Srishti Dixit: Vicky Kaushal is the most liked and loved person on the set; I feel blessed that my first film is with him – Exclusive | Hindi Movie News

After entertaining one and all with her quirky videos on YouTube and Instagram, Srishti Dixit has now dabbled into acting with the latest release, ‘The Great Indian Family‘. While the film has hit the theatres, we got in touch with the young diva for a freewheeling chat. In the exclusive interview, Srishti spoke about the inception of the film, the response she has been getting for her performance, working with Vicky Kaushaland more.Excerpts…
‘The Great Indian Family’ has hit the theatres. What kind of response have you been getting?
I have been getting amazing responses from all my friends and family. They are so excited to see me in a Yash Raj film. They are acting as if I have become a Yash Raj heroine and I am feeling no less, honestly. I am feeling really grateful that this was my first gig that I received in the acting world and I shot for this three years ago and it’s finally coming out. I am just so excited to see myself in a movie with such amazing actors. I am just very excited and I am really in that zone right now. I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would happen. And all the reactions to it are also matching that energy.
How did you come on board for the film?
Director Vijay Krishna Acharya, who has made ‘Dhoom 3’ and ‘Thugs of Hindustan, is a terrific, amazing, brilliant, and intelligent person. I really respect and value him. He is the one who has given me this break. This was during the COVID pandemic when someone from the YRF team reached out to me saying that Victor sir (Vijay Krishna Acharya) is making this movie and he’s written a story based on his own life and reflections. And it’s like a deeply personal story. They wanted to know if I would like to audition for it. At first I thought it was a scam but it turned out to be a real one. I auditioned for the role of Vicky Kaushal’s sister in the movie.

I was shortlisted and then I got a call from Victor Sir and he said that he had named the character’s name after his own sister’s name. And he used to watch my content on Instagram and that’s how he found me. He also said that he liked me and my UP antics specifically because he’s also from Kanpur. He could relate to it and he found me really funny.
How was it working with Vijay Krishna Acharya?
It was amazing. He completely guided us throughout the process. It was the first time I was on a movie set. So I was extremely terrified of making a fool of myself because I have not even been trained in acting. I have been in amateur plays and I have done theatre in college and I have made stupid videos on the internet. But none of that is the same as being on a movie set and acting as a character in a movie. There were many rehearsals. There were many table reads. We got lots of opportunities to get together, jam, really collaborate on how we can bring out the best from all of us. And all the amazing co-actors I worked with, they were extremely helpful and they were very supportive. And they never made me feel like I was a complete idiot newbie who knew nothing. There was just so much love on the set and I hope that reflects in the film.
The film boasts of an ensemble star cast. How was it shooting with this fun cast on the set? Whom did you bond the most with on the set?
I think I got along really amazingly with everyone. I made some terrific friends on the set. There was so much learning I got to do just by observing other people do their job. It was such a big learning experience. No better training than that could have happened for someone who was doing their first ever film. And I think we really missed each other also after we finished shooting. So that’s also a testimony of how great a time we had. We were also shooting for this in the middle of the lockdowns and the restrictions were just slightly easing up. People were just starting to come out of their homes again. So there was also that euphoric feeling. That was generally the vibe on set and everybody really got along like a family. There is no understatement in that.

Vicky Kaushal is one of the most sought-after actors in Bollywood. How was he as a co-star?
Vicky is just such a warm, open, humble and an amazing person. I didn’t have any negative expectations of Vicky ahead of meeting him. I was just very nervous to be in the same frame as him and act with him. Because I have always been a huge fan of everything he has done. He is an amazing actor. He is the most hardworking actor. And I was just very nervous about my own thing. He really put me at ease. He was making jokes. He was making people comfortable. He is the most liked person on set and he is the most lovable person on set. And he just gave me this really nice, nurturing, friendly, warm energy that I hope reflects in whatever scenes I have gotten to do with him in the movie. He is an amazing co-star. I learnt a lot from just watching him act. I learnt a lot from just watching him prep, coming up with improvisations, coming up with ways to do things differently, giving amazing variations. I can’t say enough about that. So I had a great time. I feel truly blessed that I got to do this for the first time ever with Vicky Kaushal, an actor of his calibre.
Can you share some fun anecdotes from the movie from your shooting days?
Honestly, every day was really fun. But I will truly cherish the time we had shooting for the movie in Madhya Pradesh. It was an outdoor shoot and all of us were staying at the same hotel. We were all eating and shooting together. It felt like all of us were living as a family in one spot. We were all talking every night. One day we listened to poems, one day we listened to stories. We even had a bonfire at some point. So we had a lot of fun. That was the most memorable time while shooting.
After ‘Gadar 2‘ fever, Bollywood is gripped by the ‘Jawan‘ frenzy. What, according to you, will make ‘The Great Indian Family’ stand apart for the audience?
My work was to do my best as honestly as possible and I hope I was able to do that. I hope that with whatever love and care we have made this film, reflects. And people can touch upon that when they watch it in the theatres. It’s up to the people to give us their love once the movie is theirs. We have tried to do an honest job and we can only hope for the best. But I don’t want to have too many expectations of what it will do for me, for everyone, for the movie business. I don’t know anything about that. I am a very small part in the whole machinery. For me right now it’s just absolutely delightful that a childhood dream of mine is coming true in this way. And that’s all I could have asked for. And that’s all I want to cherish and live in right now.