Exclusive! Did Ram Gopal Varma reject Vivan Bhathena once for THIS reason?

Vivan Bhathena is one of the renowned actors who made a smooth transition from television to cinema and web projects with some of his memorable performances, the most recent being the web series Kafas.

While method acting is one of the topics of conversation for many actors, the artist romanticises the immersive process of character building to get to the skin of the character.

Vivan, an actor known for playing grey characters on screen, shared a different opinion on the whole process and how he once got rejected by Satya helmer Ram Gopal Varma.

Recalling one such audition, Vivaan told OTTplay, "I think the whole idea of method acting is so much talked about that at times people forget that one does not have to be the person he is playing but to convince the audience through the performance. I remember once I was auditioning for Ram Gopal Varma for a film, and I am not going to name the actor or the film because eventually he became a prominent name, but I will share the incident."

He went on, adding, "I drove my car to Sir's (RGV) office and turned in my regular clothes. The actor who finally bagged the role went and lived in a slum for a week before the shooting and went through the method of being the character or the process of what they say. He came to the audition like that, without taking a shower, and came dirty. I am told that I do not look the part. Well, I do not really understand such things because I feel I will convince through performance and looks, which are external elements that can be created. Imagine if I were playing a mass murderer. Will I start doing things that the character does? No, right? It is my job to make you believe that I am the murderer. Like the way people are hating my character, Vikram Bajaj, that hatred is a compliment, which means I convinced my audience. It is the job of the actor to convince the audience that he is a king or a beggar, whereas, in real life, the actor is just one of you!"

However, it is true that Vivan is known for playing negative roles, mostly in films and TV shows.

Asked if he feels stereotyped, the actor replied, "Honestly speaking, I look up to one of my favourite actors and the iconic personality of our Indian cinema, Amrish Puri. I think even though he mostly played villains on screen in his time, he had a great career. So, I am least bothered by my image as the villain. As long as I am getting to play parts that are offering me growth, I am happy."

The web series Kafas, directed by Sahil Sangha and produced by Applause Entertainment, is streaming on SonyLIV.