Sushant Singh recently shared a behind-the-scenes story from his first day on the set of Ram Gopal Varma’s cult classic Satya. The actor remembered that during his first shoot, he kept acting even after the director said ‘cut,’ which surprised the crew and gave RGV an idea that influenced the film’s style.
First day on set and make-up trials
In a chat with Digital Commentary, Sushant talked about his first day on the set of Satya. He spent half the day in make-up tests to decide where a scar should go on his face. When filming began, writers Saurabh Shukla and Anurag Kashyap explained his character to him. As soon as RGV said “action,” Sushant started acting—and since he didn’t stop when the director said ‘cut,’ he kept going. This unplanned moment gave RGV an idea that shaped the film’s unique style.The actor further recalled his first day on the film’s set when he spent nearly half the day in make-up tests to decide the placement of a scar on his face. He remembered sitting on the floor near some plants, on a few bricks, without anyone offering him a chair. At the time, he was an unknown, struggling actor playing a small-time goon. Writers Saurabh Shukla and Anurag Kashyap briefed him on the character, explaining that the goon had never even seen a knife before.
Continuing even after cut
As he began acting, he didn’t notice RGV calling ‘cut’ and, following what he had learned, continued to stay in character. When the scene finally ended, RGV was pleased with the performance, though he did scold Sushant afterward.
The pyjama incident on first take
Sushant also recalled that during the first take, he went all out, and his pyjamas tore, leaving the assistants worried about how to manage the second take. For the next shot, the assistant, Taufiq bhai, jokingly scolded him, asking how they would find another pair of pyjamas.He recalled that later, the filmmaker mentioned the incident in his book, crediting it as a moment that helped shape Satya. The director noted that because he hadn’t said ‘cut’ and Sushant kept performing, he saw new possibilities for the scene, which became a foundation for the film’s style.
