I am strongly against 15-second content: Dharmesh Vyas

Written By: Ancela Jamindar

At a time when fast-paced, bite-sized content dominates screens, veteran actor Dharmesh Vyas continues to stay deeply committed to the discipline of theatre. Renowned for his versatility across mediums, the actor, who will be seen in the upcoming D-Town film Gadbad Thai Gai Yaar, says, “When I started speaking, I was on stage because of my background. While my dad was an engineer, my mom, just like my late elder sister Alkaben, is a wonderful singer. My other sister, Hema Shukla, is a renowned Gujarati actress. Kala (art) flows through our veins.”

He adds, “I am still learning from the younger generation of actors nowadays. They are so focused, and the kind of beautiful work they deliver is truly admirable. The way the Gujarati industry is growing, I chose to come back here. This is my language, my place and my people.”

‘Got stereotyped to an extent on TV’
Vyas, who has done numerous D-Town films, including Vaanki Chuki Love Story and Sanghavi and Sons, shares, “I have portrayed a wide range of roles so far. I began my journey on stage as a hero, and even today, I am a star. When I got my first serial Hasratein, people started recognising me as a lovey-dovey husband. That stereotyped me to an extent and I started getting similar roles. So, I moved away from television for a while because of the monotony and returned to theatre.”

He adds, “After that, I was glad to take up a negative role. Then came the show Saarrthi, a contemporary adaptation of Mahabharat, where I played Shakuni. From there, I got opportunities to do different genres. I have had the opportunity to take on all the kinds of roles and genres I always wanted to explore.”

‘OTT content is becoming like TV serials’
Speaking about OTT platforms, he says, “There was a time when OTT was at its peak with a variety of genres, but now it’s beginning to resemble television serials. I was approached for OTT projects too, but I was occupied at that time. OTT shoots take up a lot of time, and you can’t really do anything else alongside them, which wasn’t feasible for me at that point.

Talking about true artistic satisfaction, he says, “After returning home from a 12-hour shoot, if my mind is free of thoughts about the work I did and I can simply sit in peace, that is the greatest artistic satisfaction for me. If I am unhappy with my work, my mind remains restless and I keep thinking about what I could have done better.”

‘I didn’t really have to struggle’

He says, "When I first started performing on stage, I never took it seriously. In school and college, I would participate for fun. Ironically, my father, who was initially against the idea of me becoming an actor, brought home the application form for the NSD (National School of Drama). After I got selected, I still refused to move to Delhi, so my mother suggested that I pursue dramatics in Vadodara. That is where my real journey as an actor began.”

He adds, “By then, I had started coming to Ahmedabad for Doordarshan work. Through my mother, I got acquainted with several actors and artists. Once people noticed my acting abilities, they were extremely encouraging. Many would ask about my future plans and push me to try my luck in Mumbai. So, immediately after my exams, I travelled to Mumbai by road — and fortunately, I landed work the very next day. In that sense, I didn't really have to struggle.”

‘Can’t understand the concept of two-minute episodes’

Vyas is “strongly against 15-second content.” He says, “Till now, I have been approached for more than 100 vertical dramas, which I have rejected. With my background in theatre, I just can’t wrap my head around creating content in a format where each episode lasts only two minutes, stretched across 15–20 episodes. I simply don’t understand the concept, and I don’t want to do it.”

He adds, “Sometimes, I have to do it as I am asked by production houses. But I don’t enjoy this trend.”


‘I started my career in Ahmedabad’

Talking about his “emotional bond” with Ahmedabad, Vyas says, “I started my career in Ahmedabad in the early ’80s. I used to perform plays here, and I still have such a strong audience in this city that even today, fans who come to watch my films ask me when I’ll return to theatre. Also, I love having pure desi Gujarati food here.”

He adds, “Thakorbhai Desai Hall holds a special place in my heart because my career began there. Whenever I am in Ahmedabad, I visit the auditorium, stand there, have chai, and simply soak in the aura. Theatre remains my first love. It is my passion and feels closest to my heart. I have worked a lot in all three mediums and seen the shift of theatre audiences towards good films and vice versa over the years. A theatre actor is so confident that he can slip into any role within a matter of seconds."