#WorldTheatreDay: Theatre keeps an actor one step ahead of TV & film actors: Ojas Rawal

Ojas Rawal, who is currently on a tour of the US and Canada for his Gujarati play Aaje Rokda Ne Udhar Kale, is happy with the audience response. The Sir Sir Sarla actor, who has done TV shows and several Gujarati films, says, “The response has been terrific, and many people told us that they saw such a play after decades. Young children are coming to watch the play, which is their first experience of watching a Gujarati play. While there are Gujarati plays that have toured internationally, all of them have a specific genre.” On World Theatre Day, Ojas talks about how he makes sure to do plays regularly and shares some fun anecdotes. Excerpts:

‘Top actors in any industry have their roots in theatre’

It is imperative for actors to do theatre; it trains them to explore emotions and enact a scene with great depth. This medium keeps an actor one step ahead of television or film actors. As there are no retakes, one has to be prepared. The understanding of Navarasa, which you learn and explore while doing theatre, brings out the character’s emotions in depth. I believe a thespian has a longer shelf life and the top actors in any industry have their roots in theatre.

‘Theatre pays you less, but there are people who have built a career out of it’

The actor also shares some fun memories associated with theatre. He shares, “During a show of Sir Sir Sarla (also starring Pratik Gandhi), the chaiwala made an entry on the stage without realising that there was a show going on. We were just glad he entered from the kitchen (of our set) and not the bedroom (laughs). On another occasion, I made an exit from one side and rushed to the other side for my entry, only to fall backstage and I got entangled in some wires. After the scene, I saw that my white dhoti had become red with blood, but I continued to act.

He adds, “I have been doing theatre since my college days and I can’t stop doing plays. Even after I started taking up television and film projects, I didn’t stop doing plays and I would always tell the makers, ‘Show hoga toh jaana padega.’ I believe that in terms of craft and exploring yourself, you can learn the most while doing theatre, followed by films and then television. But in terms of pay, the order is reversed. Theatre pays you less, but there are people who have built a career out of it. You need to have determination for that.”