Exclusive! 120 Bahadur won me the hearts of industry & audience, says Ankit Siwach

Actor Ankit Siwach, a popular actor on television, was in Lucknow recently. Siwach was last seen in the film 120 Bahadur as Sepoy Ramlal Yadav, the signal man and lone survivor of the battle of Rezang La. while talking to us in an earlier interview about how portraying a soldier in a film based on the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War holds personal meaning for him, he had shared, “This is the first time I’m playing a soldier. I was born in Meerut Cantt and and grew up around that environment, so I’ve always felt an emotional connection to the military. Wearing the uniform for this film felt like a dream realised.” He also poke to us about the intensive three-month training that transformed him for the role. He reflected on the audience's heartfelt love and respect that overshadowed box-office metrics, his philosophy of chasing authentic validation over fleeting fame, and navigating the fast-evolving world of OTT and theatrical cinema with selective, high-impact projects. Turning to his recent Lucknow visit, Siwach called it long overdue, but worth the wait. "I had never been to Lucknow earlier this was my first time. I've visited Banaras and Kanpur, but never Lucknow. My brother was once posted here but I couldn't come here at that time. I visited Hazratganj where we indulged in chaat, kebabs and tea. We had a blast! The people here are so warm and welcoming. Everything was fabulous, and I'll cherish that one-and-a-half-day trip for a long time." Reflecting on what made 120 Bahadur so special, he revealed a twist in his casting journey. "The shooting of the film took place in Ladakh and we trained for three months for it. It involved a lot of physical workouts, mental preparation, body language, and diction coaching. The entire battalion has a specific way of speaking, so it was intensive and unique training for all of us," says Siwach, adding, how he thought he hadn't been selected for the role. "When I auditioned, I had no idea what the project was about. They called me and said it was a major film from a big production house, but they deliberately kept the details under wraps. This ensures you stay organic during the audition, without prejudging the project or acting a certain way. I had no clue what I was auditioning for. The production team suggested a video call to discuss, but it never happened. I assumed I hadn't been selected. Then, a week later, I got a call saying no meeting was needed and I was finalized for the role. It was onlt then I learned that it was a Farhan Akhtar production starring him, based on the Battle of Rezang La from the 1962 Indo-China War." That experience has clearly paid off for Ankit, as the film has got him new-found respect from the industry and the audience. "Since the first screening of 120 Bahadur, I sensed flow of strong energies, a sense of respect that the audience felt for the film and everyone involved in it. By the time the whole process got completed and the film came out, I realized that I was only looking for love for what we had created. I got what I was seeking, the audience’s love and respect for my work, and for our film. I am not a believer of chasing fame, but looking for reality in people’s eyes. In this case, I saw real love, real applauds, honest hugs and professional validation."On maintaining a balance between projects and staying relevant amid OTT and theatrical shifts, Ankit said that his focus at present is doing bigger and better work, irrespective of the medium." The dynamics of film making and the industry have paced up the evolution worldwide. There is so much to catch up to that it doesn’t give us time to analyze much, rather practice 'being' and 'doing'. Right now my focus is to get into the best possible films and OTT projects. There is no high better than getting to perform in well-made and well-intended films and shows. As the journey continues, I am flowing with utmost honesty and hard work, but this time, more equipped to take up the biggest responsibilities," he says.