‘Digital platform gave me attention’
… SAYS ACTOR SUMEET VYAS, AS HE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS BOLLYWOOD PROJECT AND HIS ROLE IN THE SHORT FILM BORN FREE. HE ALSO OPENS UP ABOUT THE DIGITAL MEDIUM AND ITS CREATIVE FREEDOM, AMONG SEVERAL OTHER THINGS...
We best know him for his promising role in The Viral Fever’s (TVF) Permanent Roommates, where a sweet and charming Mikesh — played by none other than Sumeet Vyas — managed to win a thousand hearts. Needless to say, the actor won a major part of his name and fame through the web series.
BOLLYWOOD DREAM
Along with Permanent Roommates, Sumeet has been part of TVF Tripling, another web series by TVF. But this year, the actor is concentrating only on films, and will be soon seen in his first leading role in a Bollywood film called Ribbon. The film, directed by Rakhee Sandilya, also stars Kalki Koechlin and is slated to release in October this year, according to sources.
The actor, who was also a part of Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish, has recently been featured in a short film called Born Free which is released on Ultra Shorts YouTube Channel – Cheers! Directed by Sushant Baliga, the film also stars Mukti Mohan and is a feel-good tale about how inspiration drawn from unexpected circumstances can help one realise the importance of following their dreams.
Speaking about his role in the film, Sumeet says, “I play a guy called Samarth, who is in a corporate job. He is always wanted to be a boxer, but in India, people don’t take the profession seriously. He is a pretty straight-forward, middle-class guy who is very vulnerable,” says Sumeet and adds that a part of Samarth is very much like him in real life.
“I also come from a humble background. I was an average student and had no secure future. I was only 17 when I began with my theatre work. In that sense, I started following my instincts very soon,” he says.
DEMOCRATIC DIGITAL
“The digital medium has given me the attention, which I am enjoying right now. I didn’t plan (on entering) it. I just wanted to work with interesting people and that’s why I approached TVF (for Permanent Roomates). This is the most democratic form of entertainment that we have right now. We have the freedom to express ourselves here… we don’t have to associate (ourselves) with a big production house to prove our worth. Even a video featuring a funny dog tends to go viral these days. It just shows that if your content is fun and engaging, people will watch it,” says Sumeet.
LOVE FOR DELHI
The 34-year-old is currently in Delhi and says that he has a “strong connection” with the city. “I love Delhi, I come here very often to perform plays. My father is from National School of Drama, so there’s a strong connection here. I love the fact that it has got so much space, and has huge wide and good roads, unlike Mumbai,” he smiles.
GOING AHEAD Sumeet, who’s journey has been nothing less than a roller coaster ride, from theatre to web series, short films and Bollywood, says that he only wants to grow as an actor. “The medium doesn’t matter to me. I just have to like a story. What I genuinely enjoy is being a part of a good story, where I am also being able to grow as an actor, intellectually, creatively and career-wise,” he signs off.
I genuinely enjoy being a part of a good story, where I am also able to grow as an actor, intellectually and creatively