Sunny Kaushal: What It Took to Get into the Dark Psyche for ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’

Sunny Kaushal, the fast-rising star of Bollywood, followed a rather unconventional route in preparing his character for the psychological thriller ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’. To get under the skin of his complex lead protagonist Abhimanyu—a man with a twisted sense of justice—the actor had to consume a lot that was chilling about the notorious serial killers.

Kaushal confessed to several media outlets that he watched interviews of notorious serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. The point behind studying the minds behind such monsters may seem disturbing, but it was a calculated move to understand the depth of darkness his character was going through.

What interested Kaushal was a common factor between the two serial killers, Bundy and Dahmer: no trace of guilt over the gruesome murders they committed. It was justified, some sort of morality that appealed to Abhimanyu’s character. That was the psychological element that attracted the actor—a man who could do all those atrocities and still feel right.

In many ways, Abhimanyu is an epitome of this perverted worldview. He believes in some sort of demented retribution wherein any wrong that comes his way gives him a moral license to cause pain in equal measure. The character arc required playing with nuance, for which research into the minds of serial killers equipped Kaushal with the necessary tools to bring Abhimanyu alive.

This was not an easy decision while watching these interviews. The graphic details of the crimes and cold-blooded killers must have shaken Kaushal psychologically. But the actor was determined to push his boundaries and give a compelling performance.

It is, therefore, interesting to note that while he drew inspiration from Bundy and Dahmer, Kaushal was not trying to ape either of them. His intention was that understand the underlying psychological behaviors and apply those elements to his character. Many times, he has reiterated the fact that the aim was to develop a fictional character and not to glorify any criminals who have indulged in lots of crimes.

The fact that he is willing to tread through this dark territory already shows Kaushal’s dedication to the craft. His performance as Abhimanyu in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ has been a display of his true potential and his ease in becoming a difficult character. The film, along with its intricate plot and morally ambiguous characters, has seen some appreciative comments amid controversy; still, there is no denying that Kaushal’s performance is one of the positives of this movie.

In his daredevil-like move into the minds of some of the world’s most notorious serial killers, Sunny Kaushal has not shown any fear as such in the line of acting. It is highly admirable how far he is ready to go in his acting career—a quality quite, arguably, inspirational and reflective of the hard work and passion that drives him as an artist.