Dressed to the nines in a flashy kurta and torn denims, Pulkit Samrat looks every bit the character he’s playing in his debut film Bittoo Boss that releases today. He proudly struts around even as people around him stare at him. He can handle attention.

As we make our way through the narrow corridors of a media office’s make-up room, asks me what my name is. He’s stumped that someone could have a name like ‘Blessy’.

“What does it mean?”

“It means blessed,” I say.

“Well that means a lot to me. All I need is blessings right now.”

The former television actor (Lakshya Virani from Kyuki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi) opens up about his career choices, latest film and lots more in a free-wheeling interview with DNA.

Toh Bittoo ji debut film hai. Butterflies in the stomach?
Butterflies toh hai. The phrase makes sense now. Actually it’s all animals in the stomach. It’s a very mixed feeling — nervousness, excitement, sadness, happiness.

Why sadness?
It’ll get over in a day! We have been waiting for the release for so long and once it releases, it’ll be all over.

What emotion is overriding?
Anxiety about audience’s reactions. I don’t know how they’re going to find the film, my work…

How have you prepared to react to reactions?
We are in the entertainment business. Having worked in TV before, you know how audiences react. You have done your best and if your product is good, people will like it. If it’s not good, they won’t. I think I’m ready for any kind of reaction. I just want people to get entertained when they watch the film. That’s the most important thing, paisa vasool hona chahiye. Till now, I always walked into a theatre hoping to get the worth of my money. I want the same for my film.

Tell us more about Bittoo Boss. Cut out the videographer bit since people already know about it.
This guy is basically a launda, a Jat Punjabi. He takes pride in his work. As you said, he’s a videographer and he’s very famous. If he doesn’t have dates people postpone their daughter’s wedding. They won’t do any function without Bittoo. He knows he’s good at what he does and is passionate about it. What makes him different from other videographers is that he captures emotions. He steers clear of typical wedding poses. He captures smiles mixed with sadness, the eyes of the bride, the pride of the groom, the excitement of the mother, the father’s expression on the happiest and saddest day of his life…

How did you prepare for the role?
First and foremost, I had to undergo training to use a camera. I went to Delhi to train with a friend who taught me how to handle a camera, what white balance is, lighting, shutter, aperture, exposure, etc. I went with him for two weddings to understand the nuances. At one wedding, I shot for him and edited the footage. When I came back to Mumbai, the songs were being recorded. So, just using what I had learned in Delhi, I shot the making of the songs using the same camera I use in the film. Even on the sets where I’m not seen the making is shot by me.

From television to the big screen, was it a struggle?
It seems like a struggle from the other side. I’d call it marketing. Our product is ready, you have to go and market it from one shop to another. I was marketing myself the same way, knocking one door after another. Suddenly one opened and Bittoo was standing there. Series of auditions happened. I was even rejected in the first round by Babul sir (director Supavitra Babul) who said I was too handsome for the role. He wanted somebody ‘soiled’, someone who was in touch with his roots. We started working on the looks, then the accent, which is very different. Being a Punjabi, connecting to the culture wasn’t difficult. The Punjabi spoken in the interiors is way different from that spoken in Delhi. I saw Spiderman, Superman, Titanic in Punjabi to understand the accent, lingo, expressions, tonality, sense of humour these people relate to. I wanted to make it as conversational as possible and not a caricature.

You have been described as the poor man’s Ranbir Kapoor. Does the comparison irritate or flatter you?
I think it’s a good thing. It hardly matters. I’m going to make my own path and he his. I think if people are comparing me to Ranbir Kapoor, he will be happy. As happy as I am! Once people see the work they’ll know the difference.

How did you bag Bittoo Boss?
I was doing a Broadway musical with choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant and her sister Shruti called the Taj Express. It’s a two-hour live acting, dancing and singing extravaganza. The casting director of that show also cast for Bittoo Boss. He pushed me after my first rejection and the rest you already know. We worked on the character which shaped up little by little. After 6-7 auditions I bagged the role.

That must require a lot of patience…
Elders have always said sabr ka fal meetha hota hai… now I know how true that is. I was patient so I’m getting the launch I’ve always dreamt of.