Wrong notion that artistes shouldn’t discuss politics: Tandav actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub

Being conscious is his largest asset, says actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, who views his function as an idealistic scholar chief in Tandav as maybe the closest a personality has come to resemble the particular person he actually is – an artiste-activist trying to change society, not simply his life.
The function of Shiva in Ali Abbas Zafar’s political present has many parallels together with his life as a scholar in Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College, mentioned the actor. Zeeshan believes it is necessary for artistes to have interaction with their environment.
“It’s quite close to what I am,” Ayyub informed PTI when requested whether or not the function was tailored for him.
Be it by his performs, his recital of late analysis scholar Rohith Vemula’s letter or his participation within the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, the farmers’ protests or every other challenge of the day, the 37-year-old speaks out. Making his presence felt on social media and different platforms at a time when many are frightened of airing their views.

“Being aware is my biggest asset,” Ayyub mentioned.
“I get affected and strongly believe if I stop getting affected by things around me, I won’t be an actor. If I can’t be sensitive towards my surroundings in real life, how can I justify my character and be aware of my surroundings as an actor and character?” mentioned Ayyub, who has a devoted fan following together with his spectacular flip in movies corresponding to Raanjhanaa, Shahid, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Raees and Article 15.
Being vocal on points has affected him professionally, however that doesn’t actually matter, he mentioned, dismissing the notion that artistes ought to avoid politics.
“Actors don’t come from one other planet, they arrive from our society… It’s a improper notion that artistes mustn’t discuss politics. According to me, an actor needs to be an activist. If you aren’t doing that, then what are you doing?
“Of course, it affects your career in a certain sense. But as I say, I don’t care. If I get seven scripts instead of 15, I am absolutely fine. The seven that I’m getting are automatically filtered, it makes my work easy.”
Ayyub was carefully concerned in his faculty’s dramatic society as was Zafar, his senior by a 12 months. Zafar’s temporary was easy — Shiva ought to have the anger and the eagerness that they used to have for politics, theatre and every thing else.
A dialogue from the sequence that has gone viral quotes freedom fighter Bhagat Singh — when Shiva says the revolutionary taught youth to check but in addition to combat when the time got here.
“Bhagat Singh is someone that everyone now wants to claim as their own. I don’t think they have read him properly, especially the right wing people,” Ayyub mentioned. The dialogue, he added, was put in very intentionally because the present tries to interrupt the notion that college students ought to concern themselves solely with research and never participate in politics.
“Politics affects everything in your life, especially when you are in university. The kind of education and the kind of future you will be getting, everything is decided by the policy makers. If I’m a student and I’m going to be the future of this country, I should be aware of what’s happening around me.”

Before getting into DU, Ayyub mentioned he was only a Delhi boy from Okhla with “typical engineering ambitions”. Joining the school and its drama society helped him perceive the world round him higher.
“I started understanding that I also needed to start participating in politics to know what is happening around it. I felt that I needed to go out and claim it back if something was being taken from me. The three years were like a transition period, making my beliefs stronger, in myself, in my society, my ideological beliefs.”
All main political events have their scholar wings in DU schools and participate within the elections for a motive, he mentioned. They all wish to discover sturdy younger leaders.
There could also be similarities between Shiva and scholar leaders Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, however the function isn’t impressed by them, Ayyub mentioned. Instead, Shiva is an amalgamation of all influential youth icons.
“There is no direct connection but obviously people will try and find parallels with Kanhaiya or Umar. If the show would have happened in the ’90s, then we would have talked about Chandrashekhar (Prasad, former president of the JNU”s Students Union who was shot useless in Siwan whereas addressing a road rally).”
Ayyub mentioned he doesn’t just like the time period “hero” and didn’t turn into an actor to solely play optimistic characters. However, he’s completely satisfied he’s now getting roles the place he’s the central a part of the story.
“It’s more about the dignity of the character for me. Finally, I’m getting the work that I want to do. I want to play author-backed characters.”
As an actor, Ayyub mentioned he desires to have a optimistic affect on individuals and encourage them with the correct of characters.
“I want to be that kind of person who wants to bring a change to society rather than just my life. If you belong to a certain class or community, you often hear the line that ‘I have to get out of this place somehow” in quest of a greater life or society.’ I hate this philosophy.
“I believe I’m what I’m because of the people around me. If I have to grow, I will grow with everyone. Otherwise, I’m fine where I am. I want to move ahead with everyone, not alone.”

Tandav, additionally starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, began streaming on Amazon Prime Video from Friday.
While Zafar has created, directed and produced the political drama with Himanshu Kishan Mehra, it’s written by Gaurav Solanki, greatest identified for Article 15.