Mumbai: Having started his career with romantic films, Sidharth Malhotra is now looking forward to doing characters that have depth and help him grow as an actor. The 33-year-old actor says at this point in his career, he wants to take risks.   

"Deep-rooted characters like in 'Ittefaq' or 'Aiyaary', had a lot of depth, which I personally like. and I think you just grow (an actor). I think to do just a love story becomes slightly frivolous.   "If you do not have crutches of a love story, then the character has multiple layers and can take you on a different journey in a film," Sidharth told PTI.   

In his five-year-long career in Bollywood, Sidharth has played varied characters and the actor says there is always an attempt to do something "non-typical".   

"Being versatile in India is a trend, where no one actor is known for a particular kind of a role or film and in my own small way, I am trying to mold myself into playing a soft and tough part.   "I am definitely challenging myself and going against the grain. I am trying to do something nontypical. I yearn for something that is unique, something that no one has done before and opens up a different horizon," he adds.   

Critics have lauded his performance in "Ittefaq" and his next release "Aiyaary" looks promising as well.   The Neeraj Pandey directed film is a mentor and protégé, played by Manoj Bajpayee and Sidharth, respectively.   In real life, the young actor considers Karan Johar his mentor, but at the same time says eventually one has to work hard on their own.   

"After a point, you don't need a mentor. Karan Johar launched us initially and gave us an opportunity, but then we all (referring to himself, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt) are on our own, making our own decisions. There is no particular formula. I just follow my instincts." 

For the first time, the "Student of the Year" actor is seen as an Army officer onscreen and he says it is a role close to his heart as his grandfather was into Army. "Unfortunately, I did not get much time to be with my grandfather. But my father has lived that life and he are looking forward to seeing me in this avatar in the film," he said.   

The film is headlined by a host of talented actors like Bajpayee, Naseeruddin Shah, Adil Hussain, but Sidharth had scenes only with Bajpayee. "While working with him (Bajpayee) so closely, I observed him and learned a lot. After the shot, he was kind enough to talk to me about acting workshops, diction, etc. It is something I will use it in my next film."   

"Aiyaary" is again scheduled to release on the same day as "Padman" — February 9.   "...We are back to square one, we were anyway coming together (referring to the initial release date of January 26). I think that film is chasing us wherever we are going. We are happy and confident about our film, I think it will speak for itself," the "Kapoor and Sons" actor says. PTI KKP