Trained with Urdu dialect coach to get into character for A Suitable Boy, says Vijay Varma

Vijay Varma, who joined a large ensemble cast in the long-awaited adaptation of Vikram Seth’s 1993 novel A Suitable Boy, has said he trained with an Urdu dialect coach to really sink into his character.

Varma plays Rasheed, an Urdu teacher who coaches the younger sister of Saeeda Bai (Tabu) and seems to develop feelings for her. However, when Maan Kapoor (Ishaan Khatter) gets involved with the infamous courtesan, Rasheed is tasked with teaching him as well. The young men end up becoming friends and Maan experiences a different side of life with Rasheed.

Speaking about his preparation for the role, the actor said he had to focus on pronunciations and articulation of certain words and sentences. "I spent a lot of time on research, listening to Urdu audio clips and also trained with an Urdu dialect coach to really sink into the character,” he said.

Referring to Urdu as a beautiful and pure language, Varma said he felt that if it was not spoken correctly, he wouln’t have the right impact. "Rasheed’s character is complex and layered, and he has his own journey and struggles to deal with, which are revealed through the course of the story,” he said.

A Suitable Boy, co-directed by Mira Nair and Shimit Amin, will be released on 23 October on Netflix.