Actor Mohit Tiwari on working with Anil Kapoor in Subedaar: He guided me patiently
Actor Mohit Tiwari opened up about his journey from theatre to his film debut Subedaar. He called it a life-changing opportunity.
For young actor Mohit Tiwari, there was no dramatic “big break” moment, no overnight switch, but Subedaar came into his life and changed it completely. Speaking exclusively to India Today, he opened up about working with Anil Kapoor, someone whose films he grew up watching, and laughed about being beaten up by him in their first scene.
With over 15 years in theatre, Mohit Tiwari honed his craft on the Delhi stage before setting his sights on cinema. However, the journey to the film wasn’t orchestrated through big meetings or aggressive networking, but through the kind of organic chain that often defines an actor’s early career.
“The director, Suresh Triveni, saw my tape through a common friend and liked my work. We met a couple of times, and I also invited him to watch my play at Prithvi Theatre, which he enjoyed. When Subedaar went into pre-production, he remembered me and recommended my name to Casting Bay,” he shared.
What followed was a familiar mix of uncertainty and quiet hope, as he auditioned and later did a screen test in Mumbai. And while it wasn’t a very long part, it was interesting and exciting, as he shared, “Especially knowing Anil Kapoor was leading the film. For me, as a debutant, the joy was simply being part of a film.”
Sharing screen space with a star like Anil Kapoor could have easily been intimidating, but Mohit remembers it differently. He shared how it was a surreal experience, given he grew up watching him on screen and was suddenly in front of him, prepping to do a scene together. He added that, however, once the camera started to roll, the focus shifted entirely to the work.
Their first scene together was an action sequence, where he gets beaten up by Anil Kapoor. Mohit Tiwari recalled how the superstar helped him ease into and work on the scene.
He shared, “As a new actor, I struggled a bit with the timing of the movement, but he guided me patiently and even shared how long it took him to master action choreography. That reassurance helped me relax and perform better.”
Interestingly, it was also his first day on set, and he got to cut a cake with Anil Kapoor. The actor shared how the Subedaar star was warm, curious, and interested in his theatre background, which made him feel seen and respected.
Talking further about their first interaction, he shared how he skipped the usual introductions altogether.
“I wasn’t scared, but there was definitely anticipation. We hadn’t been introduced earlier, and I met him for the first time during the actual shot. When he came on the floor, he shook hands with me, and we started discussing the scene. He made it very comfortable by asking how I wanted to approach it and gave me space as an actor. He didn’t make it feel like a ‘big superstar moment,’ which helped ease my nerves. Within minutes, it felt less like meeting a star and more like working with a warm, enthusiastic senior actor,” he said.
Mohit Tiwari added how, on the last day of the shoot, when they were filming at the hospital, Anil Kapoor came back, hugged him, and appreciated his performance.
“He said a few encouraging words, which meant a lot coming from someone with such a celebrated career. What stayed with me was his energy -- he’s incredibly enthusiastic, curious, and almost childlike in his approach to life. A small but meaningful moment was when he later sent someone to ask for my name again; it showed his attention to detail and genuine interest,” he said.
Earlier, actor Radhika Madan had mentioned how her scenes were cut from the final draft, and Mohit shared how he, too, experienced the bittersweet reality of the editing room.
He said, “Yes, a couple of my scenes were trimmed, but that’s part of filmmaking. Once a film reaches the editing stage, the story dictates what stays and what goes. Of course, as an actor, you feel attached to your scenes and wish they made it to the final cut. But ultimately, the film comes first. I trust the director’s vision, and I believe everything should serve the story. So, I was completely okay with it.”
Discussing his experience working with Madan, he added, “It was cordial and professional. We didn’t shoot together for very long, but the experience was collaborative and enjoyable. She is extremely focused, well-prepared, and deeply involved in the process. She constantly brings ideas, asks questions, and works toward improving every scene. I also observed how respectfully and warmly she interacted with everyone on set, which was pleasant to see, especially on my first day on a film set.”
Now, with his first film behind him, Mohit is clear about what he wants next: not scale, not visibility, but substance. As he said, “Right now, I am working on a couple of indie projects and reading scripts. I am open to films and streaming platforms, anything that offers meaningful and challenging roles. As a newcomer, my focus is simple: work with passionate directors, be part of good stories, and keep growing as an actor.”
Subedaar is currently streaming on Prime Video.
For young actor Mohit Tiwari, there was no dramatic “big break” moment, no overnight switch, but Subedaar came into his life and changed it completely. Speaking exclusively to India Today, he opened up about working with Anil Kapoor, someone whose films he grew up watching, and laughed about being beaten up by him in their first scene.
With over 15 years in theatre, Mohit Tiwari honed his craft on the Delhi stage before setting his sights on cinema. However, the journey to the film wasn’t orchestrated through big meetings or aggressive networking, but through the kind of organic chain that often defines an actor’s early career.
“The director, Suresh Triveni, saw my tape through a common friend and liked my work. We met a couple of times, and I also invited him to watch my play at Prithvi Theatre, which he enjoyed. When Subedaar went into pre-production, he remembered me and recommended my name to Casting Bay,” he shared.
What followed was a familiar mix of uncertainty and quiet hope, as he auditioned and later did a screen test in Mumbai. And while it wasn’t a very long part, it was interesting and exciting, as he shared, “Especially knowing Anil Kapoor was leading the film. For me, as a debutant, the joy was simply being part of a film.”
Sharing screen space with a star like Anil Kapoor could have easily been intimidating, but Mohit remembers it differently. He shared how it was a surreal experience, given he grew up watching him on screen and was suddenly in front of him, prepping to do a scene together. He added that, however, once the camera started to roll, the focus shifted entirely to the work.
Their first scene together was an action sequence, where he gets beaten up by Anil Kapoor. Mohit Tiwari recalled how the superstar helped him ease into and work on the scene.
He shared, “As a new actor, I struggled a bit with the timing of the movement, but he guided me patiently and even shared how long it took him to master action choreography. That reassurance helped me relax and perform better.”
Interestingly, it was also his first day on set, and he got to cut a cake with Anil Kapoor. The actor shared how the Subedaar star was warm, curious, and interested in his theatre background, which made him feel seen and respected.
Talking further about their first interaction, he shared how he skipped the usual introductions altogether.
“I wasn’t scared, but there was definitely anticipation. We hadn’t been introduced earlier, and I met him for the first time during the actual shot. When he came on the floor, he shook hands with me, and we started discussing the scene. He made it very comfortable by asking how I wanted to approach it and gave me space as an actor. He didn’t make it feel like a ‘big superstar moment,’ which helped ease my nerves. Within minutes, it felt less like meeting a star and more like working with a warm, enthusiastic senior actor,” he said.
Mohit Tiwari added how, on the last day of the shoot, when they were filming at the hospital, Anil Kapoor came back, hugged him, and appreciated his performance.
“He said a few encouraging words, which meant a lot coming from someone with such a celebrated career. What stayed with me was his energy -- he’s incredibly enthusiastic, curious, and almost childlike in his approach to life. A small but meaningful moment was when he later sent someone to ask for my name again; it showed his attention to detail and genuine interest,” he said.
Earlier, actor Radhika Madan had mentioned how her scenes were cut from the final draft, and Mohit shared how he, too, experienced the bittersweet reality of the editing room.
He said, “Yes, a couple of my scenes were trimmed, but that’s part of filmmaking. Once a film reaches the editing stage, the story dictates what stays and what goes. Of course, as an actor, you feel attached to your scenes and wish they made it to the final cut. But ultimately, the film comes first. I trust the director’s vision, and I believe everything should serve the story. So, I was completely okay with it.”
Discussing his experience working with Madan, he added, “It was cordial and professional. We didn’t shoot together for very long, but the experience was collaborative and enjoyable. She is extremely focused, well-prepared, and deeply involved in the process. She constantly brings ideas, asks questions, and works toward improving every scene. I also observed how respectfully and warmly she interacted with everyone on set, which was pleasant to see, especially on my first day on a film set.”
Now, with his first film behind him, Mohit is clear about what he wants next: not scale, not visibility, but substance. As he said, “Right now, I am working on a couple of indie projects and reading scripts. I am open to films and streaming platforms, anything that offers meaningful and challenging roles. As a newcomer, my focus is simple: work with passionate directors, be part of good stories, and keep growing as an actor.”
Subedaar is currently streaming on Prime Video.
