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Your new movie The
Deserving - in a few words, what's it about, and what can you tell
us about your character in it?
The Deserving is a psychological horror thriller about a troubled man,
Karter, who is haunted by his dark past and the sins he’s committed. My
character is driven by guilt, childhood trauma, and a desire for
redemption, which plays out in a story filled with tension, horror, and emotional turmoil.
What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Vankat Sai Gunda can we find in
Karter (apart from the homicidal traits I hope)? I
tapped into my own emotions and life experiences to bring Karter’s
vulnerability to life. Don’t worry, I’m not out there plotting any
murders ;) But like everyone, I’ve dealt with my share of
internal struggles and guilt, and I channeled those feelings to give
Karter the depth and complexity he needed. So, while you won’t find any
homicidal traits in me (thankfully), there’s definitely a bit of Venkat
in those darker, emotional moments! Your
character in The Deserving
doesn't have a single line of dialogue - so what kind of a challenge was
it to bring his emotions across without falling back on speech? It
was an immense challenge, but one that I embraced wholeheartedly. Without
dialogue, I had to rely on body language, facial expressions, and the
subtle layers of emotion to convey Karter’s pain, guilt, and inner
turmoil. While staying in my zone as the mute character on set, director Koka Singh Arora
pushed me even harder, fueling my anger to new levels—yet I still had to
channel that rage through silent, restrained emotions. It was a
transformative experience as an actor. How
did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to
it?
This project was a dream come true for me. My journey into filmmaking in the
United States began when I first met Koka Singh Arora at a wedding years ago. We
bonded over our shared love for films, and that’s when I asked him if
he’d work with me if I ever produced a film. He gave me his word, and
true to his character, he stuck to it! When it came to the story, I gave
Koka a lot of constraints—pushing him creatively in many ways—and he
absolutely nailed it. I specifically wanted the lead character to be mute,
not only to make the story more unique but also to challenge myself as an
actor and really push my limits. With The Deserving
being a horror film, is that a genre you're at all fond of? Absolutely!
Horror has always been a favorite of mine. When I was a kid, I took the
horror genre a bit too personally, haha! But honestly, it's a genre that
really taps into deep emotions and engages the audience in ways few others
can, and that's why I love it. How did you end up on the production side of things
as well, and what were the challenges of bringing The
Deserving to the screen from a producer's point of view? Initially,
I was focused on acting, but I realized that to truly bring this vision to
life, I needed to take on a larger role. Producing was challenging,
especially managing a tight budget and coordinating logistics, but it was
incredibly rewarding to see everything come together. Do
talk about The Deserving's
director Koka Singh Arora, and what was your collaboration like? Working
with Koka Singh Arora was an absolute blast. He’s got a unique vision
and an incredible grasp of the horror genre. He’s become like a big
brother to me. Our collaboration was seamless—he gave me the freedom to
dive deep into my character while offering valuable guidance through the
intricate layers of the story. We had tons of fun on set, but also some
intense, serious discussions as both actor/director and producer/director.
Koka is a fantastic person at heart, and I’d jump at the chance to work
with him on future projects.
You've
also served as The Deserving's
casting director - so do talk about the movie's cast, and why exactly
these people? Casting
was definitely challenging, as every character in the film is unique and
required a strong performance paired with immense patience. I’m
incredibly glad that we managed to assemble the perfect cast—we honestly
couldn’t imagine anyone else in these roles. Each individual gave their
absolute best for the film. We went through many auditions and, in the
end, found the ideal actors who truly brought these characters to life. What can you tell us about the shoot as
such, and the on-set atmosphere? The
shoot was intense but filled with passion. We had a small but dedicated
team, and despite the challenges, everyone worked together seamlessly.
There was a strong sense of camaraderie, which helped us push through the
long and sometimes difficult days. The $64-question of
course, where can The Deserving
be seen? The Deserving
will be available on major streaming platforms like Amazon,
Apple TV, and Vimeo starting on October 1st, 2024. Anything you can tell us about audience and
critical reception of The Deserving? So
far, the reception has been incredibly positive. We’ve won over 25
international awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Actor in
several prestigious festivals. It’s been amazing to see how the film has
resonated with audiences globally.
Any
future projects you'd like to share? I’m
currently working on a few new projects, including another horror-thriller
and a action thriller film that I’m excited to share in the near future.
There’s a lot in the works, and I’m eager to continue pushing
boundaries in filmmaking. What got you into
acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the
subject? I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, and acting felt like the perfect
way to bring stories to life. While I didn’t receive formal training
initially, I’ve spent years honing my craft through workshops, on-set
experience, and working with talented directors. What can you tell us about your filmwork prior
to The Deserving? Before
The Deserving, I worked on regional Indian films and webseries, including
a Telugu webseries that received over 2 million views. I’ve also done
extensive work in photography, which has helped shape my visual
storytelling skills. How
would you describe yourself as an actor, and some of your techniques to
bring your characters to life? I
would describe myself as a method actor who focuses deeply on
understanding the emotional and psychological state of my characters. I
like to immerse myself fully into their world, which allows me to portray
them authentically on screen.
What
prompted you to also take on several behind-the-camera jobs on The Deserving
- and which side of the camera do you actually prefer? Taking
on multiple roles allowed me to fully immerse myself in the project and
ensure that the final product matched my vision. While I love acting,
being behind the camera and having creative control is equally fulfilling.
I don’t think I can choose just one side!
Actors, filmmakers, whoever else who inspire you? I'm
especially inspired by filmmakers like Ari Aster and M. Night Shyamalan.
Their ability to craft chilling, suspenseful stories while layering deep
emotional and psychological elements is something I truly admire. Along
with other filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, David
Fincher and Christopher Nolan, their work has encouraged me to push the
boundaries of storytelling. As for acting, icons like Samuel L. Jackson,
Leonardo DiCaprio, Morgan Freeman, and Tom Hanks have always inspired me
with their incredible range and dedication to their craft. Your favourite movies? There
are so many, but some of my all-time favorites include The Silence of
the Lambs, Django, Seven and Fight Club. ...
and of course, films you really deplore?
I believe every film has something to offer, but I’m not a fan of movies
that lack depth or substance. Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?
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You can follow updates about The Deserving
on our website www.thedeservingmovie.com and
on social media platforms like Instagram: @venkysyg. Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I
just want to thank everyone who has supported this journey. It’s been an
incredible experience, and I’m excited for what’s to come. Thanks for the interview!
Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to share my journey and insights with you.
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