Making Waves

He’s this new sensation in Tinsel Town who has just burst into the filmi duniya. Extremely good looking and charming, GAUTAM RODE is definitely the new kid on the block. His new film Aksar 2 is garnering good reviews and the man seems to be in a happy space. Read on as Gautam Rode talks to Sumita Chakraborty about his new film, life, and more…

- Sumita Chakraborty

Gautam tell us something about your film Aksar 2? Something about your role in it?

Aksar 2 is a suspense thriller. It involves a very intense mind game revolving around a few characters who are a part of a common plot - some play and others get played. I can’t divulge more details as that would take away the mystery around the film. I play an investment banker who sees an opportunity and wants to take charge and play the game only to later realise that not everything meets the eye, there is something way deeper and complicated. Also, my character has a shade of grey which is exciting because it is a first for me

What made you become an actor and how did you get your first break?

I got my first break in the world of modelling with a CloseUp ad, I was in college back then, I had a trip planned with few friends. The meeting point was at my friend’s studio and from there, we were to head to Shimla. During that time, HUL (Hindustan Unilever Limited) was touring across India looking for a fresh face for their Close-Up ads. This lady walked up to me and asked me if I would audition. I wasn’t sure as I’d never faced the camera before but I did try. She asked me to narrate one line in English, Hindi and Tamil. I vividly remember those lines even now. I got selected and shot for the ad. And after that, I thought that was the end of it. My dad was a stock broker and I thought I would become one too once college got over. But I had come to Mumbai and also my father retired around the same time. So I decided to stick around and a friend suggested that since I had good diction and also did an ad commercial, I should audition for television which would take care of my rent and expenses during my stay in Mumbai and that’s when I got my first 26 episode show Apna Apna Style with Zee.

Was it difficult to bridge the gap between TV and films?