Actor Adarsh Gourav, who is garnering praise for his role of Balram Halwai in "The White Tiger", recalls going to great lengths to prepare for the role. Besides staying in Chalkari Basti, a village in Jharkhand, Adarsh says he worked in a small food cart in Delhi. Here he washed dishes and ran errands for the owner without disclosing his identity.
The actor adds that this was all part of method acting, which is what he adopts before essaying a role on screen.
"My past experience in theatre introduced me to method acting and I have used the technique in all my roles, from even before I got to play Balram Halwai in The White Tiger. I do a culmination of different techniques I learnt at drama school. I begin by closely observing real-life persons who'd fit the role of my characters for me to pick up on the small details of their personalities and just their way of being," he told IANS.
Meanwhile, he says that besides picking up the nuances of his character, this experience also taught him a lot.
"Choosing to live in a village and then working at a small food joint didn't just help me helm Balram's true essence on-screen but these experiences also taught me a lot in life," he says.
Besides a BAFTA nomination for his role in the film, Adarsh also won The Rising Star award at Asian World Film Festival. The film has also been nominated for a BAFTA and an Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
The actor said such appreciation only drives him to do more. "It's been a humbling experience for me these past weeks since the release of The White Tiger. Going into it and being on the sets, I sensed we were making something special, but the response has been that and much more," Adarsh said.
"For a young actor like me who is just starting to find his ground here, it's rewarding to have these honours and experiences. It's left me with the hunger and desire to do better and do even greater work, and I hope I can succeed at honing my craft," he added.
The White Tiger is directed by Ramin Bahrani from Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name. The film also features Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in pivotal roles.
