Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2025)
Over the past 23 years, Amit Sadh has transformed from a young, restless actor to someone who now understands filmmaking is a slow, deliberate process. This shift in his mindset has played a key role in shaping his outlook toward his career and life. In a candid conversation with BT, he shares his thoughts on his experiences, goals, and how he’s found peace in the chaos around.
‘Film chalegi toh bank mein paise aayenge aur kaam milega’
The actor seems to have a clear understanding of the actor-audience relationship. Amit, who has the lines ‘Audience is my shopper’ sprawled across a wall in his home, doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that actors, in a way, are commodities.
He says, “The sooner you accept it, the better. Art is personal, but you have to sell the cake you make. Film chalegi toh bank mein paise aayenge aur kaam milega, nahi toh wapas jaao peeche line mein. That’s the game, and you have to accept it.”
Drawing a cricket analogy, he adds, “It’s like cricket: you score a hundred, but the next day, you might be out for a duck. You have to get up and perform again because someone else will take your place.”
‘I hope more filmmakers offer me good work’
Amit has worked across mediums and has a good mix of roles to his credit, but he’s hungry for more. He says, “I don’t think I have any place somebody can claim. I haven’t achieved anything in life, except for a few serials, films, and web series. I’m grateful for the love people have shown me, but I still have much more to do. I hope that more filmmakers will offer me good work. Position toh sab banana chaahte hain and I hope one day meri bhi bann jaayegi. I am in no hurry, as I have only been in the industry for 23 years. Jagah toh banaani hai, logon ke dil mein bhi, sab ho jaayega,”
His aspirations remain simple. He states, “I want to do more work, experience more love, and make more films. I have done good work. Breakfast miss hua hai na, dinner tak aa jaayega sab (smiles).”
‘I got hero roles, but those films didn’t work’
Kai Po Che! (2013) was a turning point for Amit, Sushant Singh Rajput and Rajkummar Rao. While he won appreciation for his role in the film, does he think he didn’t get his due and that he could have got better projects post that film?
He explains, “Uss samay toh yahi rehta tha ki main rent de paaunga time par…main kisi ke phase wagerah nahi dekhta tha. I was only looking after myself, and I was in a good phase. I also got hero roles, but those films didn’t work. I would be silly not to acknowledge that after waiting for so long, Kai Po Che happened, I got love from the audience, I earned money, and I could survive. As long as I am offered good roles, I will be happy.”
‘Earlier actors were allowed to evolve, now everyone wants ready-made people’
In an industry increasingly driven by social media and networking, Amit admits he struggled with self-marketing and ultimately realized it wasn’t his forte.
He says, “Main beech mein inn cheezon mein uljha tha aur ye valid cheezein bhi hain but I eventually realized I didn’t understand these things, so I stepped away. I believe that audience energy dekhti hai aur kuchh na kuchh sachhai dekhti hai. I am grateful for their patience with me, as they have allowed me to grow. Honestly, I feel lucky I didn’t enter the industry today, nahi toh bahut mushkil hota. Back then, actors were allowed time to evolve. I feel that today, everyone wants ready-made stars. Hamaara patience khatam ho gaya hai. If you don’t like a film or a performance, it’s fine, but why be nasty? Criticism can be polite.”
‘I’ve never been part of any Bollywood camps’
Amit emphasizes he has no interest in being part of any so-called camps in the industry. He says, “I have never been part of any Bollywood camps. It may work for some, and that’s great, but it’s not how I see my journey. After 23 years in the Bollywood industry, I believe opportunities should stem from merit, not affiliations. I don’t feel threatened or disrespected by not belonging to a camp.