Abhay Verma Has Come A Long Way But Is Only Getting Started

If Munjya put him on the map, Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar has certainly established Abhay Verma as one of the most exciting young talents in the industry, someone who’s earned both critical acclaim and the love of the audiences with his work in a fairly short span of time. And just when you thought that this new show might’ve been his highlight of the year, he's already lined up possibly his biggest project yet coming up later in the year – King alongside Shah Rukh Khan, no less. Talk about ending the year on a bang! Naturally then, we caught up with him to talk about it all.

Edited excerpts: 

What's the best compliment you've received for Operation Safed Sagar?

When I met Flying Officer Dhaliwal's (the character he played) daughter, she said she found shades of her father in my portrayal, and I was moved. It was so emotional, and we both agreed on one thing: wherever Dhaliwal Sir is, I hope he’s proud of whatever representation the show has come up with of him. 

How's the response been from the audiences? Have you been reading your comments?

It has been overwhelming. But then, when we were depicting such legends who won us wars and fought with their might and pride, we were hoping that the stories of these real heroes reach more people. It’s very easy to become a hero until you know what it really takes to become one. With this show, I can happily say that I found my hero while I was playing him, and it was really overwhelming to just be him.

If Abhay Verma was an Air Force call sign, what would it be? 

I am known because of Dhaliwal Sir, and I bow my head to his name, Rajpal Singh. I think Raj would be my call sign.

You have had an interesting journey. Munjya in 2024 was your breakout role. Someone who was noticed but yet unnoticed, and now, boom, there is a diverse and enviable roster of films

It means the world to me. Honestly, a boy in Panipat who had this dream of becoming an actor, where opportunity means being the chosen one by God, and finds himself in the city of dreams. It really feels surreal when I sit with the legends whose work I’ve seen. Producers like Hansal Mehta and directors like Siddharth Anand, Lijo Joseph and Oni Sen, who have shown their belief and put faith in me. I don’t think there’s anything bigger than that. 

Even though every day feels like a struggle, every day also feels like success if you are passionate enough. There were times when my brother and I couldn’t sleep, so we played a trick. We would wash our clothes and dry them in the room itself because, through evaporation, the room would get cooler, and it was as if we had our own AC. Just so we could sleep well, wake up fresh and look good for the next audition that was coming up. 

I feel you start romanticising the most difficult days, and God gives you different opportunities and reasons to believe that there is light on the other side of the tunnel, and rightly so. You have to believe it to be able to see it for yourself and then live it. I really believe what you seek is seeking you.

Well, you sound just like Shah Rukh Khan’s character in Om Shanti Om. And now you are working with him in King

The legend that is Shah Rukh Sir, he makes you feel like an equal. I have literally seen him as my idol, and he has been my best teacher, honestly. I got to spend a good amount of time with him on the first day, and it’s as if my brain kicked in and said, “Oh my God, that was Shah Rukh Sir right in front of me.” 

He never makes you feel that he is Shah Rukh Khan. He talks to you as his equal. He’s absolutely simple and grounded, and it feels like he’s just getting started himself, as if it’s his first day. His passion speaks volumes, and that’s why he is where he is. He truly is God’s child, and I really, really admire him. 

In fact, even Abhishek Bachchan Sir and Rani Mukerji Ma’am, all of these people are just so kind-hearted. When you meet them, you get to know that this is the reason they are where they are. 

What's next after King? 

There are a few projects that are going to come up. There's Laikey Laikaa opposite Rasha Thadani and Jacob Cardoso with Shanaya Kapoor, and Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Dilkashi, with which a lot of dreams came true for me. The music is done by A.R. Rahman Sir, and especially for me, the song “Tu Koi Aur Hai” from Tamasha has really helped me during the most difficult stages of my life. It’s being produced by Hansal Mehta Sir, who believes in the stories that he puts out, and Lijo Sir is a legend himself.

At a time when an actor has to be a marketing genius, a networker, a social media star, how difficult is it to navigate it all?

At the end of the day, what made me come here and talk to you was my work. I know there are a lot of distractions in terms of social media, how you want to present yourself and what kind of brand you want to become. But I think it’s great for an artist to just be an artist and not anything else.