If I write a book on it, it will be titled ‘Lost and Found’. The race was a breeze. But, before the race, I missed my connecting flight due to some technical issue, I lost my luggage, it was so exhausting. Nervousness started two days before the triathlon after I missed my flight and lost my luggage because I had trained in a particular shoes, and you should not wear new shoes for such games. Thankfully, I found my luggage back. On the race day, I was extremely calm. The swim was very cold at 8 degrees. Cycling first 45 kilometers was easy, and when I got lost in the second 45 kilometers, I didn’t know whether I was disqualified or not. I was very anxious and irritated with myself. And then I started doubting myself, but that’s the whole fun about endurance sports. Its about staying in the moment and telling yourself, it will end in another 2 kilometers and so on. I will take part in it again. It is extremely addictive. I need to improve my timing. Before that, I am planning to take part in another marathon.

How did you manage between acting and training for the triathlon?

That was the biggest challenge. I felt I can always find the excuses and not find the time to do it. But, you need to dive straight into the deep end to learn how to swim. After I decided to sign up for the triathlon, I thought I have to find the time, I don’t know how. I need to learn how to manage my time better. It was quite challenging because when you are shooting for an action film in the sun for 12 hours, and your body is exhausted, then to go back home and train becomes impossible. So, I used to wake up at 3 in the morning, and train from 4 am to 5:30 am before I went for the shoot. The days when I used to have holidays are the days when I used to have long cycling training. I just made sure, I used my time well.

How did you gain interest in sports being born in a film family?

I was born in Nashik. My parents live there and they have nothing to do with the film world. My grandmother used to act but my parents kept me away. They wanted to give us small town upbringing, so I have grown up swimming in lakes, climbing up mountains, playing badminton, doing things you do in a small town. Thanks to my parents, I have exposure to adventure and sports, and many things that people in Mumbai don’t have an access to. I was not even allowed to watch films until I was 14-years-old. I was told to learn a whole lot of other things like music, but wasn’t allowed to watch films. My father told me there are many other things that you need to learn as a 10-year old than sitting in front of the television.

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How was your experience working in South compared to Bollywood?

I have done a Marathi film with Riteish Deshmukh called Mauli, I have done a Telugu film with Nagarjuna sir called Wild Dog, and the experiences have been very enriching. It never felt any different. It didn’t feel like ‘Oh I am doing a Hindi film, or Marathi film, or Telugu film’, I never found the difference. The crew used to always be very diverse. Our action director for our Marathi film was from Chennai, our DOP for Telugu film was from America, so it never felt like we were doing a certain type of film. I never found a difference besides language.

What is your view on Hema Committee report and the debate around women safety in Indian Film Industry?

I think the MeToo movement happened years ago when people came out and spoke about it. The truth is that there are so many unfortunate incidents that happen and are pushed off under the carpet because people are scared to speak against power. Not only in the film industry, it happens in every industry and it is extremely unfortunate. I feel this whole movement happened a few years ago and now what’s happening in the Malayalam film industry is extremely heart-breaking that for years and years it happens, people talk about it, and then people move on. The accused get work again, and the ones who are suffering, keep suffering. Unfortunately, its a cycle that goes on. Only after spreading awareness, talking about it, pulling up wrong people, things will change.

What do you think about the debate around the high entourage cost of stars?

I feel there should be an equal amount of staff cost that should be allocated to everyone, be it a big star or a small actor. There has to be a cap on staff costs. Malayalam films are doing so well because they are making films on small budgets. A film titled Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey starring Darshana was made on a budget of Rs 4 crore and it went on to make Rs 80 crore. In Marathi, Sairat was made on a budget of Rs 3 crore, made Rs 100 crore. We need to make films with tighter budget. If your film demands blowing up cars, action, planes, and jets, if its an expensive film by all means that’s what the film demands but there should be a way on how not to waste money. I feel there is a lot of wastage on film sets that happen, which really can be curbed. Just in order to make more films, we need to be a little more mathematical about it.

How was it to work in Ghoomer with Abhishek Bachchan?

Ghoomer was a tough role, which demanded so much from me as an actor. There is so much emotional baggage that comes in while playing a para-athlete. I gave my blood and sweat to the film – I have given real blood and toenails and have also broken some bones. I will not be able to ever thank Balki sir enough, because any actor would have done this, considering the kind of films he makes. But, he believed in me as an actor. I will always and forever be grateful to him. And AB is somebody, I am extremely fond of. He is somebody who puts his head down and works. He doesn’t get affected by what is happening around. He likes to work. He is extremely well-behaved and down to earth. There is a lot to learn from him because of what he has experienced in life and what he has gone through in life. I have worked with him in Breathe about 4 years ago. I think he is very underrated actor and I genuinely liked him a lot in Ghoomer.

How was it to work in Choked with Anurag Kashyap?

I feel that unless people don’t know him personally, people shouldn’t just talk about him and spread unnecessary rumours. Personally for me, there is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who launched me and I have a very good equation with him. And after that, there is Anurag Kashyap, who approached me when nobody wanted to work with me and did Choked with me, because Mirzya had not worked. I am forever indebted to him for backing me. For that project, I can’t take the names, but there were very big actors who were eyeing the project, and he said, ‘If I will do the film, I will only do it with Saiyami, or else I won’t. do it at all.’ He backed me thoroughly. Anurag Kashyap wants to make sure, everyone around him is successful. If you have a look at the track record, Vasan Bala, Neeraj Ghaywan, and Vikramaditya Motwane are from like Anurag Kashyap School. He makes people grow and gives wings to people to fly. He is like a 15-16 year old when he is on a film set. He is full of energy. Excited to work. I wish there were more people like him, who genuinely loved cinema. I can go on and on about Anurag Kashyap, it will take hours.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on an action film with Sunny Deol. It is a very different setup from anything I have done before. Its very commercial, and very big. Sunny Deol has been the OG action hero and it has been wonderful working with him.