I don't think I 'dreamt' of being an actor, but I've been drawn to the craft since very early on. I started doing plays in school and took up theatre seriously during my university days.
Tell us about your background and journey.
I am from Gurgaon, and I went to college at Delhi University. I post-graduated in Filmmaking from XIC, Mumbai and ever since then, I've been working in Direction, Writing, and Acting.
Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?
I don't think I 'dreamt' of being an actor, but I've been drawn to the craft since very early on. I started doing plays in school and took up theatre seriously during my university days. In fact, I believe my time at DU has shaped me into the person I am.
I am from Gurgaon, and I went to college at Delhi University. I post-graduated in Filmmaking from XIC, Mumbai and ever since then, I've been working in Direction, Writing, and Acting.
Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?
I don't think I 'dreamt' of being an actor, but I've been drawn to the craft since very early on. I started doing plays in school and took up theatre seriously during my university days. In fact, I believe my time at DU has shaped me into the person I am.
It has been a very natural progression from wanting to act to get to act. But the 'dream of being an actor always felt like an optimism far removed from my reality, so I never dared to say that to myself.
How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?
I think being organic is the one approach that's most important, for anything. If one is organically drawn towards the performing arts, they eventually will find their niche and slowly grow into it. One thing that I didn't have in my early years, was the confidence to walk up to people who I'd have liked to work with and tell them that I'm an actor looking for work. I wish I did.
How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?
I think being organic is the one approach that's most important, for anything. If one is organically drawn towards the performing arts, they eventually will find their niche and slowly grow into it. One thing that I didn't have in my early years, was the confidence to walk up to people who I'd have liked to work with and tell them that I'm an actor looking for work. I wish I did.
But just knowing what you like to do, and why you like it is the most important aspect of choosing a career in the arts. Apart from that, letting go of any inhibitions about self-image, how I look, how others are judging my actions - is a very important factor in gaining belief in yourself as an actor.
Which of your film or web shows in contrast to theatre vs ott marked a turning point in your life?
I haven't felt a big turning point happen in my professional life yet, but yes, the experience of working on the film Gold was quite something, because it was my first time on a big Bollywood set as an actor, among a lot of industry seniors. It was a great learning experience, and the entire process of shooting a period sports movie was a lot of fun.
Which of your film or web shows in contrast to theatre vs ott marked a turning point in your life?
I haven't felt a big turning point happen in my professional life yet, but yes, the experience of working on the film Gold was quite something, because it was my first time on a big Bollywood set as an actor, among a lot of industry seniors. It was a great learning experience, and the entire process of shooting a period sports movie was a lot of fun.
In the OTT space, a few of my works were released during peak lockdown, and I was lucky enough to be noticed for my characters in Asur, Aarya etc. In Aarya, I only had a one-scene role in the first season, but unexpected to me even, that scene managed to make a mark. That was an extremely validating feeling.
For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?
My advice would be to stop thinking in those terms - stop playing their game. As outsiders, our race is with other outsiders. Those with connections on the inside are probably running a different race altogether, and if by running it, they're reaching somewhere faster, so be it. We'll reach there slow but steady.
My honest advice for newcomers wanting to find inroads is that we need to keep doing the work - keep practicing, keep gathering new skills via workshop, keep getting to know ourselves and our thoughts about life via reading a lot of literature. And whatever opportunity we get to display our craft, deliver a performance, give it our best. It'll get noticed, and will fetch you more work. Trusting that process is important.
Looking back at my own journey, that is how I've always gotten work - I did a corporate film, the production manager referred me for a fiction show, the actress who I met on the show referred me to a casting director, who tested me for a few projects, one of those worked out, and I started getting a few more casting calls.
What are your other interests?
Apart from acting, I'm also engaged in professional writing work. I created and developed the show 'Jamtara - Sabka Number Aayega' which is on Netflix. I hope to write and direct some of my original writing in the near future.
Beyond that, I'm mostly found either reading or travelling. I tend to travel to the deepest parts of the places I visit, living with the locals and experiencing their lives for as much as I can as an outsider. I've been reading a lot since the last few years, and switch between fiction and non-fiction reading all the time - history, politics and the 'games people play' being my favourite subjects.
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?
My advice would be to stop thinking in those terms - stop playing their game. As outsiders, our race is with other outsiders. Those with connections on the inside are probably running a different race altogether, and if by running it, they're reaching somewhere faster, so be it. We'll reach there slow but steady.
My honest advice for newcomers wanting to find inroads is that we need to keep doing the work - keep practicing, keep gathering new skills via workshop, keep getting to know ourselves and our thoughts about life via reading a lot of literature. And whatever opportunity we get to display our craft, deliver a performance, give it our best. It'll get noticed, and will fetch you more work. Trusting that process is important.
Looking back at my own journey, that is how I've always gotten work - I did a corporate film, the production manager referred me for a fiction show, the actress who I met on the show referred me to a casting director, who tested me for a few projects, one of those worked out, and I started getting a few more casting calls.
What are your other interests?
Apart from acting, I'm also engaged in professional writing work. I created and developed the show 'Jamtara - Sabka Number Aayega' which is on Netflix. I hope to write and direct some of my original writing in the near future.
Beyond that, I'm mostly found either reading or travelling. I tend to travel to the deepest parts of the places I visit, living with the locals and experiencing their lives for as much as I can as an outsider. I've been reading a lot since the last few years, and switch between fiction and non-fiction reading all the time - history, politics and the 'games people play' being my favourite subjects.
Connect with him on LinkedIn
Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
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