On stage, we are actors and not father and son: Puneet and Siddhant Issar

TV’s original Duryodhan, actor Puneet Issar, is happy to be a part of the play Jai Shri Ram — Ramayan, which also features his son Siddhant Issar. The senior Issar essays the role of Raavan, while his son plays Ram. Incidentally, they have written the play together, and Siddhant has directed it. In a chat, the duo talks about working together and the rapport they share.

Puneet says, “Working with Siddhant wasn’t tough because he is professional and on stage, we never had the father-son equation. He has learnt a few things from me, but he also adds a lot of modern thought to the play and his performance. As a father, I feel proud.”

Siddhant, on the other hand, admits that he has learnt a lot about acting and dialogue delivery from his father, who has also trained him in Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit. He says, “My father does not behave like a senior actor on the set. He lets me take the lead and is open to suggestions.”

Siddhant also shares his struggles and how it has not been easy for him to get into acting. He says, “As an actor’s son, you do get offers, but not really the ones you want to take up. People always had a preconceived idea about me when they offered me roles. I am very different from my father, both physically and mentally. I never felt I would fit into the kind of roles my dad has done. My dad is also a self-made man, and he got work on his merit and I also believe that I have to chart my own path. I am glad that I am doing theatre because it is teaching me a lot about the craft.” Puneet adds, “Siddhant has a great physique and voice. Comparisons are inevitable when we work together, but we bring our own strength to the characters we play."

The father-son have played Raavan and Ram at the Ram Leela in Delhi in October. Puneet says, “Acting on stage is magical because the audience lives the entire play with us. I hope that people will bestow me with the same kind of love that they did when I played Duryodhan in Mahabharat on television.”