Mrinal Dutt’s choice of scripts proves that he is not one to follow the herd mentality. The actor claims he is content with his choices, regardless of whether they translate into successful shows or not. “I am trying to choose the best from what I am being offered. The ultimate dream is to be seen on the 70mm screen,” begins the actor, who recently shared screen space with Richa Chadha in Arati Kadav’s short film 55 km/sec.

The romantic story, based in an apocalyptic world, reminded him of the initial days of the lockdown. That they shot it remotely during the pandemic only enhanced “the end-of-the-world feeling” for Dutt. “During the lockdown, life had come to a standstill. People felt lonely, secluded, and disconnected from the world — these emotions helped me portray my character accurately,” he says, before heaping praise on his co-star. “Richa was a breeze to shoot with, she sometimes even waited till I finished my shot. I’ve never met her; our interactions have all been virtual since the script reading.”