Dulquer Salmaan on criticism bothering him

‘They drive me to push myself as an actor’

Aakruti Bagla | Mumbai

The very handsome, Dulquer Salmaan is predominantly known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil cinema. The actor made his Hindi Debut in 2018 with film Karwaan and later featured in The Zoya Factor. His upcoming film ‘Chup: The revenge of artist’ will be his third outing in Bollywood.

 Ahead of the film’s release, the actor divulged in a freewheeling chat with media. Excerpts:

On Sita Ramam receiving overwhelming response

Dulquer was last seen in the blockbuster hit film Sita Ramam, which also starred Mrunal Thakur and Rashmika Mandanna. Talking about how the film played a role in expanding his fanbase, the actor said, “I genuinely believe that we don’t truly understand the power and reach of great cinema. I have seen this in every step whenever I have had a great film. Yes, I definitely think that Sita Ramam has opened up a whole bunch of new viewers to my filmography. I genuinely and passionately’ loved cinema even way before I became an actor. I have always been seeking to be a part of great cinema. At different times of my career, I have been slotted in a particular kind of role. I have only been hero in my films. So, I think not seeking this kind of success maybe is finding me.”

On reviews bothering him

His latest outing Chup takes a sensitive stance to depict the pain of an artist who suffers from wrong criticism. Talking about film critiquing bothering him, the says, “It definitely does. I am the kind of person who ignores hundred good things and focuses on a handful of bad things written. But I think I derive some kind of drive from it. Those critics and haters drive me to push myself as an actor.”

On the relevance of film critics reviewing film

In times when social media provides a platform for every individual to express their opinion, the actor feels that it’s very important for critics to give a balanced opinion. Talking about its relevance, the actor quipped, “It’s more important now as the film is the easiest art form to analyse. A viewer can have any opinion and personal issue with me due to various reasons. That should not be the reason that film receives hate. So it’s significant for critics to give genuine and balanced reviews to help us become a part of better cinema.”