Exclusive! Brahmāstra actor Markand Soni: Amitabh Bachhan knows millennials and GenZ lingo better than many people I know

Working with a stellar cast, including Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor closely in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmāstra was a joyous moment for young actor-musician Markand Soni. After the success of the film, he is on cloud nine. In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, the actor talks about his experience of working with the stalwarts closely. Read on…

How are you enjoying the success?

It’s quite overwhelming! A huge number of people are watching it and giving it love! And I have been going to the theatres to watch it with friends. I've seen it three times now with different groups and every time I went I heard people talking about it in the interval and after the film got done and they had nothing but good things to say!

What is working in favour of the film?

I think the music and VFX are something that have stood out! They nailed it with the VFX. According to me, it’s the best we’ve seen in India so far! And the story, of course, it’s something new and it’s for everyone, from a child to a grown-up!

Tell us a little about your filming experience.

Mine is a primary character who supports Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir’s character. The name of my character is Santha – a young smart boy. My character doesn’t fight but he is smart. He knows the past and present and he knows the reason.

How is this work different from your previous works?

I come from an ad-heavy background and then I worked in television. Hence, I was used to over-the-top acting. Khichdi, the movie I worked in, is a silly comedy and that also needed that extra. In the film, it was different. I learnt a lot of tiny details that I have never thought about.

Also read: Brahmastra review: Ranbir Kapoor exudes the brightest light in Ayan Mukerji's labour of love 

How is Amitabh Bachchan a co-actor?

Bachchan sir walks in with a certain aura and energy. The moment he walks in, people will stop talking around. And while working with him I realised how grounded and massively level-headed he is. He is a brilliant actor and I don’t deserve to say. All I can say is he is very down-to-earth, comforting, and comfortable. He jokes and lightens up the floor. He may seem old but he is not. He knows things about millennials and Gen Z. He knows their lingo better than many people I know.

You had a good time with Ranbir Kapoor too…

I think Ranbir Kapoor is one of the best actors in the industry at the moment. I always think if I’m half as good at acting as he is my life will be sorted. I look up to him as an actor and want to be like him. He is also the sweetest and most beautiful human being. At his stature, he doesn’t really need to be polite. But he is genuinely sweet to people. He will always ask how you are doing. I am a fanboy and he has won my heart over.

I remember I went to the Dharma Productions office for the look test. He came and said Hi, I am Ranvir and I was like, ‘we all know who you are’. He said hi to everyone. These are the little things that make him special. You don’t expect him to be so kind and polite and there he is, introducing himself to the rest of the people.

I’ll give you one more example. On sets, we used to fool around. I was there along with a few others. I was mimicking Ranbir and he was passing. Someone just called him and I was shocked. I was like cancelled for the rest of my life. He came and insisted that I mimic him and he laughed. I thought he would be offended but no. He enjoyed the act. He became pretty friendly.