The White Tiger actor Adarsh Gourav: Weird to pronounce my name next to legends

Adarsh Gourav

Adarsh Gourav remembers being blown away by Anthony Hopkins's menacing act when he first watched The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Now, in a charming twist of fate, he finds himself nominated alongside the legend in the Best Leading Actor category at the 2021 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). "I have followed the works of Mads Mikkelsen and Anthony Hopkins. They are my all-time favourites," begins an exuberant Gourav, who burst on the scene with his captivating performance as Balram in The White Tiger.

As soon as the Ramin Bahrani-directed film - an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name - dropped on Netflix, curious viewers started Googling ‘Adarsh Gourav'. Everyone wanted to know more about the 26-year-old with the piercing gaze who held his own in front of Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. While Gourav has come to terms with his newfound fame, he didn't foresee the international recognition coming his way.

A still from the film

"When I was at the gym [on Tuesday] night, I saw that Priyanka had posted a message on our group. I didn't read it fully and sent a heart emoji. After a few minutes, I got a call, informing me that I have been nominated. That's when I went back to the message and noticed that she had written about my nomination," he chuckles. Gourav is in august company with Hopkins, Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed, the late Chadwick Boseman, and Tahar Rahim for co-nominees. "It feels surreal. Every year, we talk about so-and-so being nominated, and suddenly, my name is on that list. It feels weird to even pronounce my name next to these legends. To me, it's an accident. During the shoot, when Ramin used to tell me that I was doing okay, I thought he was being kind. After people started talking about my act, I apologised to him for doubting [his instincts]."

Anthony Hopkins and Riz Ahmed

Ask him how life has changed post the film, and he says, "Earlier, the frequency of auditions was low. Now I am auditioning for solid parts and reading more scripts." He is simultaneously prepping for his next that will roll in November.