Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 3: Veteran actor Mukesh Rishi, known for his work across multiple Indian film industries, has opened up about his acting philosophy and the influence filmmaker Priyadarshan has had on his craft.
Speaking to IANS during the promotions of his period drama series Salakaar, Rishi said his approach to acting has always been instinctive and shaped by real-life experiences rather than formal training. In the series, he portrays former Pakistani military ruler Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
Rishi explained that he prefers to arrive on set with an open mind, allowing the environment and the character to guide his performance. Drawing from his personal background, he said his understanding of discipline and physical bearing comes from experiences beyond cinema, including associations with the Air Force and the Army.
“I have seen many different worlds in life, not just films,” he said. “When you play someone from the military, the first thing you think about is whether your body language is right. An army officer carries himself in a certain disciplined manner. Even how he sits or stands matters. These small details come naturally to me because of sports, fitness and the kind of life I’ve seen.”
Rishi added that he does not consciously focus on technical acting methods. Instead, he believes in understanding a character through dialogue. “I never did a long acting course. I work from the lines. Once I read the dialogue, I begin to understand what the character is trying to say and who he really is,” he said.
Reflecting on his professional influences, Rishi credited Priyadarshan for shaping his outlook as an actor. He praised the director’s clarity and confidence on set, calling it a rare quality. “I have my own school of learning, and a big part of it comes from Priyadarshan. I’ve never seen him ask for a safety take. He is extremely precise. If he feels the first take is right, he will say so honestly. If you want another take to improve, he will allow it, but he is always clear about his satisfaction,” Rishi shared.
In Salakaar, Rishi’s character, Zia-ul-Haq, is depicted as a central figure in policies that shaped long-term hostility toward India. The series explores how Zia institutionalised strategies aimed at destabilising India and later consolidated power in Pakistan by sidelining and eventually executing former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto through a controversial judicial process.
The role, Rishi said, demanded restraint, discipline and an understanding of historical complexity—qualities he believes come from observing life as much as studying cinema.