'I have no expectations'

Puneet Singh Ratn is ready to foray into Bollywood with Ram Gopal Verma’s Satya 2. Though it is Puneet’s debut film, he doesn’t sound too anxious as the release date inches closer. “I am waiting for the release. If people appreciate my work then it’s a success for me and if not then I won’t count it as my failure. I have gone through so many rough patches that I don’t feel much about it,” says Puneet.

In a candid chat with Metrolife, the young actor clarifies, “I am excited to get such an interesting role and that too by Ram Gopal Verma. But I don’t keep expectations. I am clear about my thoughts and my dreams. Also, the hard work I have to put in to achieve my goals.”

Satya’s glorious streak in Indian cinema doesn’t unnerve Puneet. “Satya 2 is totally different from the first one. Here the male protagonist is in Mumbai to bring the underworld back into life. His ideas are new and he has the know-how to bring them into action without repeating the mistakes that have been committed in the past. The stereotype has been broken and it is not a blood battle kind of a story. The USP of this film is the network of gangsters in corporate style,” says Puneet, who is excited to be launched by Ram Gopal Verma.

He goes gaga for Verma and says, “RGV was making films when I was not even born. His knowledge about films and human psychology is amazing. He understands what exactly he wants. He had discussions with me and being a lead actor my priority was also to understand his vision.”

Puneet accepts that every actor works in a certain way but, “RGV knows how to handle actors and makes the filmmaking process smooth,” he says. As RGV has given Bollywood actors like Manoj Bajpai, Urmila Matondkar and Aftab Shivdasani to the Bollywood, and Puneet is his new discovery. But this doesn’t pressurise Puneet.  “I don’t think about it. RGV was looking for this character he had designed. I was recommended by a colleague of his who is a writer,” he says.

It is Puneet’s first stint as an actor but he has already assisted Prakash Jha during Raajneeti. “Films and acting is in my blood. I know I can do something in films only. I don’t know anything beyond that,” he says. Since Puneet is a bit witty, he says, “When I was born I was not crying like other children. My parents say I was acting at that time.”

“Even as a kid I was very notorious, not good in studies. I used to write stories on answer sheets.  I remember my teacher sarcastically told my mom, your son writes good stories but he forgets to write the climax of the story. When my mother read my answer sheet I got a good beating after it,” shares Puneet.