Mikhael Kantroo the talented actor has flourished and grown in the role of Luka, in the recently launched thriller series Candy on Voot Select. The series has been a scintillating hit, with the climax keeping the viewers on tenterhooks. The series had a stellar cast lead by Ronit Roy and included Richa Chadha, Manu Rishi Chadha, Gopal Dutt, Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Riddhi Kumar and others in the cast.
Says Mikhael, “Candy was quite an engaging script. When I heard of the life in Rudrakund, I really got interested. The world of Rudrakund is metaphoric to the world at large. The Masand that is there in the story, is a metaphor to all the people in our society.”
Talking about his character Luka in Candy, Mikhael states, “My character was very much involved in the drug scene in the story. This issue is very much prevalent in society. My character is of a brave man, and when you see the whole story, you will realize that he had risked his life from day one by literally living with the bad. But it had to be done, as the lives of many children were in peril. The drug racket had to be busted.”
“There is never a day in our real-life when we deliberately put our life in danger. It is a fantastic thought if you think about it. So I wanted to connect with the character as I was playing it. I started believing that ‘If you don’t have a reason to die, you don’t have a reason to even live’,” he adds.
Ask him the million-dollar question of whether his character is dead or not, Mikhael smiles and says, “Viewers would have read it right. I can’t say anything at the moment. As seen by you all, it has been left open. So let us see.”
Ask him about talks for Season 2 of Candy, and he explains, “As you know and all have seen, the script in the climax of Candy has been kept open-ended. The makers have something in mind. But you never know, till it really comes. So let us see. When we made Candy, we were sure that we made something nice. The response for the series has been really good. Success and failure is the byproduct of the work that you put in. I am an optimist and believe that things will be good.”
Mikhael has done Masters in Business Administration. He later shifted to New York to learn the art of being an actor. He has also been part of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to do theatre. “I did a play DoRaha, which did decently well. I wrote along with an actor friend of mine. Giant was my breakthrough play in the theatre. It was a very difficult character to portray, that played by James Dean in the movie. James Dean was such a cinema actor, and to get that feeling on theatre, was a tough act. My teachers and the training I got helped me. A short film The End Game which got to the Cannes Film Festival was my first OTT experience in front of the camera. This was a crucial phase in my career.”
“Now, Candy has pepped up my career. I am happy that Candy happened to me. I am looking forward to working in films and the web platform,” he adds.
“I am also working on a film with a writer friend. We have been working on the film for a year now. I am writing as well as acting there.”
All the best for your future, Mikhael!!