Exclusive! Afwaah actor Appruv Gupta: I'm happy I broke the stereotype of playing a comic

Standup comic and satirist Appurv Gupta, who made his acting debut with Sudhir Mishra's Afwaah, says that he is glad that he got to play a character in the film that is not an extension of who he is in public.

Appurv told OTTplay, "Stereotyping is common with people who are standup comics, news anchors, or show hosts. Many times, we get a part in a film that is an extension of who we already are. For instance, a comedian plays a comedian in a film. But as an actor, I want to play a character because I already perform as a standup comic on stage. I got to break that stereotype with Afwaah. The casting team has done a great job. My character's presence adds dark comedy and a sense of humour, but Bobby is not a comical character. He is a man who handles social media content for a politician, and how that changes things is part of the main narrative. It is very interesting."

So, what kind of response has he been receiving for his debut film? "I think that this is a very important film because it is relevant at this point in time. The role that I play is quite relatable, so those who have watched the film have really loved it. I got DMs appreciating the message that the film and my character try to convey. For me, it is a great validation," said Appruv.

Afwaah is produced by Anubhav Sinha and also stars Bhumi Pednekar, Sumeet Vyas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sumit Kaul, and Sharib Hashmi.

The film is currently in theatres.