Sahil Khattar: 83 is a cult film; one of the best films of not just the year but also so many decades to come

Sahil Khattar has truly had a great 2021, and he has achieved through his acting debut, what many can only dream of. He started off by playing the role of a serial killer in 200: Halla Bol, with a cast that was as excellent as ever, and later, '83 went on to become a movie that will sure go down in history, for every single performance that there is in the movie.

India Forums got in touch with Sahil and spoke to him about his journey, his films, what he wants ahead, and some more. Read the conversation here.

Your journey from being a YouTuber to now an actor, how has it been?

Actually, before YouTuber, let's also put everything together where I worked behind the camera as a writer, assistant producer, assistant director, sometimes spot boy, sometimes intern, RJ. I think from all of those odd jobs to actually become an actor-actor, who’s leading projects now or co leading them, one word that comes into my head is phenomenal. The kind of work that has come my way, I'm just thankful to God. There is so much of gratitude in me. And thankful to everybody who's enjoyed my work, who thinks that wherever my face is visible they know that they will expect good potential work and performances. That is what a performer needs as a connection to their audience, ki Jahan ye shakal dikhe na, wahan logon ko lagna chahiye ki yaar ye kuch badhiya hi karega. There should be a time value to a face and I'm happy that people think that my face has a time value and my talent has a time value. So yeah, phenomenal is the word.

83 and Halla Bol, both projects recognised you in rather different avatars, and both appreciated equally. What are your views on it?

Well, I debuted on 2021 with films and what a debut! 83 to hai hi hai, one of the best films of not just the year but also so many decades when it comes to cricket. It’s a cult film, we all know that. 200: Halla Bol, is something close to my heart, because I played a serial killer, gangster, serial molester, which is totally opposite of the ‘hey, I’m such a funny guy on YouTube’ image and its more or less of an answer to everybody who ever thought, ‘oh! Can Youtubers and anchors can also act?’ and the ones who never considered us as good actors, because 8 out of 10 reviews of mine were in 200: Halla Ho. 

Jab uske typical reviews nikle, response nikle, bahut sare logon ne bola ki iss pe kaunsi performance dekhne layak thi. So, I take that performance to showcase and take one from team Youtuber and team radio, team TV anchors, where everybody thought ki they can’t act. Well, here it is a project, where you have Amol Palekar and Rinku Rajguru and still you know, there are so many sacculates coming my way. So, the kind of debut that I got, wow! It is one of the biggest debuts and unprecedented in film making I feel as to how in just one year, same actor features in two great films. What more does an actor want for a debut? All I want after this is to get a poster value where when people see my face, they come to the theatre, that's all I want. And that is my view on it and I’m really happy to be a part of such a journey. Whatever happens ahead will be good, and that is what I really hope and pray.

How did you picture your journey as an actor and do you see that happening?

Well, I mean, slowly and steadily, I'm getting into the zone. I am getting the kind of films I want, and what is the fate of the films and series I work in, that is on the public and on God, but these are the kind of roles I thought that I would pull off and in totally unexpected capacity.

I am also moulding myself or remoulding with the old ideas that I had of the roles I can do. I had thought I could also be a villain and I did, and I thought I will play cricket or some other sport, that also happened with 83. And now, with the web series and films ahead, I can’t give so much details but those are also roles where I thought I can do this too, and I am doing it. So, you know, when Michael Jackson called Zack Efron and said, ‘Isn't it funny that dreams to come true?’ I feel like that right now. 

Lastly, what plans ahead, what do you want for yourself in the time to come?

See, I know for a fact that obviously I can't give so much details because of commitments to the people who are doing those projects, but I know for a fact that I want to do a lot of acting, I want to do a lot of Web series, films, spearhead projects, big projects on my shoulder, whether its films, whether it's web series and not just that, I want to write and produce in the category of Sasha Baron Cohen, Adam Sandler, Ricky Jobs, Kevin Hart and showcase to India that hey, you know, this kind of talent always works better because the content is executed with one single vision. When you are the writer, producer and the actor, which all these guys do and that is why their contents shine. So, that is one plan and the other plan is to say stay relevant for all platforms whether its digital, television or feature films. I have made a mark in all these things. I would love to stay relevant in everything. I would love to do everything, pick up everything. Why let any kind of space go waste? So, that’s where the future holds. Thank you so much for your time.

Well, we bet there's quite a lot in store for the actor ahead.