To be a part of the nine-day celebration of multiple art forms, Team IWB visited the ongoing Navras Theater Festival in Jaipur. While juggling between the plays and rushing from one auditorium to the other, I spotted esteemed theater artists, Kumud Mishra and Sheeba Chadha.

Having seen his brilliant performances in Rockstar, Airlift, Sultan and many others, I initiated a chat with Kumud Mishra.

Here’s what we discussed:

Indian Women Blog: Your roles and contribution in most of the films have been immensely appreciated and remembe  red. In your opinion, what is one privilege a supporting actor has that the leading actor does not?

Kumud Mishra: The best part is that there are very few lines. I enjoy the most when I have very few lines to enact. Mai aalsi aadmi hut oh muje toh bohot acha lagta hai jitna kam se kam kaam ho. I want to perform less and get praised more. Also, when you have a ten-minute screen presence, fail hone ka chance utna hi kam ho jata hai aur logo ka dhyaan bhi kam jata hai aap par.

Indian Women Blog: Recently, Trinamool Congress MP, Arpita Ghosh has raised concern about the dismal pay the artists get. Talking about theater, what do you think can bring money to this form?

Kumud Mishra: I know I might sound politically incorrect, but I am not much concerned about money in theater. Whatever work you do comes with its own norms. So when you are doing theater you know the limited amount you will receive, and so you build your life accordingly. There was a time when there were not many television channels and other creative verticals, but still, people survived happily doing theater. So, ultimately it depends on your expectations from life that makes it problematic. Moreover, I feel if the government wants to support artists in our country, their support should not be bound by conditions, for example, if the grant is Rs6000, then an artist is supposed to work for 9 hours! This is wrong.

Indian Women Blog: In one of the news articles I read you saying that you were terrible at giving interviews. 

Kumud Mishra: Honestly, woh bolte hue bhi embarrassment hoti hai ab. A few years back I had the tendency of saying the opposite of everything I was being asked. Har question ka mai ulta jawaab deta tha. Kisi ne pucha rehearsals ke bare me mai samoso ki baat karta tha. Once a reporter asked me why I didn’t move to the cinema since I had been doing theater for years now?

In a comic mood, I replied, “Kyuki mai Aamir Khan se bhi zaada choosy hu.” Later I even said, “Koi kaam hi ni deta toh mai kya karu.” That was when that national daily made it a headline. I felt so bad because that statement shouted arrogance and I had no intention of that sort. I immediately called the reporter and asked why did you write that?

To which she replied, “This is how it sells.” Since then I have decided to be careful and try hard to say the right things though I still end up embarrassing myself.

Indian Women Blog: What is the dream character you would like to play?

Kumud Mishra: Recently I have played the character of Charlie Chaplin’s impersonator in Ram Singh Charlie directed by Nitin Kakkar. That was quite a remarkable character, but at the same time as an actor, you always want to grow.