“Life of P,” Interview with actor Suraj Sharma

In a captivating conversation with Suraj Sharma at River to River Florence Film Festival, the talented actor from “Life of P,” we delved into the mesmerizing experiences behind the scenes of this iconic film. Sharma shared intriguing anecdotes and insights, notably highlighting his interactions with the tigers on set, particularly an intense connection with one named King.

Throughout the interview, Sharma revealed, “There were four tigers that we had who worked with us, and one was a fat one, there was a very skinny one. There was one that could swim. And there was one that was very angry. The one that was very angry… Her name was King.”

He continued, describing King’s demeanor towards him, stating, “She, for some reason, would not break eye contact with me and would walk like this and just wait for me to make some sort of mistake.”

Reflecting on the experience, Sharma shared how initially anxious he felt being observed by such powerful creatures but eventually found a peculiar connection: “In the beginning, I used to be worried or made nervous or felt weird about it. And by the end, in a way, just like PI, I stared back at the tiger constantly, and we just made eye contact.”

Sharma also discussed his diverse roles in both Indian and international cinema, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and the script’s depth in influencing his choice of characters. He highlighted the cultural differences in the creative process while stressing the universality of human nature in filmmaking.

When asked about selecting roles, Sharma expressed his penchant for challenging ideas and contradictory characters: “I like contrast and contradiction and ideas that challenge themselves or things that I feel like must be said.”

Regarding the future of the film industry, Sharma mentioned his comfort in embracing the unknown and the continuous learning process: “The only real difference is that I’m okay to learn. Kind of like I’m okay to be a newborn baby every time.”

Closing the interview, Sharma recommended five Indian movies as an introduction to Indian cinema, signifying his appreciation for diverse cinematic experiences.

Plot