Growing up next to a cinema theatre fuelled the acting craze in me: Harshil Koushik

Growing up next to the Navrang theatre in Rajajinagar, actor Harshil Koushik saw how day after day, people from came to theatres to celebrate actors and filmmaking . He would glance at the theatre every time he stepped out and silently make a note of what worked and what didn’t. That’s when he decided to pursue acting. But, it was not easy to convince his mom, who insisted he finish his studies. “In fact, acting was the only thing I was sure about in my whole life,” shares Harshil, who waited for a decade, doing small roles, for his big break, which came with Achaar & Co.
‘THEATRE HELPS YOU GET RID OF YOUR EGO’
My PU friend introduced me to Rangasiri theatre group. Though I did not have any experience, for my first play, I got a role in one, in 2011. Later, I had this amazing opportunity to work with Prakash Belavadi and become part of plays like Avasthe. I am not a professionally trained actor, my acting skills come from my theatre stint. One thing you learn when doing theatre is, no one cares if you are a lead or a backstage worker, we all sweep the floor, arrange chairs and do chores. It balances you out, and doesn’t let the ego get to you. It teaches you the importance of practice. Theatre helps you develop as an individual and not just as an actor.
‘OUR INDUSTRY HAS A GOOD MIX OF INSIDERS & OUTSIDERS’
Our industry has a good mix of insiders and outsiders. Simple Suni was one of my biggest support systems. He is also an outsider. I made my debut with his film Chamak in an uncredited role, and then he again cast me in Operation Alamelamma and Bazaar. I had a good role in Nathicharami, but people started recognising me only after Achar & Co. My next film, Anamadheya Ashok Kumar is a crime investigation thriller, where I am playing a cop and Kishore, a journalist.Instead of being a hero, I have tried to give a humane approach to the character
‘NEW FILMS’ REACH IS BETTER BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, OTT’
Post COVID, we have reached new heights as an industry. But I think the new wave of films and filmmakers was always there. In every era, new filmmakers emerged and were making films. But now, because of social media and OTT, the awareness is better. Earlier, people would not even get to know about small films, and it would end up in film festivals. But as an industry we still have a long way to go. I know comparison with other industries is wrong, but it can push our art and help us get better.