Actor Suhail Nayyar, who will play Sugriva in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Part 2, says he feels fortunate to be part of the ambitious project. The actor, known for his performances in Udta Teer, Saare Jahan Se Accha and Hotel Mumbai, spoke to India Today about landing the role, understanding Sugriva's emotional journey and preparing for the character.With Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Rise of a Legend bringing together a massive ensemble, several actors are set to portray characters that hold an important place in the epic.
While the audience got a glimpse of Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Raghav Juyal as Meghnad, there are many characters that are still under wraps. Among them is Suhail Nayyar, who will essay the role of Sugriva, the Vanara king and an important ally of Lord Rama.
While the actor is currently enjoying the response to his comic turn as Ashfaq in Udta Teer, he is preparing for a very different cinematic journey with Ramayana.For Suhail, being part of the project is still something of a dream. "It's been wonderful. It still feels like a dream that I'm part of what is probably India's biggest film, and that I'm playing such a pivotal character," he told India Today.How Suhail Nayyar landed the role of SugrivaSuhail's association with Ramayana came through casting director Mukesh Chhabra's casting company, MCC.
The actor received a call informing him about Sugriva's character and asking whether he would be interested in playing the role. It did not take him long to say yes.
He later met Mukesh Chhabra and spoke about his work in the series Saare Jahan Se Accha. As it turned out, the casting team had already watched his performance and liked what they saw."He had already seen it and really liked my performance.
He told me that they had decided they wanted me for the role after watching my work. For an actor, there's nothing better than getting work because of your work.
And that's exactly what's happening," Suhail said. The actor joined the project only a few months ago, while several members of the team have been associated with it for years.
He believes the extensive research and guidance available on the project have helped him approach the character."The best thing about Ramayana is that it's a very well-researched project. Whatever material comes to us, we don't have to do too much on our own because there are extremely capable people guiding us.
They tell you what needs to be done and how to approach it," he said.What makes Sugriva an interesting character?For Suhail, Sugriva's emotional journey is what makes the character particularly compelling. He sees a connection between the Vanara king and Lord Ram, both of whom have experienced loss and separation from their homes.Sugriva's circumstances allow him to understand Lord Rama's pain, creating the foundation for their friendship."Lord Rama was sent into exile and had to leave his home.
His wife was abducted, and Sugriva had also gone through similar circumstances in his own life. That's what creates a unique connection between them.
When Sugriva sees Ram, he understands what he is going through," the actor explained.He added, "I find that very human. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be empathy.
Sugriva can feel another person's pain, and that's what I find particularly interesting about the character."Suhail also pointed out the importance of Sugriva in the larger story. As the Vanara king, he commands the Vanara Sena and becomes an important ally of Lord Rama."If you've watched Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana, you'll know that the Kishkindha Kand is very interesting in itself.
Sugriva is the Vanara king, and the entire Vanara Sena belongs to him. He is essentially a friend of Lord Rama.
So, it's a very important character, and I feel incredibly lucky to have got the opportunity to play him," he said.Movement classes and prep for the rolePlaying a character from an epic that generations have grown up watching comes with its own set of expectations. Suhail said he has relied on the director's vision and the expertise of the team to understand Sugriva's physicality and behaviour.The preparation included movement classes, where the actors were taught how their respective characters should move and behave."Nitesh Sir guided us through it.
We also had movement classes, where we were taught how the character should move and behave. We've tried to incorporate all of that into the performance.
You'll get to see it in the film," he said.On the language and diction, the actor said he was comfortable with the requirements of the role, given his familiarity with both Hindi and Urdu.Asked what he was bringing to Sugriva from his own understanding, Suhail preferred to leave that judgement to the audience. Suhail Nayyar in a still from Udta Teer.
Instagram/suhailnayyar Before stepping into the world of Ramayana, Suhail has explored several different genres and characters. He was part of Udta Punjab, followed by projects such as Hotel Mumbai, Ginny Weds Sunny and Sharmaji Namkeen.
More recently, he played an Indian spy in Saare Jahan Se Accha and a Pakistani spy in Udta Teer.The two spy characters, he said, were particularly different in their approach. While Sukhbir in Saare Jahan Se Accha was serious, Ashfaq in Udta Teer brought out his comic side.He deliberately worked on keeping their mannerisms, expressions and language distinct.The actor said he has always consciously chosen projects that allow him to move between genres rather than get restricted to a particular kind of role."I don't want to be typecast.
But more than that, I think you should enjoy what you're doing. That's always been my approach.
I want to keep exploring different kinds of characters and stories," he said.With Ramayana, Suhail is now stepping into one of the most significant characters in the epic. And while audiences will have to wait to see his interpretation of Sugriva, the actor says he is grateful for the opportunity to be part of a story that holds such a special place in Indian culture.
Ramayana Part 2 is scheduled to release in Diwali 2028.- Ends