Though these are early days for actor Jitendra Kumar in his filmi career, the 30-year-old IIT graduate has impressed one and all with his acting skills, be it as Aman Tripathi in rom-com Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan or Abhishek Tripathi in web series, Panchayat.
In an interview with Saurabh Tankha, Kumar, who nearly went bald after his self-haircut effort failed during lockdown photos of which he shared on social media recently, says he feels blessed to be getting opportunities to act with veteran actors like Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta.
First time Jitendra Kumar decided to be an actor.
During the final year of IIT (2012), I started thinking about taking up acting as a career but it was a very spontaneous and overenthusiastic decision than a well-thought out one. I just decided to give it a try.
Role of seniors in college who pushed him to perform an ad-lib English elocution act.
I think it all started from that English elocution. All my seniors motivated me and they still do.
Learnings during The Viral Fever (TVF).
TVF started digital entertainment culture in India. It is an institution for me. I have not been trained a from professional film school so whatever I am today, whatever I have existed in every frame, it is all because of various experiences and learnings in TVF.
Expectations from the City of Dreams when he left his hometown.
The dream was to be a part of various stories which started happening with time though I still have a long way to go.
Bagging the role of Aman Tripathi in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.
Experiences we all had in SMZS were full of fun. This rom-com is very special for me and in fact, for all of us. The best part is the perfect mix of humour and emotions in the storyline. I feel proud to have done this film.
On taking up a role on a subject which is taboo in our country.
The topic of the story could be anything. I take my call when I read the script and not when I hear the topic or a one-liner of the story. Sometimes it’s the world which a writer-director imagine, at others, it’s the character or may be something might attract when you are reading the script and for that attraction, you want to become the part of the film. So there were no second thoughts after I read the script of SMZS.
Preparation for a role when acting opposite veteran actors.
I take these experiences as acting master classes, be it when I am doing my scenes with Neenaji (Neena Gupta), Raghu sir (Raghubir Yadav) or Gajraj (Rao) sir. I get to learn a lot, both on the sets and off it too when they are around. Also, all of them are full of crazy humour. I feel blessed I got an opportunity to work with them.
Engagements during the Lockdown period.
Lockdown situation has been tough for everyone, though at different levels. It has been a good teacher and alerted us towards hygiene and environment. It has taught all of us to not take anything, however small, for granted as also our planet and Nature. Most of my time goes in cooking, cleaning and watching movies or TV shows.
Mantra for life.
To find good fun and humour in everything around me.
