Ishaan Khatter, who was first launched into stardom with his Bollywood debut in the film Dhadak in the year 2018, has now finally taken a serious leap to break into the international circuit with his portrayal in the latest Hollywood series titled The Perfect Couple. The mystery drama is now streaming on Netflix, adapted from the bestseller by Elin Hilderbrand, with a stellar ensemble cast championed by Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman. It’s the series wherein Ishaan would enact Shooter Dival, a close friend to Benji Winbuey, essayed by Billy Howle. This new chapter marks more evolution in his fast-changing career.
Ishaan says in a recent interview, “It all started with a nail-biting self-tape audition, and he was under pressure, as the production house was on the call for a deadline.” He adds, “Anxious but determined, he did it. He blames his US-based manager for bringing him the opportunity and his own “greedy” nature as an actor for not letting any chance slip by, whether in India or the West. “I’m always hungry for more, no matter where it comes from,” Ishaan confessed, showing his relentless passion for acting.
On set, Ishaan found himself amidst a cast that was as warm and welcoming as it was talented. He added how the camaraderie among the actors themselves is important, and somehow, with them, he always made it never feel like work. Still, an adventure of some kind being together. “When you have that warmth and camaraderie with your colleagues, it only makes it that much easier to achieve something special,” he said. Ishaan also gave kudos for individuality to each of the characters in the series, citing that every single actor had brought a different voice into the role and added depth and authenticity to the tale.
That being said, the other interesting thing about this show, Ishaan cited, was the unpredictability of it. He described the interesting mixture of drama, humor, and suspense as a rollercoaster, adding that each day on set was a different surprise. “There was never a dull moment; you never knew what to expect, and that’s what made it so exciting,” he said with much enthusiasm. For Ishaan, his time in Hollywood was nothing short of transformative as he felt his opportunity to work in an environment both radically different from his prior experiences and yet familiar with its core mission of storytelling. “At the end of the day, no matter where we are, we’re all storytellers trying to capture the truth of the moment,” Ishaan mused as he discussed his pleasure in bridging the two cinematic worlds.
Of course, the opportunity to work with a legend like Nicole Kidman was a dream come true, and Ishaan’s Hollywood debut is only just the beginning of what certainly looks set to be an exciting international career.
Source: Times Entertainment & HeyUGuys YouTube
