Actor-influencer Ayush Mehra made his Cannes debut this year. He spoke to IndiaToday.in about his Cannes journey, walking the red carpet and meeting international celebrities such as Chris Hemsworth, filmmaker George Miller and others.
Ayush also shared his take on whether he felt he finally got his due as a performer, how he overcame the challenges that came his way and breaking free from the chocolate-boy stereotype.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Take us through your Cannes journey.
The festival has an energy, this whole vibe that says that you belong over here. Like, I am an actor and I just feel like, ‘Wow, these are my people, creatively aligned and appreciating something which we all work so hard to create with our films.’ It’s one of the most beautiful events I’ve been to.
Tell us about your red carpet experience.
I was very excited because after the red carpet, it was about watching the films. That’s like a very supreme feeling because the makers of the film also sit with us.
About the red carpet walk, everyone tells me that the moment is over in a flash.
How about your outfits? Which designers did you wear?
I wore Savan Gandhi. He was kind enough to help me. And we loved it! My stylist Kudrat is so good and kind and helped me out with this. There’s a lot of coordination that happens with events, meetings and screenings happening over here. My outfit was packed so beautifully and given to me. It’s a blessing to have people in your team who are sorting your life out and giving it their all.
When your Cannes outfit trials were going on, was it exactly how you envisioned it to be?
Of course. I get it’s about the looks and all, but it’s more about the films for me. If I were given a chance to do this every day – sitting in a theatre and watching films with filmmakers who have inspired me a lot – I would take that any day. I would take that in a T-shirt and jeans as well (laughs).
But, when you’re in Cannes, there is a dress code which has to be followed for the red carpet. We do want to look our best. For that reason, we did put in a lot of effort. And it is exactly what we’d envisioned ourselves to be.
Which international celebs did you meet?
I saw Chris Hemsworth. I was at the ‘Mad Max’ screening. There was George Miller who was sitting over there. I’m a huge George Miller fan. He’s like one of the best directors ever. I’ve seen ‘Fury Road’ like 100 times! I remember going to the theatre, catching my popcorn and not eating it.
In this one also, my neck became tense because there were some very tense action sequences. He [George Miller] just grasps you so much. The film just owns you. There are such great action sequences and you won’t have time to blink. It’s brilliant.
Do you think ‘Mad Max’ will be received well in India?
There is no doubt. In fact, that’s the same for all the films over here. Firstly, making it here is a big thing. I’m sure all of them are going to be great. I hope I get a chance to watch ‘Megalopolis’, which is Francis Ford Coppola’s film. I also met Barry Keoghan and James Franco.
Now that you’re meeting a lot of people, are there chances of you going to Hollywood as well?
I hope to. I don’t know anything about that as of now. I really want to do a lot in Bollywood, to go to Hollywood as well. I am really open to anything and everything. I have always been the kind of person, who, if I like the story and character, be it any language or medium, I would love to do it. So, never say never for anything.
Walking at Cannes is not an everyday opportunity. Now that the big moment is finally yours, do you feel you’ve finally received your due as a performer?
I don’t look at it like that. It’s not that I’m saying I’ve not got my due or something. I am very grateful for where I am right now in life. I have dreams which are more oriented to Bollywood, Hollywood, etc. But it’s something which I am really grateful about right now. Getting your due or not getting your due is something which I don’t even think about.
I always believe in working hard towards certain things – being true to your craft and being honest with your characters. If I get appreciation and love for that, that is something which holds the primary ground for me. So, anything around and surrounding it, is just a narrative bonus. I’m sure that if I’m here, it must be that the stars are aligning. I must be deserving of that opportunity that I am here. I look at it like that. I never look at it as if I should get my due or I don’t deserve this again, so I don’t think like that. I don’t know how to answer this, but yeah, I’m really grateful for this opportunity.
Has your journey been easy? How did you deal with the challenges that came your way?
I always say that my journey has been very persistent. Not being from a film family and starting completely on my own is something which I knew, would, in my life, take a lot of time and require a lot of patience. I would say that it’s been very persistent. I have met some beautiful people along the way, and that’s been insane and very helpful for me as an actor, as a performer, as a human being. They guide me in so many aspects of life.
I don’t know what to say but I feel persistence is the right word. I would sum my journey like that because I always feel that you can’t reach from point A to point Z in a flash. If it happens, then great. Otherwise, if you reach from A to Z, you will just not savour it.
Slow and steady is always better than, ‘Oh my God, I’ve just got it.’ And then there is a crash. Like whatever goes up, has to come down. As long as you’re making progress, it just feels okay. And that’s what I feel about my journey. I’ve done a film called ‘Kacchey Limbu’, which was in TIFF. And now to get an opportunity to come to Cannes is amazing. So, step by step, I’ve done two film festivals. I never thought that I would go to any. So, it’s happening.
What was it like on the sets of ‘URI: The Surgical Strike’ as an assistant director? Tell us about working with Vicky Kaushal.
It was phenomenal. The film that ‘URI’ was and became, we had the belief for it, but I don’t think we thought it would do that much. People loved it, enjoyed it. We knew that we were making an honest film.
It was great working with Vicky Kaushal. He is such a humble and down-to-earth actor. I have learnt so much just being around him. He was so kind. If there was anything, you would just ask him, and he would not have any apprehension about sharing it. I really enjoyed my time working on ‘URI’. It was a short stay, but it was a really fun time.
Ayush, you have a chocolate boy image with the majority of the content you have done. Do you think it will ever stereotype you if you wish to do some intense roles as well?
I love getting loved (laughs) by all the people, women, and everyone who always thinks that I’m the perfect boyfriend. I would really love to continue doing that. I don’t think that much about stereotypes because, in my head, I’m not stereotyped as a particular actor. I feel I do intense stuff better than I do romantic things. I don’t have an opportunity as of now to show that aspect of life. But I know the minute that happens, it will all switch and people will be like, ‘He’s such a good, intense actor.’ It’s about getting that right role.
I recently did a show called ‘Minus One: New Chapter’ on Lionsgate. It had a lot of insecurity, toxicity, and vulnerability in my character, which was explored. We thought that was the right opportunity. It’s also about finding the right one to pivot.
I’m not worried about it like I don’t think that if I do a lot of romantic stuff, people would typecast me. I don’t get limited by people’s imagination. I have a lot of belief in myself as an actor.
Is there any update on the next season of ‘Please Find Attached’?
As of now, I don’t have any idea about it. The schedules of Barkha [Singh] and mine are not aligning currently. It is one of our favourite shows, and we would love to keep doing it. But also, it has to happen at a time with the right story. Dice [production house Dice Media] has to align everything together. But there’s always a possibility. We’ve never been shut to the idea.
On the work front, Ayush Mehra was last seen in ‘Kacchey Limbu’.
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