Varun Mitra: Here, your nightmares come true before your dreams do

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Varun Mitra has had a steady run since last year. After giving noteworthy performances in Guilty Minds (2022) and Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo earlier this year, the actor is now seen in Rakshak - India's Braves: Chapter 1. Amazon miniTV's latest series is based on Lieutenant Triveni Singh, who sacrificed his own life to protect over 300 people caught in the crossfire at the Jammu Tawi railway station in a terrorist attack in 2004. Offering an authentic retelling was the focus of the team led by director Akshay Choubey. "I spoke to the family [of Lt Triveni Singh]. We have captured most of the real events. For instance, after he killed the terrorists, he called his senior officer, and his last words were, ‘Mission accomplished'. We have kept the scene as it was narrated to us," says Mitra. Rakshak is the actor's ode to the bravery of the armed forces, especially the Ashoka Chakra awardee. The series realised his dream of playing an army officer. "I had questions while preparing for the role: What does a soldier think during an attack? Do they fear never seeing their family again? After research, I discovered that during an attack, all they think about is discovering ways to terminate the enemy."

Lt Triveni Singh

Mitra, who has been in the industry for nine years, is thrilled that he is getting interesting projects. He is looking forward to moulding himself for different roles. "Surviving in this industry takes a lot of resilience. When you come to Mumbai, in the first couple of years, your nightmares come true before your dreams do. What helps an actor survive is falling in love with the craft."