What kind of research have you done for your role in the film “New York” since the first half you look all cheerful and happy whereas in the second half the serious mode takes over?

The research actually started accidently when I and Kabir were doing ‘Kabul Express’. We met a lot of people out in Afghanistan, Pakistan and also met a lot of Talibans. I watched a lot of Kabir’s documentaries and we tried to understand the concept of Jihaad if I may say so. We tried to understand why the world looks at certain communities in a certain manner and vice versa. We have always tried to maintain that New York is not a jingoistic America film but have been very biased about whatever we have portrayed in the film. In terms of my character I have stuck to my director’s brief as what I am supposed to do, where I am supposed to and the thought process I have to take. I have simply followed orders. We have just made anhonest and a simple film.

We heard that you took your role very seriously and went into a shell especially in the second half of the film to justify your character?

Honestly during the shoot we enjoyed every day. I didn’t go into any kind of shell except for the last three-four days where Kabir wanted me to take that portion of the film very seriously. We have had a great time during the shoot.

You have studied the Quran while filming for the movie “New York”. Why was that study required?

Kabir actually gave me some insights about Quran and how some of it is interpreted at times by certain people for their own benefit. That is something we went through in detail before we started filming for “New York” in terms of character sketch. But that is just a kind of backdrop for my character as we had to build a character history for my character. That was just an individual thing done and not to make a serious research based film.