Invest in learning the art and craft of acting, just like you would if you were a dancer or singer, or engineer. Join up for a course in a film or drama school.
Believe in yourself, keep working even when you’re waiting for work - just pick up a play or poem and read it aloud for practice, set up your phone on a tripod and shoot yourself doing a scene, get a friend over to help with an audition, reach out to casting directors, watch a play and go and meet the team after the show, do backstage in a play or join up as an assistant on a film.
Tell us about your background and journey.
I was born in Guntakal, Andhra Pradesh. My father was a surgeon with the Railways. My mother is a homemaker. I did most of my schooling from St. Anselm’s School in Ajmer (Rajasthan). I have fond memories of participating in school plays and of playing Cricket under the hot sun. I then got admission to St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and did my BA in Economics and Statistics, while doing plays in college and at inter-collegiate festivals and watching plays at the Prithvi Theatre and the NCPA.
I got to watch some of the greatest actors in India perform live at a formative stage and it was exhilarating. In my second year of college, I did a theatre workshop with the great director and teacher, Satyadev Dubey, and that was a real eye-opener. It made me realize this was what I wanted to do in life – be an actor. I got an opportunity to perform at the prestigious Prithvi Theatre while I was still in college.
Things happened to me one after the other – I did plays with Sunil Shanbag and Naseeruddin Shah, formed a long association with playwright and director Ramu Ramanathan, started directing and producing plays, acted in TV, feature and ad films, did theatre for and with children and schools, did corporate gigs...and now I am having a fresh inning as an actor in the webspace and cinema.
Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?
I loved doing plays when I was in school, and eagerly waited for Fridays to watch the latest film release, but back then if someone in Ajmer said they wanted to be an actor, people would think you were a fool, or mad, or both. So no, it wasn’t a conscious choice initially. Since I was reasonably good at academics, I did the usual courses in school and college that would hopefully set me up for a steady conventional career. It was only when I started doing theatre and television regularly in Bombay that being an actor became a career choice.
I loved doing plays when I was in school, and eagerly waited for Fridays to watch the latest film release, but back then if someone in Ajmer said they wanted to be an actor, people would think you were a fool, or mad, or both. So no, it wasn’t a conscious choice initially. Since I was reasonably good at academics, I did the usual courses in school and college that would hopefully set me up for a steady conventional career. It was only when I started doing theatre and television regularly in Bombay that being an actor became a career choice.
How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?
I can only talk of myself since every actor’s journey is unique. I’ve tried to approach it as a formal discipline, just like singing or dancing. Working on myself, seeking out new influences and inputs, trying to become better at what I do, signing up for workshops and courses, watching plays and films, and trying to learn from great actors. Confidence and belief for me has come from keeping busy. Slowly I began to get noticed and got opportunities to work with some great directors, actors, and teams. I also met some wonderful people along the way.
I can only talk of myself since every actor’s journey is unique. I’ve tried to approach it as a formal discipline, just like singing or dancing. Working on myself, seeking out new influences and inputs, trying to become better at what I do, signing up for workshops and courses, watching plays and films, and trying to learn from great actors. Confidence and belief for me has come from keeping busy. Slowly I began to get noticed and got opportunities to work with some great directors, actors, and teams. I also met some wonderful people along the way.
Which of your film or web shows in contrast to theatre vs OTT marked a turning point in your life?
My first role in a web series was of the boss, Rajat Khanna in the iconic TVF PITCHERS (the year 2015). The Viral Fever were the pioneers in the OTT space at that time and nobody ever imagined the series would be such a huge hit. It was the first time a new, much younger audience emerged in India, which watched content on their cellphones and laptops and it felt great to be recognized by young people on the street. The OTT boom soon followed and I have been working steadily, having done HOME (AltBalaji) and HIGH (MXPlayer), among others. And then came the huge hit, SCAM 1992 (Sony LIV). My character of Sitaraman was very well-received and it was an absolutely wonderful experience to work with such a fantastic director like Hansal Mehta. It was a rare combination of excellence in every department – writing, casting, acting, editing, music, cinematography, costume, and set design, you name it. It is very gratifying when you are a part of something legendary, something that people will watch again and again, years from now. Currently, I’m shooting for some very interesting and varied roles in the webspace and cinema, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
Where theatre is concerned, I have been performing my solo play, MAHADEVBHAI (written and directed by Ramu Ramanathan) for close to twenty years now and have done more than 350 performances of it. I look forward to getting back on stage, so fingers crossed for everyone everywhere to get back to work, given the challenges we are facing with respect to the pandemic.
My first role in a web series was of the boss, Rajat Khanna in the iconic TVF PITCHERS (the year 2015). The Viral Fever were the pioneers in the OTT space at that time and nobody ever imagined the series would be such a huge hit. It was the first time a new, much younger audience emerged in India, which watched content on their cellphones and laptops and it felt great to be recognized by young people on the street. The OTT boom soon followed and I have been working steadily, having done HOME (AltBalaji) and HIGH (MXPlayer), among others. And then came the huge hit, SCAM 1992 (Sony LIV). My character of Sitaraman was very well-received and it was an absolutely wonderful experience to work with such a fantastic director like Hansal Mehta. It was a rare combination of excellence in every department – writing, casting, acting, editing, music, cinematography, costume, and set design, you name it. It is very gratifying when you are a part of something legendary, something that people will watch again and again, years from now. Currently, I’m shooting for some very interesting and varied roles in the webspace and cinema, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
Where theatre is concerned, I have been performing my solo play, MAHADEVBHAI (written and directed by Ramu Ramanathan) for close to twenty years now and have done more than 350 performances of it. I look forward to getting back on stage, so fingers crossed for everyone everywhere to get back to work, given the challenges we are facing with respect to the pandemic.
For a complete outsider, what advice would you like to give?
Invest in learning the art and craft of acting, just like you would if you were a dancer or singer, or engineer. Join up for a course in a film or drama school. Believe in yourself, keep working even when you’re waiting for work - just pick up a play or poem and read it aloud for practice, set up your phone on a tripod and shoot yourself doing a scene, get a friend over to help with an audition, reach out to casting directors, watch a play and go and meet the team after the show, do backstage in a play or join up as an assistant on a film.
Invest in learning the art and craft of acting, just like you would if you were a dancer or singer, or engineer. Join up for a course in a film or drama school. Believe in yourself, keep working even when you’re waiting for work - just pick up a play or poem and read it aloud for practice, set up your phone on a tripod and shoot yourself doing a scene, get a friend over to help with an audition, reach out to casting directors, watch a play and go and meet the team after the show, do backstage in a play or join up as an assistant on a film.
Get a team of fellow enthusiasts and make a short film or do a play. Keep working so that you’re ready when that great opportunity comes your way. Be open to new people and experiences, make friends. Try your best to be patient – there’s a lot of waiting involved in being an actor. And take care of your body – it is an actor’s only instrument.
What are your other interests?
I’m really interested in exploring spoken poetry/spoken word and stand-up, as a performer. Also, podcasts and voiceovers fascinate me – I’ve done some very interesting work but am craving for more. I’m a big food-lover and I’d love to do a travel and food show - exploring new food when you travel is such a direct way of connecting with different cultures. I love Nature and wildlife. I have a map ready of National Parks in India and hope to hit the road soon.
I’m really interested in exploring spoken poetry/spoken word and stand-up, as a performer. Also, podcasts and voiceovers fascinate me – I’ve done some very interesting work but am craving for more. I’m a big food-lover and I’d love to do a travel and food show - exploring new food when you travel is such a direct way of connecting with different cultures. I love Nature and wildlife. I have a map ready of National Parks in India and hope to hit the road soon.
Maybe be a part of a wildlife documentary in whichever capacity, who knows. I am currently working on a compilation of plays that I have written for children, which should be published soon. Ditto for a compilation of short stories. And I love Cricket – watching and playing.
Find him on LinkedIn
Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
Find him on LinkedIn
Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra
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