Actor Mihir Ahuja is part of an exciting new project, Hindi Vindi, which highlights the growing South Asian presence in the global music entertainment. With Indians being the second-largest migrant group in Australia, the film's premiere is a major step forward for the community. In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, Mihir discusses his experience working on the film and its significance. Directed by Ali Sayed and written by Sayed and Jay Sharma, the movie features Bollywood's Neena Gupta and Mihir Ahuja, alongside Australian star Guy Sebastian, who also contributes to the film’s soundtrack. Excerpts:

Q. What drew you to the role of Kabir in Hindi Vindi?

A: This is my first international project, so I was really excited to be a part of something on that scale. What particularly drew me to the role was the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, and the emotional depth of the film. It portrays the journey of a grandson learning Hindi for his grandmother and explores the father-son relationship. I really connected with that. Another aspect that attracted me was music. My character is a lead vocalist and guitarist. As a musician myself, I really enjoy being part of projects that involve music.

Q. How was it working alongside Neena Gupta in your international debut?

A: It was great! She’s an incredible actor and a wonderful human being. Initially, I was a bit nervous about working with her—she’s such a veteran, and I wasn’t sure how I would share screen space with her. But when I first met her, she was so fun, loving, and kind. She made it so easy for me on set to just act and be in character.

Q. What was the biggest challenge in portraying Kabir’s relationship with his father?

A: I wouldn’t say there was any real challenge in portraying the relationship with the father. The biggest challenge for me in this project was learning a new accent—an Aussie accent. I had to train for four months before filming began. I had a voice coach in Australia, and we’d have Zoom calls every day, where he would teach me. To perfect the accent, I moved to Sydney 10 days before the shoot. I spent time observing the locals, their speech, and dialect. I’d ask people to say a few lines, and I’d record them on my phone. That helped me a lot.

Q. Can you describe your favourite moment from filming Hindi Vindi?

A: My favourite moments were when I was singing on stage or playing the guitar. I had to learn how to play an electric guitar for the role, and I received guitar training for the film. I really enjoyed shooting those music sequences. Every shot where I was playing the guitar or singing felt amazing. It was like being on cloud nine, singing my heart out.

Q. You’ve been part of The Archies and Vijay 69. How were those experiences different from each other?

A: The Archies was also a musical film like Hindi Vindi, but since it had an ensemble cast, it felt different. We all really enjoyed being on set, and it wasn’t a heavy film. It was light and fun, and shooting it felt like a vacation. We shot in places like Ooty, Mauritius, and Mumbai, and there were lots of songs that we really enjoyed. On the other hand, Vijay 69 was physically challenging for me because I had to train as a triathlete for the role. I had to train in cycling, swimming, and running.

Q. What was the most fun part of working on The Archies?

A: The most fun part was being on set with Zoya. She’s a true mastermind to work with, and her knowledge of films is incredible. Every director and actor looks up to her. Being on set with her felt like a dream come true, and I had so much fun working under her direction.

Q. Vijay 69 has a unique storyline. What attracted you to that project?

A: When I first heard that Anupam Ji was playing the role of Vijay, I was sold. I had to be a part of the film if Anupam Ji was involved. I would love to share screen space with him. He’s such a veteran and a great human being, much like Nina Ji. That really intrigued me and drew me to the project.

Q. Are there any future projects you’re particularly excited about working on?

A: Yes, I have a release coming up called Makasam for Amazon Prime. It’s a web series, and I play a mathematician in it. I worked on this project with Mona Singh, and I’m really excited for you all to watch it. We’ve already shot it, and it should be released sometime this year.