It is not uncommon to find Bollywood celebrities promoting something, and then taking an about-turn when it comes to practising what they preach. That’s not the case with Arjun Mathur. We’ll never know the amount of movie offers and brand deals that Mathur has lost due to his outspoken nature and disdain for what has been happening in the country, but does Mathur give a damn? No, sir, he does not.

“Less than a month ago, I was approached for something by a person who had been accused in the #MeToo movement, and I flatly refused, even though the offer would have been good for my career,” Mathur had told MW in an interview in 2020. “After #MeToo, I absolutely went through a moment where I had to stop and think about any and every encounter that I might have had. I had to evaluate myself and think “oh my God, did I ever cross the line?” I even found myself apologising and reaching out to some people and saying “sorry, if I ever did”. Definitely, a mirror was held up for everybody,” he had added.

That’s just how he is — he doesn’t make excuses, or play devil’s advocate, and the only thing he listens to is his conscience.

Mathur has starred in films and web-series like Luck by Chance, Made in Heaven, and Brij Mohan Amar Rahe. In fact, for his portrayal of Karan Mehra in Made in Heaven, the actor also earned a Best Actor nomination at the 2020 International Emmy Awards.

“I’ve played a character from the LGBTQ community thrice, and my only reservation before taking up Made In Heaven was that I have forayed into this space before. As a straight person myself, I was confident in my own masculinity and sexuality to take up the role. There’s nothing I have to do or say to prove my masculinity to anyone,” Mathur says, about his role in Made in Heaven.

This recognition has been a long time coming, and the best thing about Mathur is that he doesn’t act modest about it. For years, the 39-year-old actor has done brilliant roles and despite his good looks and acting skills, the film industry hasn’t exactly laid out the red carpet for him. That appears to have changed now.

Following his Emmy nomination, the actor has been bombarded with projects. He is set to star in a suspense thriller called Silence, and will reprise his roles in Made in Heaven 2 and The Gone Game 2. The Gone Game was one of 2020’s most appreciated shows because of its experimental nature. Starring Mathur, Shweta Tripathi, and Sanjay Kapoor, the film was shot almost entirely from the actors’ homes, and was directed remotely by Nikhil Bhat. There is also a fourth project in the works for Mathur, but the actor cannot reveal it yet. Rest assured, it’s going to be a big one.