Today, people discuss box office more than cinema: Kumud Mishra

Kumud Mishra has already carved a niche for himself across theatre, films, and OTT platforms, but the actor continues to explore new creative avenues. Making his Gujarati cinema debut with Dhabkaaro, he delivered a brief yet impactful performance, reaffirming his belief that “agar script achchi hai, toh medium ya language se koi farak nahi padta.” Kumud, who was in Vadodara for the play Dhumrapaan, talks about theatre, choosing scripts carefully, and more.‘Theatre still values stories and craft over numbers’Kumud believes the priorities of both creators and audiences have shifted. He says, “Today, every art form is judged by the number of people watching it. A few years ago, after watching a film, conversations revolved around cinema itself — whether the film was good, how the story was, the making, the production, and so on. But now, the discussion is only about how much money it will make or how it will perform at the box office, all in terms of crores. Unfortunately, even audiences today seem more focused on discussing everything around the work rather than the craft itself, which is sad.”He adds, “However, theatre still has that unique space where discussions around the genre, the story, the challenges, and the creative process keep it exciting for me. Of course, there are economic considerations too, but our focus remains on creating plays that audiences genuinely enjoy while also being creatively fulfilling for us. I also enjoy the fact that new directors and actors continue to join the group.”‘Theatre mein aap bina ghabraye fail ho sakte hain’Working extensively across OTT platforms and films today, Kumud has continued to remain deeply rooted in theatre. He says, “I never left theatre, nor did I ever feel like leaving it. If you feel like you are holding on to something, it stops working—but theatre was never like that for me. It is a necessity in my life. It was there long before films, OTT, or any such ambitions even crossed my mind. Theatre has given me everything I have today as an actor, and it still offers me the freedom to experiment fearlessly. Theatre mein aap bina ghabraye fail ho sakte hain. The focus is on experimenting with the content, not on the money attached to it.”‘I read scripts in one sitting before saying yes’Asked about how he chooses projects, he says, “The truth is that mujhe bohot saara kaam offer hota nahi hai. Jo kuch hota hai, uss mein se I select. When I read a script, I finish it in one sitting and can clearly visualise that world unfolding before my eyes. Even if it’s a script for a web show, say, 300–400 pages, I will still read the entire thing. People may find it amusing, but I see it as part of my job. There can be other reasons as well, such as the desire to collaborate with a particular filmmaker, but the script remains the most important factor.”Talking about adapting to characters, Kumud says, “I don’t merely portray the characters I’m given—I become them. Whether it’s a billionaire or a policeman, they are all real people to me. I don’t imitate them; I step into their lives. What truly makes a character stand out is their place within the story and the way they respond to the situations around them. I have always believed that an actor should look the part. So, I underwent a physical transformation for my character in Assi. The role required me to appear leaner. In theatre, that is not much of an issue because wahan aap 40 saal ke hoke bhi 17 saal ke ladke ka character kar sakte ho, and vice versa. But in films, you cannot betray the audience, which is why casting becomes extremely important.”‘Hope to do more Gujarati films’Talking about Dhabkaaro, he shares, “Abhishek (director) is a dear friend, and I also loved the script. Some scripts are so good that you simply want to be associated with them in any way possible. I also enjoyed the way this industry functions. It felt like being part of a family. Everyone worked with a lot of focus and dedication, which was touching. Also, while we have always seen (Devan) Bhojani doing comedy, seeing him playing such an intense character was quite an experience. We interacted a lot and had great fun.”He adds, “I wish I had the opportunity to learn and speak more Gujarati, because as artistes, we always feel the need to fully understand a language and its nuances. I hope people appreciate my work and I 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’ve visited Ahmedabad several times, and we also perform regularly in Vadodara. This time in Vadodara, it was a unique experience because we were performing at a new venue, for an audience that was entirely new to us. Vadodara has long been known as a vibrant and thriving centre for the arts. I first visited the city many years ago when my brother was working there. He loved the city so much that he eventually bought a home there, which later became my base as well. The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, making you feel instantly at home, as though you’ve known them forever.”