Neerja
Jim Sarbh made a stunning debut as a Palestinian hijacker, Khalil in 'Neerja' in 2016. After starring in theatre productions such as Kalki Koechlin's 'The Living Room,' Sarbh made a leap to the big screen in this film starring Sonam Kapoor, based on the martyred air hostess Neerja Bhanot on the legendary 1986 Pan Am flight.
Khalil is the most volatile and near-psychopathic terrorist on-board, and Sarbh played the part to perfection, sending chills down audience's spines.
During Neerja's promotions, Sarbh had mentioned that he had avoided interacting with the rest of the cast during pre-production and training sessions to reduce attachment and play the part of the terrorist as convincingly as possible. He revealed that it had been challenging to get under the skin of the bad-tempered, wild and delusional terrorist - and it was precisely this undpredictability of the character and a chance to work in unmapped territories that fascinated Sarbh
Padmaavat
Ranveer Singh's fanatic Allaudin Khilji may well have captured the imagination of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's audience, but Jim Sarbh was the unsung hero of the production. He played Khilji's homosexual slave-general, Malik Kafur in the film
Kafur makes a mark on not just the audience but on his master-to-be himself from the introductory shot. Dressed from head to toe in a white silk robe, he is a gift to Khilji by his uncle. Ranveer Singh's character puts Kafur through a gruelling loyalty test which he passes with subtle finesse. From that moment, Malik's passion and ardent fervour for his master is as intriguing to watch as hi Khilji's lust for Deepika Padukone's Padmavati
In an interview with Scroll, Sarbh said, "I thought of him as a warrior, but not a Hulk Smash kind of warrior, more like a dancer with a sword: extremely efficient, graceful, and deadly." He said that Kafur held immense power even in his subservience to Khilji, perhaps the only one who could really oppose him
Sanju
Similarly, even though the spotlight remains on Rabir Kapoor in 'Sanju,' Jim Sarbh shines as a supporting character in Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanjay Dutt biopic.
Sarbh plays drug peddler Zubin Mistry, who plays a pivotal role in the early phases of Dutt's career. He introduces Dutt to drugs - and this friend turned foe makes audiences more suspicious about his character as the film continues, highlighting Sarbh's brilliance as a performer
After starring in Sanju, Jim Sarbh revealed that he was rather tired of playing villanous characters and wanted to explore versatility in his filmography. And he went on to do exactly that!
Rocket Boys
Abhay Pannu’s series for SonyLIV starred Jim Sarbh as Homi Bhabha and Ishwak Singh as Vikram Sarabhai
'Rocket Boys' chronicles the pivotal roles of physicists Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai in India's nuclear and space advancements. This gripping series is a blend of meticulous research, creative storytelling, and dramatic flair. Jim Sarbh masterfully brings Homi Bhabha's vision, ambition and drive to life in this series. Both seasons of the show received rave reviews.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Jim Sarbh shared how the show tried to portray the main dimensions of person behind the scientist - a scientist who was usually presumed to be a genius reclusive amongst popular imagination. Calling Bhabha one of the more demanding but satisfying characters he’s played in his career, Sarbh talked about how the makers went to great lengths to also display his playful and humorous side. In another interview with Outlook India, Jim shared how he actually has Homi Bhabha's desk at home from an auction - purely by coincidence! Looks like the part was to fated to be his
Made in Heaven
Jim Sarbh delivered another riveting performance as Adil Khanna in 'Made in Heaven.' A business tycoon married to Tara, founder-partner of wedding consulting agency 'Made in Heaven' and one of the protagonists of the eponymous show, he cheats on his wife with her best friend, Faiza
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Jim Sarbh was always the first choice of the 'Made in Heaven' team to play the highly shaded and ambivalent Adil Khanna. Once it became clear that he would be available to play the role, the shoot reschedule was shuffled around to accommodate his dates.
Jim Sarbh (as well as Kalki, who plays Faiza) perfectly grew into their grey characters. Faiza is not merely the ‘other woman’ to Adil’s ‘philanderer’ – all characters are stripped down and exposed in their vulnerabilities and conflicting loyalties – making not only them but the portrayal of modern love and marriage in India immensely realistic.
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
In this story based on true events, Jim Sarbh plays an Indian-origin lawyer Daniel Singh Ciupek who first fights in favor of Mrs Chatterjee against the Norway government and then is appointed by the same government to fight the case against her in an Indian court
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Jim Sarbh essays the role of a journalist Amin Faizi in the film. Gangubai Kathiawadi is based on the true story of Gangubai Harjivandas, whose life was documented in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai by S Hussain Zaidi, and stars Alia Bhatt who delivers a luminous performance
Jonaki
'Jonaki' is a tale of an 80-year-old woman who searches for love in a strange world of decaying memories, while her lover, played by Jim Sarbh returns to a world she is leaving behind. Aditya Vikram Sengupta, the director plays with light and visual form to tell this story about memory, loss and love
This niche, independent film was screened at the Rotterdam Film Festival. Partly inspired by his grandmother's life, Aditya Vikram Sengupta tells the story of an Anglo-Indian woman named Jonaki (Lolita Chatterjee) who found love but lost it. Jim Sarbh said that the director took a risk that few would take in making this film primarily a visual cinematic masterpiece
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