Sunny Kaushal plays Abhimanyu in Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Sunny Kaushal disclosed that he studied interviews of American serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer as part of his preparation for his role in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’.
Actor Sunny Kaushal revealed that, in preparation for his role in ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’, he studied interviews of infamous American serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. The Netflix film, a sequel to 2021’s ‘Hasseen Dillruba’, features Sunny as Abhimanyu, a seemingly kind yet twisted character competing for Rani’s (Taapsee Pannu) affection alongside her husband, Rishabh (Vikrant Massey), who is living in hiding.
Sunny explained that watching Bundy and Dahmer helped him understand Abhimanyu’s mindset. He noted that, like the notorious killers, Abhimanyu believed he was justified in his actions. “I watched a few interviews of Ted Bundy and Dahmer. One common trait (between them) was that they never thought what they were doing was wrong. Abhimanyu briefly was the same. If someone did wrong to him, he would do the wrong too. That’s his justice… His way of saying, ‘You do something wrong to me, I also have the right to do something wrong to you’,” Sunny told PTI.
Bundy, who terrorized the 1970s, confessed to 30 murders before his execution, though the true number of his victims may be higher. Dahmer, convicted of killing and dismembering 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, was sentenced to 16 life terms.
Directed by Jayprad Desai and written by Kanika Dhillon, ‘Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba’ began streaming on Netflix on August 9. Sunny also mentioned that while studying real-life serial killers provided valuable insight, it had its challenges. “You have a lot of material to take reference from… but everybody is different. Then you feel it’s not helping. You have to find your own grain through the character. But the beauty was it was written very meticulously,” he added.
News18 Showsha review of the film reads, “The moment Vikrant Massey appears on screen, he commands your attention. Although his character, Rishu, exhibits more maniacal tendencies than most, Massey’s skilful performance makes us empathize with him. Taapsee Pannu embodies Rani Kashyap with such ease that she becomes the character. However, Rani’s narrative in this sequel leaves you longing for more of her previous charisma.”
The review further head, “While Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey convincingly portray troubled lovers, Sunny Kaushal’s performance as Abhimanyu stands out. Sunny’s portrayal is marked by subtlety and nuance, making his character’s transitions between different shades particularly compelling. Bhumika Dube is a delight to watch on screen and you cannot take your eyes off her. Although Jimmy Shergill adds an intriguing element to the film, his character ultimately falls flat due to the script’s shortcomings.”
