Namit Das has had back-to-back releases in the last few weeks. First, it was Aarya on Disney+Hotstar followed by Mafia on Zee5. He will soon be seen in the much anticipated miniseries A Suitable Boy. Born into a family of musicians, he says his journey in showbiz has been eventful.
Q/ You have had quite a run, with Aarya, Mafia and now A Suitable Boy. Did you expect Aarya to be so successful?
A/ Not at all. I was sure it was something special, but I did not expect it to become so big. It is a great feeling. Nothing can be greater than three projects happening one after the other. My character in Mafia, too, has been appreciated a lot. I am looking forward to A Suitable Boy, which will be on Netflix later this year. What could be better than being visible on all the [main] streaming platforms? I feel really grateful.
Q/ You have been in the industry for a while now. Has the journey been challenging?
A/ Challenges are challenges if we look at them as challenges. I look at it as a journey where I have learnt a lot. I have not seen it as a daunting task. It is a process. This whole argument about nepotism—yes, it does exist, but if I do not have a godfather in the industry, then I have to support myself. It is a crude reality. I only feel that one should have patience which, today, people don’t.
Q/ You have had a long association with Mira Nair, having worked with her on the musical Monsoon Wedding and now, A Suitable Boy.
A/ My association with Mira Nair has deepened. She is just so delightful to work with and such a perceptive person. She is like a godmother to me. Four-and-a-half years ago, when we connected on the musical, I knew that it was going to be a lasting friendship. A Suitable Boy came as a gift from the universe. It is one of those really special projects. I play the character of the shoemaker, Haresh Khanna, in it. He is one of the suitors who is in the race to become a suitable boy for Lata. [The story] is similar to the novel, but Mira has added her own touch to it. That is what makes Haresh really special.
Q/ You have also composed music for the show?
A/ I am a small part of the music, having composed three tunes for it. Mira called me one day and told me that she wants to give me the chance to do these three tunes. She felt I was perfect for it because these are folk-based tunes. She loved [what I came up with]. In fact, one of them is written by my mom.