Actors Roundtable | Anupama Chopra | The Hollywood Reporter India | Presented By District

The Hollywood Reporter India’s Actors Roundtable 2025 brings together some of the most compelling performers in Indian cinema for an intimate conversation about craft, career, and the pursuit of greatness. Hosted by Anupama Chopra, this year’s panel features Vicky Kaushal, Rukmini Vasanth, Kriti Sanon, Basil Joseph, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Dhruv Vikram, and Ishaan Khatter.

From Vicky’s physically grueling torture sequence in Chhaava to to Rukmini’s anxiety about playing a negative character early in her career in Kantara, from Basil’s revelation about how literature shaped his Ponman performance to Kalyani’s transformation in Lokah — this roundtable dives deep into the art of acting. Kriti opens up about discovering her character entirely while filming, Dhruv shares the brutal physical toll of learning kabaddi for Bison, and Ishan reflects on the emotional weight of Homebound.

The conversation also tackles industry realities: entourage costs, the changing path to stardom in the social media age, and Timothy Chalamet’s speech about aspiring to greatness. What emerges is a masterclass in authenticity — actors speaking candidly about their craft, their fears, and what truly defines a legacy in cinema.

00:00 Introduction
02:34 Welcoming to the Roundtable
03:06 Vicky Kaushal on Chhaava torture sequence
05:42 Rukmini Vasanth on playing a negative character in Kantara
09:26 Discussion on discovering characters while filming
11:17 Kriti Sanon on finding layers in her character
15:23 Basil Joseph on Ponman and the book that shaped his performance
21:38 Kalyani Priyadarshan on becoming a superhero in Lokah
26:21 Dhruv Vikram on Bison and kabaddi injuries
30:03 Ishaan Khatter on Homebound’s terrace scene
34:08 Last film watched in theater as a fan
43:15 Worst acting advice received
46:01 Prep vs spontaneity debate
57:07 Entourage costs in Hindi cinema
1:04:15 Can a brand aspire to greatness?
1:13:15 Performances that inspired them this year
1:25:11 Closing remarks

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