Kumud Mishra He has already carved a niche for himself in theatre, films and OTT platforms, but the actor continues to explore new creative avenues. Debuting in Gujarati cinema from bartendersHe gave a brief but impressive performance, confirming his belief that “Agar script Is it good, So medium Then Language doesn’t matter” Kumud, who was in Vadodara for the play smokingTalks about theater, carefully selecting scripts, and much more.‘Theatre still values stories and craft over numbers’Kumud believes that the priorities of both creators and audiences have changed. He says, “Today, every art is judged by the number of people who see it. A few years ago, after watching a film, the conversation revolved around cinema itself – was the film good, how was the story, the making, the production, etc. But now the discussion is only about how much it will earn or how it will perform at the box office, all in crores. Unfortunately, even today the audience focuses more on discussing everything related to the work rather than the craft, which is sad.He adds, “However, there is still that unique space in theater where the discussions about style, story, challenges and creative process keep it exciting for me. Of course, there are economic considerations, but our focus remains on making plays that audiences really enjoy and are also creatively satisfying for us. I also enjoy the fact that new directors and actors keep joining the group.”‘You can fail in theater without fear’Today, working extensively on OTT platforms and films, Kumud is deeply involved in theatre. “I never left theatre, nor did I feel like leaving it,” he says. If you feel like you’re holding on to something, it stops working—but theater was never like that for me. It is a necessity in my life. This was long before films, OTT or any such ambitions entered my mind. Theater has given me everything I have as an actor today, and it still gives me the freedom to experiment fearlessly. You can fail in theater without fear. The focus is on experimenting with the content, not the money associated with it.”‘I read the script in one go before saying yes’When asked how he chooses projects, he said, “The truth is I have a lot of work Proposal doesn’t happen. whatever happens, out of that I choose. When I read a script, I finish it in one go and can clearly see that world spinning before my eyes. Even if it’s a script for a web show, say 300-400 pages, I’ll still read the entire thing. People may find it amusing, but I see it as part of my job. There may be other reasons as well, such as a desire to collaborate with a particular filmmaker, but the script remains the most important factor.Talking about adopting the characters, Kumud says, “I don’t just portray the characters that are given to me – I become them. Be it a billionaire or a policeman, to me they are all real people. I don’t imitate them; I step into their lives. What really makes a character stand out is their place within the story and the way they react to the situations around them. I have always believed that an actor should play the role. So, I have undergone a physical transformation for my character. Asi. I needed to look lean for this role. In theatre, this is not a big issue because there you 40 despite being a bastard 17 brother-in-law’s son Character can doAnd vice versa. But in films you cannot deceive the audience, so casting becomes extremely important.‘Hoping to do more Gujarati films’talking about bartendersHe shares, “Abhishek (director) is a dear friend, and I loved the scripts too. Some scripts are so good that you just want to be associated with them in some way. I also enjoyed the way this industry works. It felt like I was part of a family. Everyone worked with a lot of focus and dedication, which was heart-touching. Also, while we have always seen (Devan) Bhojani doing comedy, seeing him play such an intense character was quite an experience.” Was. We talked a lot and had a lot of fun.”He says, “I wish I had the opportunity to learn and speak more Gujarati, because as artistes, we always feel the need to completely understand a language and its nuances. I hope people will appreciate my work and I will get more opportunities to work in Gujarati films.”‘Barodians are warm and welcoming’Talking about Vadodara, he says, “My experience in Gujarat has always been wonderful. I have visited Ahmedabad many times, and we also perform regularly in Vadodara. This time in Vadodara, it was a unique experience because we were performing in a new venue, for an audience that was completely new to us. Vadodara has long been known as a vibrant and thriving center for the arts. I first visited the city several years ago. Visited when my brother was working there. He liked the city so much that he eventually bought a house there, which later became my base. “The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, making you immediately feel at home, as if you’ve known them forever.”
