A Bollywood dance drama
The beginning of 2016 was when I started thinking about taking the actor in me seriously, rather professionally. It was an uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing process to come up with a plan for what to do next. Around the same time, I was rehearsing for a bollywood dance drama called "Ajab Bollywood ki Gazab Kahaani". Produced by Pratidhwani, we presented 3 houseful shows in April. And mannn...this show! The response and applause I received during and after this show was humbling and encouraging at the same time. Friends who would rarely critique, spoke highly about my performance. I sensed recognition in the eyes and words of frenemies :P. A friend came to me after the show and said, "Nishant, there lives a ghost in you that wakes up only on stage!" Haha. I absorbed all the love in that moment and took all the praise, but with a grain of salt. And reminded myself, "Bachchu, you have a long way to go!"
Today in the midst of 2020, when there is very little scope to make progress in an acting career, where hopelessness is dominating the atmosphere, it becomes more important than ever, to recognize how far you have come. A constant thought that dwells on my mind is, "Am I really good at this? Or am I chasing a mirage?". Maybe, maybe not. But every time, I doubt the actor in me, I visit the wonderful memories of this show that gave me the confidence I needed, just at the right time. It was exciting, full of color and a fun Bollywood comedy show. I played a contemporary character inspired by on-reel Shah Rukh Khan . And even though I am not good at mimicking, there is something about the larger than life, ridiculously romantic characters played by SRK, over the years, that speak to me and somehow it all clicked during this show. Most of all, I got to live my Bollywood fantasy which I lived during every rehearsal and every show from my guts and I will live it again and again even if it has to be through revisiting these pictures! :)