Amit Sial: Films like Qala come once in a lifetime

A still from the series

Amit Sial is delighted to have fetched two Best Supporting Actor nominations, in Series and Film categories, at the mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards. But he is quick to note that with shows and movies offering strong characters today, the lines between leads and supporting roles are blurring. "Personally, I have never felt that my work was a supporting act in any of the [projects]. Most roles today are character-driven," says Sial, whose acts in Maharani S02 and Qala have earned him two nods.

Though both characters have grey shades, they couldn't be more disparate. In Netflix's Qala, Sial plays music composer Sumant Kumar, who sexually abuses the protagonist in exchange for a career break. Under director Anvita Dutt's watchful eyes, the actor makes his Sumant entitled and predatory, yet vulnerable when his chips are down. "Anvita's immense faith in me is the reason for the impact that Sumant Kumar makes. Also, when a film is so beautifully crafted, you can be sure that even the smallest detail in the background will leave an impact. Films like Qala come once in a lifetime."

Reprising the role of politician Navin Kumar in Maharani wasn't easy. "The most challenging part was to get into the character's mindset. As a script, Maharani is impeccable. It was all about catching the script's rhythm," he says.

Also Read: Amit Sial set to explore romance and comedy in upcoming films

Cast your vote for the Hitlist OTT Awards

Amit Sial has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor (Male): Series category for Maharani S02, and Best Supporting Actor (Male): Film category for Qala. The other nominees are:

Best Supporting Actor (Male): Series
. Faisal Malik (Panchayat S02)
. Kulbhushan Kharbanda (Guilty Minds)
. Neil Bhoopalam (Masaba Masaba S02)
. Suvinder Vicky (CAT)
. Vaibhav Raj Gupta (Gullak S03)

Best Supporting Actor (Male): Film
. Anil Kapoor (Thar)
. Gajraj Rao (Maja Ma)
. Naseeruddin Shah (Gehraiyaan)
. Roshan Mathew (Darlings)
. Sikandar Kher (Monica O My Darling)

There are 16 categories that the public can vote in. Log on to www.radiocity.in/hitlistott to cast your vote.

Voting lines close on February 22.