Imtiaz Ali‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ Features Sanjay Suri like jasmer’s father Vitan Rainercharacter. Although the character is small, it carries a lot of weight in a story that revolves around displacement, love, and loss. Set during the Partition of India and Pakistan, the film captures the anguish of people longing for a home they can never return to. For Suri, the story felt very close to his own life. He lost his father during the armed conflict in Kashmir in 1990 and experienced the heartbreak of leaving home, which made him deeply resonate with the film’s themes of grief, loss and identity. The actor recently spoke about how the film reminded him of his past.
Sanjay Suri on why he said yes to ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’
In an interview with Variety India” interview, when Sanjay was asked whether it was the Imtiaz factor or the theme of the film that made him agree to the role, he said: “It’s a combination of both. It always starts with the story. If you look at my filmography, there are a lot of first-time directors whose work is unknown. This story touched me deeply because of its emotion. The sense of honesty and the way it explores both personal and universal themes made a huge difference with Imtiaz Ali at the helm. When I got the call from the casting director’s office saying Imtiaz wanted to meet with me, I felt safe in the hands of a director who understands the nuances of the human condition and allows for vulnerability on screen. I loved exploring Jasmer with him. “
Sanjay Suri’s scene in Main Vaapas Aaunga resonated with him personally
When asked if there were any specific scenes in the film that brought back personal memories or stirred up emotions, Suri didn’t limit herself to one moment. He said: “To be honest, it’s not a scene, and it’s not my own scene… the one at the train station (where he comes back to the station at a certain time every day, hoping for family to arrive), whether it’s waiting for family or trying to go back, I generally connect with stories like that on a human level. Yes, there were moments in the movie that resonated very deeply with me on a personal level. Themes of displacement, loss and finding home are not abstract ideas to me. They are part of my family’s history, including when I was 19 years old. “
How important is the role of storytelling in addressing themes like loss and identity?
He further added, “Partition of India, the Kabali attacks in Baramulla (Kashmir) and the subsequent 1990…experiences and stories of uncertainty and sudden change in the world are passed down from generation to generation. My father died in 1990 was killed at home in Kashmir, and with it came not just the loss of a loved one, but the loss of home and identity. So, every time a scene involves the pain of losing one’s home, being separated from one’s roots, or carrying the pain of carrying grief, it’s impossible for me to approach it purely as an actor for generations, these emotions have been there somewhere inside me and I experience them as they relate to my personal memories and family history.“
About “Main Vaapas Aaunga”
“Main Vaapas Aaunga” directed by Imtiaz Ali and starring Diljit Dosanjh, Nasiruddin ShahSharvari and Vedang Raina in key roles.
