Ishaan Khatter, the Bollywood star who made his U.S. debut in Netflix's "The Perfect Couple," has been sharing his experiences working alongside Hollywood icon Nicole Kidman and the lessons he learned during the shoot. The series, a murder mystery based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel of the same name, premiered on September 5 and quickly climbed to the No. 1 spot on Netflix.
Khatter plays Shooter Dival, the groom's childhood friend and best man. He recalls his "awe-inspiring first meeting" with Kidman, who plays Greer Garrison Winbury, the mother of the groom. Despite Kidman's star status, Khatter found her to be "as normal as any other actor on set," which helped create a comfortable and collaborative environment. He told PEOPLE that working with the cast was enjoyable, and he found everyone to be professional, generous, and kind.
In an interview, Khatter expressed his admiration for Kidman, calling her an "icon". He enjoyed working with her, particularly "playing off of" her "hypnotizing eyes". Khatter also shared that they connected and chatted about interesting topics outside of the show's narrative.
The actor also shared insights into the filming process, which took place over four months in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Despite being away from his usual support system, Khatter embraced the experience, even doing his own cooking and grocery shopping. He said that film sets feel like home to him, and he felt comfortable even without his own staff. The cast spent their downtime whale watching, wine tasting, and exploring the local area. Khatter joked that he became as familiar with the geography of Cape Cod as a local.
Khatter recalled an injury he was dealing with during the shoot – a labral tear in his hip joint that made it difficult to walk. Despite the pain, he persevered, and viewers were none the wiser.
Director Susanne Bier's vision was a guiding force for Khatter, who said he relied on her direction rather than strictly adhering to the novel. The director also made the decision to cast Khatter as Shooter Dival, despite the character being white in the original book. Khatter appreciated Bier's inclusive approach.
Beyond "The Perfect Couple," Ishaan Khatter has another project with Netflix in the works, titled "The Royals," where he will play Prince Charming. He also harbors dreams of working with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino.
