True to his word, Kaushal stuck to that exact brief as Kamlesh Kamli Kanhaiyalal Kapasi in Rajkumar Hiranis Sanju possibly 2018s biggest and most successful film playing best friend and second fiddle to Ranbir Kapoors Dutt. In a film, where he had more screen time than the female leads and Paresh Rawal, Kaushal still made an impact in the backdrop. You dont notice him overtly, but his absence would be sorely missed just like salt.
Sanjus best scene involved Kaushal. Evoking helplessness and haunting anguish, Kamlesh makes an impassioned plea to Sunil Dutt to save his drug-addled son. With a quivering voice and a moist face, Kamli breaks down unashamedly in front of him mourning the loss of his friends youth, hoping that Sanju doesnt self-destruct. Its also the only time Sanju manages to evoke any organic empathy for the films lead or bring across a sons tragedy of living up to a fathers unmatchable legacy.
Kaushal elevates the moment he doesnt become the moment, a trait that is consistent even in the flashier moments in Sanju. Even while Kaushal is making a statement with Kamlis high-pitched Gujarati accent or wearing a flamboyant red fur jacket, he is acutely aware of how much space and attention he should rightfully command.
If this year is any proof, its clear that Vicky Kaushal is one of the few actors who is aware that his presence and talent is a contribution to any film, not its headline gift.
In not hogging the limelight even in scenes that ride on him, Kaushal guarantees that he does justice to the plot and his co-actors first. If this year is any proof, its clear that hes one of the few actors who is aware that his presence and talent is a contribution to any film, not its headline gift. A team player in a hyper-competitive age. For an actor who has already had four successful films (Love Per Square Foot, Raazi, Lust Stories, Sanju) and awaits the release of another (Anurag Kashyaps Manmarziyaan) this year, Kaushal has perfected the rare art of blending in. Irrespective of whether hes a supporting actor in a film or its romantic lead.
Theres no better proof of Kaushals economy than Raazi and Lust Stories. In the former, he exercises restraint while articulating a lifetimes worth of affection, grief, and regret in the films searing confrontational scene. And in the latter, he affords Kiara Advani the space to breathe out her sexual frustration despite essaying the deeply watchable stereotype of the oblivious Indian man (with impeccable comic timing).
This restraint is also why I suspect, the actor outperforms in ensemble films and multi-narratives, environments that demand creative frugality. Where seasoned actors fumble to not overplay their hand. Its the reason why stars rarely make decent supporting actors, undermining throwaway scenes only because theyre used to elaborate sequences being crafted around them. But Kaushal thrives in this universe best evidenced in his breakout role in the stunning Masaan, which released three years ago today.
Masaan is still the pinnacle of Kaushals unassuming brilliance. Even when the grief-stricken Deepak utters Saala, yeh dukh kaahe khatam nahi hota bey after drunk shayari and a searching look up at the sky, howling his despair into an uncaring universe, Kaushal doesnt lose sense of the moments sanctity. It exists beyond his heart-wrenching act: an evocative and disquieting reminder of how not everyone can afford the luxury of escapism.
Its evident that what makes Vicky Kaushal stand out is that he plays every role like a supporting one. But that would be underestimating his talent and denying the beauty of his self-control. Its what Shaalu tells Deepak in Masaan, Aap mein ek imandaari hai jo bakiyo mein nahi.
The article was originally published in Arre.
Poulomi Das is an author at Arre.