Deepak Dobriyal’s performance in new Netflix film Sector 36 has once again proven his vast versatility, and why he is one of the most underrated actors of Indian cinema. As a cop on the trail of a gruesome serial killer, Deepak is part prepared and pitch perfect.
In an exclusive conversation with Zoom, the ace actor spoke about the movie, getting his character right and tuning with Vikrant Massey.
How was it being part of a film as vital as Sector 36?
It is a very important film and the biggest thing is that it is coming on such a big platform – Netflix. So this is one thing we actors keep doing.
You mean keep doing commendable performances?
Yes. But the thing is that if you have given your best performance today, you gave your best performance in your other roles. But there were only four people in the theatre watching that performance. So there was no relevance to those performances. Unless your work is seen, there is no point to it.
So you mean to say unless your work has an audience it amounts to zilch?
It is also very important for the performance to reach, I want to thank Netflix that it is such a big platform, it is like I feel that this is my first film of my career, the kind of response I am getting by associating with Netflix. It is as if this is my first performance.
That is very sad considering the kind of work you have done in the past?
I am overwhelmed and I am also thankful, it feels like it is the first film of my career, the message was also good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eES65pr2POM
Your tuning with Vikrant Massey is unique. You hardly meet him in the narrative?
We did not meet much, we met only two-three times, I mean he also used to be in his character, I am also in my character, so I felt good to see that my co-star evolved with his character just like me, so it felt good so there was not much interaction like that. That very deep bond we shared, after just one or two meetings, nothing special apart from that, everyone was in character.
What was your response to the script when you first heard it?
Sector 36 had a lot of impact on me, when I heard the story, saw the screenplay, it was simple, that when all those things happen in his life, when there is a change in him, when he feels that an incident shows him the mirror, it creates empathy in him for the whole world, and that empathy with the world happens only when it happens to you, only then you experience the grief firsthand.
This explains the lack of empathy in today’s world?
I kept it mostly personal, when you really keep it personal, only then you are able to connect with the society. So here is my character Pandey's realization, when he understands himself, understands his pain, the pain of his loved ones, then he is able to relate to the pain of others. I held on to that sense of empathy while doing Sector 36.
The film addresses the issue of safety for children?
Giving security to women and children is the duty of the whole country, it is a duty and everyone. Everyone should do it at one's own level. I will tell you a story. I was in Gurugram and there I met some some builder friends of mine and they said to me, ‘Deepak ji, you see, in Gurugram we outdone your Mumbai so I said yes, maybe you can say in the field of building construction, but what is the time now?’ The builder said 6:30 pm. I said, ‘6:30, do you see any girl walking outside on the highway or around it? In Mumbai any girl can roam anywhere till the whole night. It will probably take you 80-85 years to do this.This lifeline of Mumbai, which is so jam packed, runs early in the morning and throughout the day, no one dares to touch any woman there, this is Mumbai, this is Mumbai, but now in Delhi and around here, anything can happen anywhere, so that little awareness is very much needed.
With children, safety is even more crucial?
Yes. Because children do not know, children cannot see the hidden predators, so a lot of things. I mean my two children… parents have become paranoid. Nowadays you will not believe the stories of child abuse, you are hearing a lot of cases, so parents behave like nervous wrecks, so much so that e children feel a little pressurised.
You share a wonderful rapport with the Sector 36 producer Dinesh Vijan?
Maddock Films, Dinesh Vijan Bhai, always keeps coming to me with great roles. Maddock gives me freedom to do whatever I like, so I am very grateful to him. My director Aditya Nimbalkar, my co-stars… When the result is so lovely then everyone seems like gods to you, , all of them are divine souls, whoever is around you.
You sound blissed?
I mean after Gulaal and after Maqbool, after Omkara, after Hindi Medium, Tanu Weds Manu after that for the first time such lovely writing has come to me in this film, so I want to thank all of them, especially Bodhi Bhai (writer Bodhayan Roychaudhury) and Netflix.