Calling Yuri Suri, one of the lead stars of the immensely popular show '24', just a well-known actor would be like looking at a picture half-painted. The 63year-old started his career as an Air Force fighter pilot and was even shortlisted as a standby trainee Indian astronaut in a team of four, which included Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space. After taking premature release, he became a radio jockey, one of the first RJs in the country.
Having acted in movies such as 'Jodhaa Akbar', 'What's Your Raashee?' and 'Kites', the actor talks about his current project -essaying the role of a senior RAW officer named Gill in the Indian adaptation of the American show '24'.
“I served as an Air Force fighter pilot for 21 years, so preparing for the role did not take much effort. Many had to undergo training, for instance, to learn how to hold a gun like a professional. I am also physically fit, so that wasn't an issue either," says Suri, who is in the city to visit relatives. “The show has got a lot of attention. It's humbling to be recognised on the streets and being lauded for the team's efforts. Also, the political allusions were something that we didn't plan on. The theme about the PM's assassination was just coincidental to the elections going on."
When asked what he thought needed to be improved in the show, he says, “The American show is very pacy; you'll be stuck to your seat and won't even be able to get up to get water. But we received reviews saying that, comparatively it didn't grab attention and was Indianised a lot. The team will be working on that for the next season."
Even with his prolific list of achievements, the actor still has one thing remaining in his bucket list. “I also want to be known as a musician,“ he says, adding, “My philosophy in life is 'when was the last time you did something for the first time?' So even though I sing and play the guitar, I want to have my rock band and probably cut an album."
“I had always thought that I would retire as an air marshal. But I left the Air Force because I felt stagnated. I became a radio jockey in 1994," he says. It was during that time that Lillete Dubey approached him with an offer to act in plays. “I acted in a lot of plays; after watching me act, Ashutosh Gowariker approached me to star in 'Jodhaa Akbar'," Suri concludes.
