‘I instantly knew I had to be a part of Uri’: Mohit Raina

He began his acting stint on television with the sci-fi Antariksh (2006), but it was his portrayal of Lord Shiva in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev (2011) that made Mohit Raina a household name. So much so that he was the natural choice for the same part in Mahabharat (2013). Now, six years later, Mohit will be seen on the big screen with Uri: The Surgical Strike, which opens in cinemas this Friday. Excerpts from a conversation with him...

What thoughts play on your mind as your debut film nears its release date?

We can’t wait for people to watch it. Uri has been made on a big scale and it’s technically sound as well. In keeping with the changing times, we have upgraded everything and shot extensively in Serbia. So, it will be an entirely different perspective for people to watch and enjoy.

What prompted you to take it up?

My instant reaction on being offered the role of Captain Karan Kashyap was to be a part of this story. I also felt there won’t be another project on this real event. I understood the scale and the reach it would get, given the vision the director Aditya Dhar had.

Since you’re originally from Jammu, did the subject strike a chord with you?

Yes, I have a personal connection. In a metropolitan city, you don’t get to see army personnel so frequently. For that, you have to go to the cantonment areas. In Jammu & Kashmir, their visibility is much more because of the on-ground situation. When the jawans are martyred, I know what their families go through.

After the trailer was launched, some reports criticised the film’s nationalistic tone. What’s your take on that?

India is known to be a peace-loving country, we try to keep our peace treaties intact with other countries. But it’s high time this happened. Soldiers being brutally killed while they were sleeping in their camp at night, is shocking. I don’t know if the reports criticised the film, maybe they were criticising the intention. The genre is such that you will relate to the soldiers and their families more. It has happened earlier too with films like Prahaar (1991), Border (1997) and Lakshya (2004), which evoked patriotic emotions within the audience. When Lakshya released, people wanted to join the army. It’s been quite some gap since then, but Uri will bring out those emotions in you.

How did you prepare for your role as a soldier?

When I was offered this part, I was doing another show on the army, 21 Sarfarosh: Saragarhi 1897, for which, I had gained weight. Aditya told me to shed the kilos. The way he saw the special forces commandos, he was clear that they would look a certain way in uniform and in civilian clothes. Other than that, we trained with the army personnel extensively. I play a sniper, so I had to train for that, too.

Didn’t you wish to make your Bollywood debut with a lead role instead of opting for a parallel part?

If it could have happened, it would have been good, but it’s not that if it hasn’t, you have to worry about it. If someone has to shine, you need 10 minutes to get the attention. I didn’t want to miss the chance of working in a film like Uri. And I have no regrets.

What’s next after Uri?

I’m working on another digital series.