Rick Roy has spent more than a decades in the industry and is the brains behind styling celebrities like Malaika Arora, Vidya Balan, Sonam Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi, Sonakshi Sinha and others. Having worked as a costume designer for many popular Hit films like Desi Boyz, Housefull 2, Tumhari Sulu, Gabbar is Back, Shiddat, and more Rick now makes his Grand Acting debut in the upcoming series Dil Dosti Dilemma on Amazon.
Last year, the second season of Made in Heaven2 starred transgender actor Trinetra Haldar in a pivotal role, making a strong case for diversity on screen in terms of the cast. Queer designer Rick recalls how the acting break happened over a styling discussion meeting.
Initially roped in as a stylist on the Anushka Sen and Tanvi Azmi-starrer, Roy remembers walking into the pre-production meeting to discuss the show’s visual palette. “I had gone to the meeting dressed to the nines. It started as an idea that I should be cast for the role of a big, [eccentric] designer in the show. Everyone said I would be perfect for the part,” he recalls.
Post which he soon received a call from the Executive producer. “She said they wanted to cast me. The director [Debbie Rao] gave me the confidence to do it. This show is close to my heart for many reasons, the most important being that it’s a joy to work with good people. As a stylist, I see that the show has been size-inclusive and doesn’t fall for stereotypes.” The acting break also taught him a few things. “I realised that being an actor requires a lot of patience. But the perks are that you get paid well and sit in a lovely vanity van. As an actor, you get taken care of far better than the technicians. We are not equal on set, and I realised that in the four-day acting gig
Further talking about his maiden acting gig, Rick says, “Everything that I am is what the role had. I had six pages of scenes which I had a lot of fun while shooting. If I ever pursue acting again, the only inspiration for me will be Bebo [Kareena Kapoor Khan]. She is great fun, a superstar who keeps it real which I really respect about her”