“It’s not like homosexuals go about acting in any different way” – Arjun Mathur

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

April 13, 2011 - 3:57 PM IST

Interestingly, Onir has managed to raise finances for his latest film I Am, not only through its actors but also from hundreds of members of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Onir has offered sharing credit space and profits with the people who've supported the film. People have sent their contributions from Vienna, USA, Nigeria and Australia.

“It’s not like homosexuals go about acting in any different way” – Arjun Mathur

Onir's, I Am is based on four short stories that are interlinked to each other, which is inspired by true stories of four individuals who struggle to find themselves in a hard cold world. Omar's story sheds light upon sexual discrimination, prejudice and blackmail revolving around two characters enacted by, Rahul Bose and Arjun Mathur. The story sheds light upon the fact that, ironically today in modern society, many still live in fear and turmoil, amongst a liberal world. Bollywood Hungama gets the versatile Arjun Mathur, to give us a jest on Omar's tale, his character, getting into the skin of it, working with an ensemble cast and kissing Rahul Bose.

"I don't think gay people act in any particular way"

Its wasn't very challenging, other than that particular scene where we had to get intimate with each other, the brief to me was, he's a normal guy like anyone else. We all have homosexual friends, and you've seen them, it's not like they go about acting in any different way, they're completely normal. I kept the character a normal guy, with a different sexual preference. There wasn't much I had to mentally prepare my self except for kissing another man.

"Senior actors don't come into a film thinking I'm a senior and you're a junior... everyone's like, I'm an actor"

I was coming into it with a little more anxiety, but on the day of the shoot, I spoke to Rahul and he helped me get a little comfortable, and I think that's the thing with actors like them who have come from a certain level of maturity. They don't come into a film thinking, that I'm a senior and you're a junior, everyone's like, I'm an actor and he's an actor. Here everyone's there to help each other out, and just act together. This is a very starry thing, but in this zone it doesn't make sense, everyone is here respecting the work that we've done together.

"I think he's quite clear in what he's doing and what he has to do"

I didn't think that Omar is confused as such. I think he's quite clear in what he's doing and what he has to do and what he's accepted his life to be. It's that chance encounter that he starts feeling a little confused. Then again he has to carry on, so whatever he feels at that time is just momentary. As an actor, people really step out of their comfort zone, and to achieve something outside your own experience is really fulfilling, I challenged myself with myself. So, it's been a great experience for me. I love how it's done and how the film has been put together and it's a great deal, to be a part of something with so many people working together. Everyone please just go watch I Am, it needs all the support.

"My next is called My Friend Pinto"

Apart from this, I'm doing a comedy film called My Friend Pinto which is to release in June. It's directed by Raaghav Dar and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Some of the cast members include Prateik, Kalki, Shruti Seth and a few others.