After playing supporting roles for close to a decade, Arunoday Singh has hit pay dirt with his solid act in the Irrfan Khan black comedy Blackmail. t2 caught up with the 35-year-old hunk on embarking on a journey drastically different from his political lineage (Arunoday is the grandson of former union minister Arjun Singh), on carving his own niche and what writing poetry means to him.  

Blackmail may have polarised audiences, but you’ve been unanimously singled out for praise. Did you see that coming?

I absolutely didn’t! I don’t know how it happened… I’m humbled by it. I did the best I could, but I work hard in every movie. This is the first time I’ve been singled out for praise and I think all the credit for that goes to Abhinay Deo (the film’s director). I am pretty sure he made me look much better in the edit. I am grateful for the compliments, I just hope I earn them properly some day. But I can’t take credit for anything, because I was what the director needed me to be. 

Anything stands out, in terms of praise that’s come your way?

Well, I sent the workers in my building — painters and carpenters who keep doing some work or the other for me — for the movie. I bought them tickets and chai… and they loved the film! They’ve watched all my films and haven’t liked many of them (laughs), but this they did. My mother has seen it twice. She has a very refined sense of art and you can’t make her see anything twice. My wife loved it too.

I loved it, which I think matters the most, because I am hyper-critical of my own work. I always find something wrong in my performances for some insecure reason or another. But this was one film I walked out of and just felt proud. I think everyone has done such a stellar job — from the screenwriter to the DoP (director of photography) and the lighting. This was an ensemble where everyone was at the top of their game. We enjoyed the process of making it and we were always aware that it isn’t a film for everybody. You need a certain kind of sense of humour to appreciate it.

It must have been tough to not have Irrfan Khan around, especially when his performance has been the driving force of the film?

He’s an undeniable force and without him the film wouldn’t have even been possible. Someone like me gets to work on films like this because an actor like Irrfan says ‘yes’. His script choice and intelligence are superlative. That’s how he mounts a film… the rest of us can’t mount a film. I can’t be the lead yet. One day hopefully and soon, but not right now. He’s very keenly missed. He’s such an asset on set and a real gentleman, he gives so much advice, so much warmth. He’s the most charming man, he just lights up a room.

Your honesty and humility is very refreshing. Has this come from being in the business?

I think I am a misfit in the industry. I would do much better keeping my mouth shut and be less refreshing. (Laughs) I think it just comes from how I am. But when I say I am a misfit, it doesn’t mean I feel a great need to belong. I am aware of my flaws and I don’t need everyone to like me. But I would like to be liked by the people I like. I don’t worry if the industry as a whole likes me or not. I think it’s just best to be true to what you are. If you are better at networking and socialising than I am, then I don’t grudge you that. I think that’s a great skill that I lack. 

It’s been nine years and a mixed bag of supporting roles. How do you think you could have done it better?

I am still in a phase of my career where quite a bit of work is offered to me. So I pick the best from that. I pick my roles based a bit on the heart, a bit on the brain, but as I said, I pick the best from what I audition for. When I look back, there are always things that I feel I could have done better, but I am mostly happy with my journey.

I am a very sensitive person… I don’t like overburdening my heart because stuff like regret can kill you. I look at everything as an opportunity. If I didn’t do the films I did, I wouldn’t have got Blackmail. If I was super busy and working on a big career, I wouldn’t have met my wife, who is the love of my life, while idling on a beach (smiles).  

You’ve also been typecast to some extent. How do you fight that?

I fight it every day. It’s very frustrating. But this is how things work and you can’t help it… you might as well complain about the weather! It’s a visual medium, everyone plays characters… it’s so easy to get typecast. ‘Lage raho’ is the advice that Irrfan gave me, and that’s the only advice I follow. Honestly, if I am typecast, I like to look at it as a plus… there’s literally no one else of my size and acting abilities combined. So I am a niche… it may be difficult to cast me, but I am good when you do.

I just enjoy that… I try and get better at that.

Coming from a family with strong political roots, are you considered an aberration for your choice of career?

My parents are aberrations in themselves. I have a lovely family full of aberrations, we are all very singular people (laughs). And we are all very happy when a family member follows their heart… there’s no pressure. My family knew I was a nautanki since I was born, so I might as well now get paid for it! 

Do people expect you to have political leanings or an interest in politics as a career?

It’s not something that comes up in many conversations I have. When I do speak politics, it’s like everyone else, as a concerned citizen. I try and keep my own family politics out of it. 

Your Instagram handle is called ‘Sufi Soul’, and is kind of dichotomous to your screen image…

That’s who I am. What I am on screen is what people perceive me to be. I try not to link what I am with my screen image. Also, on social media you won’t find me doing too many selfies and things like that. I don’t mind anyone posting selfies and workout videos, if that’s who they are, but that’s not me. And although I do work out, I don’t enjoy taking videos of it because I am sweaty and I look like I just came through the Trojan War! Who wants to be seen like that?! 

We have to speak about your poems on Instagram. The verses are beautiful and deep…

Thank you! It’s the interpretation of a few thoughts that I have. I have a decent vocabulary, but I try and keep it as simple as possible. All my favourite poets — Blake, Cummins… — were minimalist. You don’t have to say much to make people feel something. I try and be real about it. My emotions always overtake me and that’s why I write poetry. 

Have you ever thought of publishing?

I have. The first time I went about it, I don’t think I was good enough to be published. Poetry is a very difficult thing to sell. If I was a very famous Bollywood actor, then maybe I would be able to market it. But marketing poetry in this day and age is tough. All the publishing people I’ve met so far haven’t seemed very enthusiastic. Though I hope I get to publish a book someday, I have them out for people to read on Instagram anyway. I will keep writing… I don’t need someone to buy a book for me to keep writing (smiles).

A recent verse of yours — ‘When everybody’s playing, but it’s not a game… When everybody wanted to fly, so you took the train’ — sums up your approach towards your life and career, doesn’t it?

(Laughs) I do over-romanticise sometimes, but in a nutshell, yes, that’s how my life has been. I haven’t experienced sudden, catapulting kind of success, but I am very grateful for my slow journey… that I took the train (smiles).