Naveen Kasturia on playing parent for the first time in Salakaar, training in action and finding bliss after marriage | Exclusive

Salakaar actor Naveen Kasturia spoke to OTTplay about his role in Salakaar and much more. Read his exclusive interview to find out the details.

Salakaar

Actor Naveen Kasturia, best remembered for his role in Aspirants, is back. This time, he is ready with the action spy-series, Salakaar. Naveen, who completed a decade in acting, spoke to us about all the new things he tried with Salakaar, what the action has been like, and life since being married in December 2024, among other things.

Naveen Kasturia on Salakaar, training in action and more...

Salakaar is quite different from the world of Pitchers and Aspirants. You're playing a spy for the first time. So, tell me, what extra steps did you have to take to prep for this role.

I mostly listen to my director. He had a vision and I was just trying to follow his direction. When I pick up roles, I read the script and especially my scenes in order to understand the moods. It's not possible to stay in one character throughout shoot. So I try and crack moods in preparing for a part.

If you're talking about action, that was new as well. That is something I had to work on. I have quite a few action scenes in the show, so I prepared for it. I had to ride a lot of vehicles for the shoot. I just know how to ride a car (in real life). I can ride a bike, but am not very good at it, but had to ride that too in Ladakh. So, I had to practice for that. My character rides a tempo, truck, scooter, vintage car and much more. It was all firsts for me.

I play a father in the story. I've never played parent in a story. It's not something that I have experienced before. I have never been a parent to a child. I have never been to a foreign land. But when you look at the mood of the character, you take out experiences from your own life. You recall when you had experienced that emotion. That's what I try to recreate. I do talk to kids, but talking to your own son as a father is something that you experience only when you become a father. Acting-wise, those scenes were challenging for me. It was a very new emotion, so I felt a little more nervous.

I also feel that it might have been tricky to switch between playing a soldier/spy and a father. So how did you balance it out? And how did you eventually work out how to play a father on screen?

That happens with every character, right? Even in real life, we are different with different people. You would have a different side when talking to me as compared to talking to your father, friend or a lover. It's very different, and that's how it is in real life also. It happens with every show. Salakaar doesn't focus on fatherhood, but I look at them as scenes and moods. I don't have to treat a mission differently because I'm also a father on the show. The focus would be on the scene. A lot of times, your character is used to narrate the screenplay, and what the writer has written for you. We just try to put what is in the scene and try to project it as real as possible.

We ourselves are not absolutely clear when the shooting commences. The shooting is also not always linear, so you have to approach it moment-to-moment.

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It is also your first time doing high-intensity action role. I believe the trailer wouldn't even touch the tip of what the show has to offer. Do you wish that more of your action scenes from the series could be revealed or keeping it hidden is a smarter move?

The show is not about too much action, but the thing is that the scene requires a lot of prep. That takes up a lot of time. I was doing action for the first time, and that required a lot of training. The trailer actually gives you the correct information. There should be something left for the show also, right. You get a hint about the show through the trailer. How the show unfolds, and the screenplay is likely to immerse you into the world of Salakaar. Of course, there's a lot left to be told. It has not touched the tip of it, but that's how the trailers are.

Do you think adding AI glasses, a technology which is limited to a few countries at this point, was a smart move for the trailer? Also, tell me if your character uses such technology?

This is purely the writer and director's vision. My character is mainly based in 1970s, in comparison to 2025. So you won't get to see a lot of technology when it comes to my character.

The story is touted to be inspired from real-life events, especially from what Ajit Doval witnessed. Did you meet the man himself to understand what was expected out of you? Explain the whole process to me.

I was told that it is the story of an Indian spy and not a particular person. I was not trying to imitate anyone. I just surrendered to my director and didn't try to base it on any other personality.

Also Read: Naveen Kasturia reveals he got married in the middle of Salakaar shoot: 'I had the same moustache' | Exclusive

What has life been like since marrying Shubhanjali? Given the ongoing work-life balance debate, how would you say you are coping with striking the balance?

Life has become better. You now have somebody to come back to. I was living alone in Mumbai, and now I live with someone. It's always good to have a family. Marriage is quite underrated. If you find the right person, it's the most fantastic thing ever.

Your one wishlist is sorted after working as a spy. What's next, that you want to explore or are exploring?

I don't have a list, plan too much or try to control a lot of things. I hope to be surprised by the parts I get offered. When I worked on Breathe or even Aspirants, I was not thinking of doing such roles. I was very happy that I got considered for Breathe or Salakaar. I hope that writers and directors can come up to me with interesting roles, but I don't have a defined list. I feel many characters are explored through films, so I'll know about the project only when I get approached for it. Right now, though, I don't have any fixed characters that I really want to do.

FAQs:

Q. Who is the Indian spy in Salakaar?

A. Naveen Kasturia plays a spy in the Salakaar series.

Q. Where to watch Salakaar?

A. The series Salakaar is releasing on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) on August 8, 2025.

Q. How many episodes Salakaar have?

A. The Salakaar series will consist of 8 episodes.

Q. What is the story of Salakaar?

A. Salakaar revolves around a young Indian spy on a covert mission, with the focus on a decorated spymaster's efforts to safeguard national security.

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