Sidharth Malhotra: From ‘game-changer’ Shershaah to Rohit Shetty’s cop universe

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Sidharth Malhotra’s passion project Shershaah recently completed a year of release, and the film to date ignites pride in audiences. The film has been a beautiful journey for Sidharth and he holds very close to his heart. He was the first person who came on board for the film and the film has made many milestones since.

Shershaah received massive acclaim from audiences and critics alike and has been a game-changer for the lead actor. His performance was highly praised by everyone so much so that he has been a favorite at every award ceremony this year.

The actor completes a decade in the industry this year (Student of the Year released in 2012)  and has an interesting trajectory. When mentor Karan Johar, on his show Koffee With Karan, asked him about the ups and downs he went through as an actor, and his journey in the industry so far, Sidharth replied, “As you said, Karan, there have been so many ups and downs. I think a lot of learning was coming from the outside. It took a while to also gauge the industry, what it takes to be an actor, on-screen and off screen both. And yes, there was that craving to prove that it is not difficult to mould oneself beyond just their looks or physicality and to really bite into a character. I feel everyone connects everything to business. You know, I feel success also solves everything. If you are giving hit films no one really cares about what and how you are doing things. So that’s a big learning, but Shershaah comes in as a blessing. Here people see a character, people see someone beyond their looks and get more involved or feel certain things because an actor portrays certain emotions.”

When Karan asked if Shershaah has changed the game for Sidharth, the actor said, “100 percent! In Shershaah, from the moment it was narrated to me, I was involved in the journey, I was emotionally involved, technically, story, then we had a great director, a great cast, great producer… I mean Shershaah had to work—it came to a stage where you know I have put so much time and effort. You know when you prep for a film, you manifest so much. You want it to be the best version, so it has happened. It gives me a sense of validation.”

He went on, “It gives me a sense that I have a sense of what this business is all about—some small creative calls I am capable of taking today, some instinctive calls and that’s what we all need. Because no one can tell you how to be successful in this business, no one can guarantee you that all your calls will be a 100 percent. You, being a director, have seen it as well.”

And here is how Sidharth became a part of Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe. The highly-anticipated web series, Indian Police Force, will have the actor in a stunning cop avatar.

Sidharth, on the show, also shared his journey of joining this series. When asked in the rapid-fire round, which was the one director he would not mind calling up and asking for a role, Sidharth mentioned how he reached out to Rohit to discuss working together by saying, “Well, I did call up Rohit Shetty. Today we are working together!”

Sidharth is now a member of the elite filmmaker’s elite reel cop universe that began with Ajay Devgn in Singham 11 years ago, followed by Ranveer Singh in Simmba (2018) and Akshay Kumar in Sooryavanshi (2021).