Sunny Hinduja: ‘They enrich Indian cinema with their acts’

Sunny Hinduja, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma

Give him the part of an investigative journalist in The Railway Men (2023), or an IAS hopeful in Aspirants (2021), Sunny Hinduja has a knack for effortlessly slipping into diverse roles. Is such command over the art entirely instinctive? Far from that. The actor, in fact, attributes it to his years at the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII). "Training is the foundation of any actor's career. It not only hones our skills but also instils discipline and dedication. I'm immensely proud to have been a part of FTII, a revered institution that has produced some of the finest talents in Indian cinema," beams Hinduja, who graduated in 2008.

If one looks closely, the 2008 batch has given Bollywood some of its finest actors today - from Rajkummar Rao to Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma. Hinduja naturally feels a sense of pride to see his batchmates earn their place on the silver screen. He says, "From mainstream cinema to independent projects, their contribution is remarkable. At the same time, they are also enriching Indian cinema with their compelling acts."

FTII holds a special place in the history of Indian cinema, having been instrumental in shaping the careers of stalwarts like Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Jaya Bachchan, and the late Om Puri. To Hinduja, it will always remain the place that nurtured him as an artiste and helped him reach where he has today. "I'm deeply grateful for the guidance and mentorship I received during my time there, which influences my work to this day," says the actor, who plays a crucial role in today's release, Yodha.