offer. So, when you don’t get something and you thought you did great, then you start believing that you are not good enough. It emotionally and mentally destroys you. You have to find a middle ground and try to understand that it is notpersonal, it has nothing to do with you. Only when you understand that, you move on with ease. When you don’t get a part, it’s not that you’re not good enough, it’s just that you don’t fit the part. It’s hard, but we just have to keep moving forward. AND IT HAPPENS!