Exclusive! Tahir Raj Bhasin: Glad I could do varied roles so nobody boxes me in one category as an actor

An actor whose name is on everybody’s mind currently is Tahir Raj Bhasin. With his web series Ranjish Hi Sahi and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein releasing on the same weekend, right after 83, Tahir achieved new heights as an actor. The series unleashed his potential as a lead actor. However, there is much more to him. Having humble beginnings through an uncredited role in Kai Po Che to now taking over with big projects, the actor has become an unstoppable force.

In an interview with OTTplay, Tahir recalls his journey from Kai Po Che to Mardaani to Chhichhore, 83, the two web series (Ranjish Hi Sahi being a project closely associated with Mahesh Bhatt) and his upcoming film with Taapsee Pannu, Loop Lapeta. Excerpts:

From being the antagonist in Mardaani to being a part of an ensemble cast in Chhichhore, Force 2 and 83 to now playing the lead in Ranjish Hi Sahi, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhen and Loop Lapeta, you have come a long way, wouldn't you say?

Yes, thank you for pointing that out. It has been an incredible journey so far. I’ve had the fortune of doing some diverse parts. Mardaani was a crime drama, Force 2 was an action film, Chichhore was a college drama and 83, of course, was a sports historical drama. It’s been an incredible learning with all of these parts and it’s been exciting to try something new every time. Finally I’m at that chapter where I’m doing the ‘romantic leads’. It fit like a glove. I’m a 90s kid. I’ve grown up watching 90s Bollywood so when I finally get the opportunity to look into a heroine’s eyes and say, “Main tumse jaan se bhi zyaada pyaar karta hoon,” it came so naturally that I wondered how have I not been doing this all along. No regrets. I’ve had the opportunity to put out different kinds of work so that when someone looks at me as an actor today, they don’t box me in one particular category.

While you are a 90s kid, Ranjish Hi Sahi is based in the 70s. What about going back to the era were you most excited for?

When you’re working on a period piece, it’s always very exciting because when you step onto the set, it’s a new world altogether. The series is set in the world of Bollywood in the 70s. There’s such a dramatic difference between the kind of technology we see on set today and the set design of Ranjish Hi Sahi – whether it was the camera or the old-school of editing on film or the kind of lights that were used. They help you get into the character or vibe of the world but also what’s challenging about period films is the kind of mannerisms that you are used to doing, whether it’s the slang in your vocabulary or the hand gestures or the vocals – it has to be adapted to the time. Of course, there is also the dress up or hairstyle and costume. It all adds to giving it the period feel.

When you talk about the hairstyle and the dressing sense, there are reports that Ranjish Hi Sahi is true story based on Praveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt, especially since your character somewhat resembles Bhatt in the dressing sense. Would it be correct to say that?

I’d like to clarify that it is definitely not a biopic but a show that is inspired thematically. There is a love triangle which is inspired by true events. There’s a lot of fiction and dramatization to the story there too. It’s a mix of both. A little bit of fact and fiction is what makes Shankar. What’s important is that when you say it is a biopic, then my character should be looking like Mahesh Bhatt, act and dress like him. None of that is actually happening in the series. Definitely, thematically, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that it is inspired by true events.

Since there are comparisons, people would also see you as young Mahesh Bhatt. Have you come across such reactions? Is there any such comment that made you laugh or wonder where is this coming from?

I didn’t receive any such comments. It was actually a creative decision to not try and look like him at all. The only comparison that people have asked is, because he’s a creative producer, how much of a creative input did he have in influencing Shankar’s character? To that, I would say it’s 50% his creative input and 50% is imagination and fiction. It couldn’t have been possible without him because he is a director who is an institution when it comes to the romantic, drama genre, especially in a musical sense. This series has all that and is based in the 70s, so without his experience, journey and stories, I wouldn’t have a lot to feed off, which I had.

You played a very small (uncredited) role in Kai Po Che, which also starred Amrita (Puri). Did you guys connect back then and got to work together now? How was it like?

It’s a crazy Bollywood story and people won’t believe it if I tell them that but we never actually met on the sets of. We might have met but it must have been a very brief hi and bye. She was the lead actress on that film and I remember going for one day of shoot. I must have been standing outside the vanity van and it was actually the first time when I saw an actress walk out of a vanity van. She had an aura around her. I was wondering “Wow, is that what being an actress is like?” She said hi to me and it was a surreal moment when we were rehearsing for Ranjish Hi Sahi. I told her that she was one of the first Bollywood actresses that I saw and I couldn’t believe that I would play a romantic part opposite her. It’s a funny story of life doing a 360. She was absolutely delightful on set, both as Anju the part and as Amrita the person. She was incredibly patient and nowhere did she try and be like, “I’m the more senior star and an established person.” It was just a joy to work with her.

Interestingly, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein is also a love triangle. It releases at the same time too. What is your take on that?

The saying, “Dene wala jab bhi deta hai chappad phaad ke deta hai” is absolutely true when it comes to this because the fans, media and my mom would ask me when would I do a romantic part and it finally happened! I’m romancing four actresses on the same weekend so what more can an actor ask for? Yes, there’s a love triangle in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein but it’s also very different. It’s more of a pulpy, high-octane thriller. It is a story of an ordinary man in extra-ordinary circumstances. It was also great fun to shoot and Shweta Tripathi comes with such great experiences with Masaan and Mirapur that it was superb creating the show with her.

When you have actresses like Taapsee Pannu and Shweta, who have, in some way paved the way for female actors, you also have to up your mark as an actor to be at par with them. Did you face that with Loop Lapeta and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein?

It was a superb experience. In a similar way like them, I have also carved my own path. When you meet a co-star who has had a similar journey to you and you know what they have done in order to maximize the potential in their craft, there’s a mutual respect. I’ve had that with Shweta, Amala (Paul), Taapsee and Amrita. It’s great because there’s no ceiling to the amount of effort you’re willing to put in to make sure that the project just comes first. All these projects we’re talking about, they were shot in between lockdown, curfews and night curfews in 2020 but there was never a moment where we felt what are we doing and ‘kahan phas gaye’. For us and I can speak for all the actors, being on a creatively fulfilling film set and doing what you love is the best thing in the world. It’s just best to be collaborating with people like that.