Exclusive! I Only Acknowledge Constructive Feedback on Social Media: Tanuj Virwani

Tanuj Virwani, known for his powerful performances on-screen has exclusively connected with whosthat360. He speaks about his journey in the industry, dream roles, and much more. In the delightful conversation, he shares his thoughts about online scrutiny as well.

Here are the edited excerpts from the chit-chat;

How do you look back at your journey in the industry? 

I recently completed my first decade in the film industry and it's truly been an amazing rollercoaster ride. The highs have been amazing, the lows have not been amazing but they also teach you a lot and I've got the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, actors, my peers technicians, you know traveled to so many places which are probably would have never gotten the opportunity to and I think just become wholesome as a human being I feel interacting with so many different people from so many different places teaches you so much so it's been amazing and not to forget the love that the audience has heaped upon me, especially from last 2-3 years have been amazing.

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Do you feel pressured to stay relevant? 

I wouldn't say, I feel pressured to stay relevant but of course, you know it's a very fast-paced constantly changing dynamic in this industry. When I became an actor back in 2013, I was only in film and television then around 2017 and so OTT started becoming quite a thing. Now you've got theatrical films, OTT films, web series, reality television, and so many different things so you know it's important. Also, social media has become huge, it's a wonderful platform to express oneself you don't need to put out statements you can directly engage and connect with audiences so of course, you should always try to think and stay two steps ahead if not more so in that way yes there is maybe some pressure to stay relevant but I think you need to back yourself because I feel the combination of talent or hard work whether today or 50 years from now will never go out of window.

Because of OTT, do you feel now the actors have more opportunities? 

Most certainly I think OTT has been a massive boom for actors like myself as I said we had films, theatrical releases, and television-like TV shows and stuff, and OTT has to a large extent bridged the gap between the two. There is so much wonderful talent in this country that is now finally getting a voice and finally getting a platform with different OTT platforms also the kind of content that has been written has truly gone up several notches you know I firmly believe that a feature film is more of a director's medium and an OTT show or a web series is more of a writer's medium the writing has empowered actors whether you're there for a couple of episodes or you're there in every single episode it has just given all of us such a wonderful playground so I am truly grateful to be around during this OTT boom in our country.

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You have mentioned several times that you have things for direction and writing. Any plans to shift from acting to direction? 

You know when I first thought I wanted to get involved with the industry I never thought I would be an actor, I was overweight, I had confidence issues, I had bad skin I used to stammer I know no qualities prerequisite that one looks for in an actor so I always thought I would do something like writing or direction other than something being on the camera and that is a passion of mine which I still have the flame is very much burning right even today the only thing that I have consciously decided that for the next couple of years, I want to focus more on acting get better on my craft and just give it my all and then we'll see what happens I am not going to rule stepping behind the camera some point out it could very well happen in 2 years 3 years 5 years I don't know I don't have a time frame but it's something I do enjoy a lot I've made a lot of short films very amateur short films and I feel it's beautiful when you're able to create something from scratch.

Any dream role you are waiting for?

There are so many dream roles for one I've been putting out to the universe that I want to be a part of a period film or like a historical something from the Mughal dynasty or something from pre-independent India something on those lines you know I've always driven towards crime or gangster driven content you know and I have never actually done an out horror film so I would be pretty intrigued to just understand that when you're shooting for horror film how is it? Is it scary, is it funny or it is just the same, or are the rules different I'm very curious about that.

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Any director Tanuj is extremely eager to work with? and why?

Yes, I have a long bucket list of people I would like to work with Rajkumar Hirani, Anurag Kashyap, Shri Ram Raghavan, Imtiaz Ali and so many these are just the names of a few of them and I think each of these directors has proven time and again why they are who they are and where they are in the respective careers they are truly masters of the craft and I would love to be able to sculpt and get direct my performance.

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Your favorite co-star so far and why? 

Well actually I have a lot of favorite co-stars it would be very unfair for me to single out any one specific co-star I've had a wonderful time with most of my insider cast I've had wonderful time working with Jennifer, Neha, and Rashami so I think it would be unfair for me to single out any one person so ya it's also very important because when you get along with the people who you are creating with mean the atmosphere is automatically more conducive to creativity and achieving a common goal.

How do you handle criticism or negative feedback from your audience? Do you have any strategies for maintaining a positive mindset in the face of online scrutiny? 

You know there are two types of criticism one is baseless and really kind of wild where there's no head or tail to it but haters hate for no reason as such that's what they do but if the criticism is constructive and I feel like ok there's some logic and thought then of course by all means I will take it.

Tell us a bit about your fitness regime. 

Well, my fitness regime depends on what I'm working on but at the same time I think your body is also vital for communicating whatever you need to through your characters and as a human being also you want to be healthy so I think it's a combination of these factors I make sure do a good amount of cardio I don't binge eat if I'm on vacation or not. You make sure you drink lots of water as well I think diet is important as well also because of the long stressful hours we work you know stretching yoga and if possible picking up a sport for me I love cricket so it happens naturally but I think it's very important to be competitive it defines the kind of person you are. I do not have a very big habit of going to a gym and I find it very boring as well I go to the gym regularly or bulk up if I have to but apart from that I'm more of an outdoor person.

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Your chemistry with your wife is loved by everyone. What are the qualities that you like most about her?

Thank you for that's the kind of chemistry one can't fake you either have it or you don't and because we go back a long way and we have known each other for so many years it happens rather effortlessly. There are so many qualities I love about her you know she's very straightforward honest loyal and she accepts me despite my worst qualities I think she's my happy place I always feel safe and secure when I'm around her I think that's the most important thing.

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