CHANEIL KULAR
British actor Chaneil Kular refuses to be pigeonholed into a specific genre, and it’s apparent from his ever-growing repertoire of genre-defying roles, which he chooses with integrity and passion. From effortlessly capturing the funny, sharp and confident personality of Anwar in his breakout role for Sex Education to skillfully portraying increasingly darker and psychologically demanding characters, like his first leading role as Harri in Accused, where he had to find a way to raise the stakes every time the scenes became more intense, Kular has continued to lean into roles that challenge him. His haunting guest appearance in the time-travel murder mystery Bodies saw that trajectory continue, before going further by stepping onto the other side of the investigation as he plays the role of a diligent detective DS Raj Kohli in the gritty crime thriller Protection.
5ELEVEN Magazine sat down with Kular to chat about what pulls him towards intimidating roles rather than shying away from them, how he’s navigating the momentum of a burgeoning career and, of course, his upcoming roles in the action thriller Mutiny and the exciting new Bollywood dance comedy Best of the Best, alongside a buzzy ensemble including Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Hasan Minhaj and Lilly Singh.
Words by Kristania Ginawan.
Photographed by Alex Hutchinson. Styled by Alton Hetariki. Grooming by Sandra Hahnel at Caren using Shiseido. Chaniel appears courtesy of Prosper PR.
Going from a colourful, comedic breakout role as Anwar in Sex Education to portraying Harri in the incredibly serious and psychologically demanding Accused, what was it like jumping into such a completely different role? Did you find it easier to portray someone confident and outgoing like Anwar, or someone more vulnerable and emotionally intense like Harri?
I think it’s a cool feeling that you’re trusted to be able to do both, which has been really nice, although it was inevitably harder to play Harri just because of the circumstances he was in and the responsibility of playing the lead role in that film and since it’s a one-man cast for the most part, it's definitely something that was way more challenging for me. Whereas for Anwar, you’re kind of tapping into a very different persona.
You’ve mentioned that Sex Education was your “playing ground” for learning the craft. Can you talk about how you landed the role?
I landed the role in Sex Education maybe about four months into signing with an agent, so the whole industry felt very new to me. It’s quite a funny experience looking back because I was quite green behind the ears. I had no idea what the process was entirely yet.
I remember doing the audition and then getting a callback, and I don’t think I realised that I was actually in the room with the casting director and the director. There was a degree of naivety to the industry then that probably gave me a bit more confidence than I would normally have going into those rooms nowadays. It was a mixture of naivety and confidence that kind of came through.
That’s Really interesting! Do you think, looking back, that this experience taught you about finding your own way into the industry and learning the craft?
The role completely changed my life, in all honesty. It opened up so many doors for me, including being in the conversation for a project like Accused, which is completely different to the character I was portraying in Sex Education. It also gave me an environment in which to learn. There were a lot of actors coming in where that was their first big project as well, so there was almost a collective experience of navigating the industry and the show together. Learning from the other actors around me and seeing how things worked on set was a big part of it.
And because Anwar was a smaller supporting role within the wider ensemble cast, there was a degree of not having too much responsibility. I could take that time to learn from everything around me instead of being thrown into the deep end on a massive scale. I wouldn’t change that for the world. I’m so grateful to Lauren and Ben and everyone who was involved in getting me into that project because it honestly opened up so many doors for me.
You went from learning on the job in Sex Education to suddenly being part of a show watched by millions of people. Was that the moment it all started to feel real to you, and did it change the way you saw yourself as an actor or make you feel like you suddenly had more to prove?
I always knew that I was capable of roles outside of Anwar. Sometimes the industry and audiences can assume you’re similar to your character, or they might try to typecast you and throw a lot of roles your way that are similar to the one you’ve just played. So I always knew I was capable of doing different things. It was odd, to say the least. Looking back, the whole experience was so new to me that I don’t think I quite appreciated how surreal it was, or how hard it is to get the chance to be on a show that gets renewed for another season and is adored by millions of people. It’s a very rare thing.
At the time, I was deeply appreciative of it, but having gone through periods without work and realizing how hard the industry can be afterwards, I’m now in a position where I look back and think, I don’t even know if I fully appreciated it as much as I do now.
You’ve spoken about how daunting it was to take on Harri in Accused and the pressure you put on yourself to portray the character well. How do you deal with that pressure?
In all honesty, I think I just bathed in that pressure. I don’t know if I ended up dealing with it very well. It was a bit of an alchemy. That kind of fear and pressure actually probably helped me bring that out performance-wise.
When I do roles, whether it’s something like Accused or even a short film, I sometimes read the script and think to myself, “How am I gonna get this done?” Sometimes you just let it take hold. And when you do it and you’re satisfied with the outcome, it gives you a greater belief in yourself and your abilities. You know you can do these things. It doesn’t make the idea of the challenge any less daunting, but you do have a greater sense of belief in yourself because you’ve been here before and you’ve overcome it.
Do you think the pressure gets better as you take on more roles?
I think it depends on what the role is requiring of you. You might get better prepared at dealing with the pressure, but the great thing about this industry is that every project and every story is so different or you might get a new project tomorrow where you think to yourself, “I have no idea how I’m going to do this.” So I’d say you get better at dealing with the pressure, but what that pressure might be is dictated by the project that you’re doing.
You’ve certainly taken a huge leap in your acting choices, from stories involving sexual health in Sex Education to increasingly darker thrillers. What makes you say yes to something that feels uncomfortable or intimidating rather than shy away from it?
For me, the main thing is always a great story, one that’s got a good message behind it. One of the great things about Sex Ed was that it did such a great job of raising awareness around so many different things that people experience sexual health-wise.
And with Accused as well, it’s got tons of important things to say about misinformation and the toxicity of online culture. Being part of a story where the role is specifically designed to help shape and deliver that message is always really appealing.
It also comes back to challenging yourself. I think in any field, you kind of have to stretch in order to grow. Whether you do it great or you fail, each path is a learning curve at the end of the day, and you’re always better off for taking those risks and challenges. So it’s always been something I find attractive in a role if it’s different from what I’ve done before. It’s that question we were talking about earlier: “How the hell am I going to do this?” But I figure it out, and it just adds another string to your bow.
You have two very different films coming out, Mutiny and Best of the Best, one an action thriller and the other a Bollywood dance comedy. How different was the preparation for those two roles, and did either require you to learn something completely new?
I wouldn’t necessarily say Mutiny required anything different or new to me, just because my role in Mutiny is like a smaller supporting role. And funny enough, both of my roles in these films actually don’t involve what you might expect. My role in Mutiny didn’t require any action, and my role in the Best of the Best didn’t require any dancing.
So whilst I maybe wasn’t learning anything new in terms of a skill in that sense, both roles were different. With one role, I was learning to play a guy who’s trying to almost fill his father’s boots and put on a bit of a facade and try and carry off almost like he’s more prepared and ready for the world than he actually is.
And Best of the Best just required me to play a role that was, for the most part, actually something different than I’ve done before. He’s quite quirky, funny as well, dare I say charming.
They were both very different in that sense. And I think both of those things require different things from you as an actor. But in terms of an actual skill like dancing, or whether I’m as well versed in stunts as Jason Statham after that film, it’s not the case. But I do learn something new on every film, which is great.
Do you have a ritual when it comes to preparing for a role, or does your approach change depending on the project?
I actually try to do something different with every film or project, I should say. I’ve tried different approaches before where I’ve been very, very well prepared. But then there’s been other times where a director has said to me, “Actually, I prefer for you to go into this less prepared and more natural.”
So sometimes it’s kind of having that initial discussion with a director that can dictate how they want things to play out and kind of respecting that.
But I generally, as a rule of thumb, kind of walk around my house just going over my lines and drilling them, because I think the last thing you want on set is doubt sometimes. And I think just at least knowing that you’ve done your homework is the best thing that you can do.
Years ago, you spoke about wanting the freedom to do “whatever”, whether that was something like Batman, Scarface or even a Superbad remake. Now you’ve gone from something as dark and complex as Bodies to a Bollywood dance comedy with Best of the Best. Does it feel like you’re starting to have that freedom you imagined earlier in your career?
I think so. Things are getting better for South Asians as a whole. In fact, I think it’s probably the best it’s ever been in the industry at the moment.That’s not to say we haven’t still got places to go, or steps that can make things better overall, but the kind of roles I was previously looked at for are starting to change, and the opportunities out there for people who look like me are definitely getting a whole lot better.
At the same time, I’m also trying to branch into producing some of my own work in order to give myself the roles that casting directors or producers may not see me in yet you kind of have to do that in order to show that you can do it. It’s one of those weird things. It’s almost like work experience, where you’re trying to get a job and they say, “Well, we need people with work experience.” And you’re thinking, “Well, how do I get that in the first place?”
There are so many things that can dictate what gets you into a room, and I’ve always wanted to get into as many rooms as I can. So I’m trying to take a more proactive approach in giving myself the opportunities that other people might not want to give me just yet, to prove to them and also to myself that I can do things.
You were making your own films with your cousins long before acting became your career. Now that you've spent years on professional sets and acting, do you see yourself going back to that side of yourself either through writing, producing or directing something of your own one day?
Without giving too much away, it’s similar to what I want to do as an actor anyway. I have ideas for many different types of projects. The one that I’m probably closest to getting made is a heartfelt comedy-drama, but I don’t want to jinx anything just yet. We’ve still got a long way to go with that.
There’s no limit to the kind of projects I’d want to make, or anything too specific. I’ve always been geared towards variety and having an appreciation for lots of different genres and projects.
Can you talk us through Arjun and the role he plays in Best of the Best?
Arjun is a sophomore at the college. He’s a bit of a history nerd, actually, and he’s got a knack for craftsmanship, which I definitely do not. I mean, look at these dainty little hands. He’s someone who’s suffered a bit of bullying in the past. It’s sort of hinted at, but he’s come through the other side of that and is now very self-assured in who he is.
He has a relationship with Maya in the film that I think is really quite nice because they knew each other previously, and they’re almost rediscovering each other. He helps guide Maya through something similar to what he experienced in the past. She’s being mocked online, and he helps her become more reassured in who she is and her ability as a dancer.
It’s quite a beautiful dynamic that they have, but a lot of it also revolves around banter and having fun with each other. Maitreyi is honestly an amazing person, and our dynamic is very much like that in real life anyway, so it felt quite natural to lean into that.
Arjun was instantly one of my favourite characters. If you could steal one thing from him, whether it’s an outfit, a skill or even a personality trait, what would it be? And are you someone who likes taking little things home from the set?
Honestly, I would love to be able to make the kind of things he makes. If I could figure out how to make a doli carriage like that or a Chandigarh chair, I would be a happy man because I can barely assemble IKEA furniture. So that would instantly be a skill I’d take from Arjun.
And maybe that Carhartt jacket as well. I should have taken that off set. That was a nice jacket.
I’ve got a question I’ve been dying to ask! Do you usually get to take things home from the set?
Sometimes. Costume designers are normally very nice and they’ll try and swing something your way, or there might be a costume sale that gives you the opportunity to grab something at the end.
This time around, I didn’t because there are lots of factors on any project where they might need to hold on to things in case there’s a reshoot or X, Y and Z. But I do try and take little trinkets from every job, 100%.
I loved the competitiveness and humour of the film, but especially how naturally Arjun and Maya’s chemistry develops. I was seriously rooting for them! Did you and Maitreyi click straight away, or was that dynamic something that grew as you filmed?
I think we kind of hit the ground running, in all honesty. What was nice about Arjun’s role was that pretty much all of his scenes are with Maya, and they were spread out across a few days. So we had a lot of time in between filming, and on some projects you’re staying in the same accommodation building, so we had plenty of time to just hang out and get to know each other. I think that dynamic naturally grows as you get to know someone, but I remember the first time we met, it felt like I’d known her for ages. It was very comfortable, and we had a great time.
We’ve talked a lot about Chaneil the actor, but we’d like to know Chaneil when you’re completely away from a set. What does a normal day look like when you’re not working?
A normal day when I’m not working? So most days of the year, I should clarify haha. But I’m big on exercise, so I’ll always try to work out at the gym every day if I can, or play some kind of sport with my friends. I’ve also become that unemployed friend on a Tuesday who people ask, “Do you want to come on this holiday or X holiday?” So I do like travelling around quite a lot as well. But when I’m at home, I’m very low-key, to be honest. I’ll go to the gym, come back home, cook some food, and watch a film or some TV with my mum.
Padel is also something I picked up recently. I’ve been playing a lot, so most days you might find me down at the padel court.
What would be a dream role for you to play right now? Is there a character or type of role you’ve watched before and thought, “I would love to do something like that?
There are too many, honestly. But I would love to get back into leading roles again. I really enjoyed my time on Accused and just being at the helm of a story. I’d love to do that again.
So maybe not any particular role, but a leading role would be great.
You’ve spoken about searching up “how to become an actor” when you were only 13 and then actually reaching out to agents yourself. Was anyone else around you working in creative fields at the time?
No, I don’t think anyone was really doing anything creative in that sense. Funny enough, since becoming an actor, a lot of my younger cousins have gone into more creative fields now, which is great. But before that, a lot of my family weren’t, they weren’t really dabbling into creative fields.
Where did that confidence and ambition come from at such a young age, especially when acting wasn’t an obvious career path in your family?
A lot of it came from just enjoying acting, doing it at school and being told, alongside that self-realisation, that I did have a bit of a knack for it. Growing up, I always knew I had to do something I enjoyed. I don’t think I could ever really see myself doing a job that I hated or disliked. So growing up, I was a bit like, I don’t think I have a different option or something else that I can see myself doing, and apparently I’m quite good at this thing, so why don’t I just give it a shot? It was that idea of, someone has to do it.
I also don’t really want to live with too many regrets in my life. I knew back then that if I never tried it, I’d be kicking myself. So there was a bit of desperation, in all honesty, to want to get in there. Growing up watching shows on Disney Channel and seeing people my age on TV also led me wishing towards doing it myself.
There was probably a mixture of that naivety and confidence again, of just having no idea what I was doing. I was emailing people at BAFTA and Disney just being like, “Oh, can I have an audition?” It’s so ridiculous looking back, but I’d say it was a mixture of all those things.
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