Mumbai: Sunny Kaushal, who started his journey in the film industry as an assistant director, has carved a niche for himself as an actor. Known for his roles in Gold and Shiddat, Sunny is now making headlines with his latest film Phir Aai Haseen Dilruba, which recently released on OTT. The film also stars Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey. In an exclusive interview, Sunny Kaushal talks about his career, his approach to love, and the importance of family.
From Assistant Director to Actor
Sunny Kaushal began his career behind the camera, working as an assistant director. Reflecting on how this experience shaped his acting career, Sunny shared, “I became an assistant director to learn something new. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to be an actor, but I also wanted to understand the filmmaking process. On set, during those crucial 30 seconds of action and cut, I learned a lot about the nuances of filmmaking, which also helped me understand the finer aspects of acting.”
Exploring Intense Characters in Films
Sunny has portrayed intense lovers in his films, each with a different perspective on love. In Shiddat, his character was a passionate lover who would go to any length for love, while in Phir Aai Haseen Dilruba, his character crosses the line into madness. When asked how far he would go for love in real life, Sunny explained, “I am very protective about love and relationships. In real life, it’s hard to say how far you would go until you’re in that situation. But I do believe in dedication and intensity in love. Love is the root of all emotions, so it should be deep and meaningful. If I have to be intense in love, I can be that too.”
Playing a Negative Role and Receiving Compliments
Sunny took on the challenge of playing a negative character in Phir Aai Haseen Dilruba. Despite the risks, he embraced the role with confidence. “As an actor, I wanted to take on a challenging role. What’s the worst that can happen? The audience might reject it, but if they do, I’ll learn something from it. Thankfully, I’ve received many compliments for my performance,” he said.
The biggest compliment, however, came from his sister-in-law, Katrina Kaif. Sunny shared, “The most special compliment I received was from my Bhabhi, Katrina Kaif. She posted a story on Instagram saying, ‘You surprised me, and after seeing you in this form, I can say that whatever you say is right, you are always right, and you are the best brother-in-law anyone could imagine. I promise I will never trouble you.’ Hearing this from her was the biggest compliment for me.”
Read: Sunny Kaushal Shares Hilarious Childhood Story of Boxing Match with Vicky Kaushal
Vicky Kaushal’s Influence and Family Support
Sunny’s elder brother, Vicky Kaushal, is a well-established actor with several awards to his name. Sunny spoke about the importance of Vicky’s opinion in his career. “His opinion means a lot to me. We might have different views on certain characters, and we respect each other’s opinions. Those are technical discussions, but we always talk about work. When my mom and Vicky told me that they didn’t see Sunny in my character, that was my biggest victory.”
Sunny also emphasized the importance of family in his life. “I believe that blessings come from family. Their support is everything to me. My work, career, and acting are important, but nothing compares to seeing my family smiling as I leave for work in the morning. Their happiness gives me strength.”
On Rumors of Link-Up with Sharvari Wagh
There have been rumors linking Sunny Kaushal with actress Sharvari Wagh, but Sunny was quick to dismiss them. “No, there’s nothing like that between us. We are just good friends. Sometimes while working, you become lifelong friends, and that’s what happened with us.”
