Lucian-river Mirage Chauhan
Lucian-river Mirage Chauhan may be only 10, but he is parlaying his acting ability into some pretty significant projects.
Calgary’s Chauhan is the newest member of Heartland, joining the long-running CBC series as Luke at the Bartlett Ranch.
“To be honest, I’m really lucky to have gotten this role. It’s an amazing opportunity. I was jumping up and down in my room. And I’m getting another chance to learn, and that’s mostly what it’s about.”
Chauhan honed his skills in Calgary theatre. His first taste, when he was about six, was in a musical called Dreams of Broadway.
“The theatre community has really embraced me and it’s also taught me a lot, like how to dig deeper into your character,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of people, like Lorne Cardinal, who is now a mentor to me and I’m always able to lean on him.”
And does he have a favourite medium: on stage or in front of the camera?
“To be frank, I don’t really. I like both of them. If I had to choose — I don’t think I can,” he said.
“Theatre is definitely higher energy. But TV work . . . you’re taking it down a notch. Theatre is bouncing off the walls.”
A student at the French immersion Ecole St. Sylvester, Chauhan is able to manage his time with studies and acting thanks to supportive parents and an understanding school. His next big part will be in the spring, playing Zalmai in A Thousand Splendid Suns.
He said he got to know director Haysam Kadri through the Alberta Theatre Projects’ The Last Wife, and Kadri offered the role at the Royal Manitoba Theatre in Winnipeg.
“I’m really excited to work with him again,” said Chauhan.
When asked about future goals, Chauhan paused in thought.
“I would create some sort of show where I play a cop who sings, plays the piano and dances,” he said. “I definitely want to be a singer and a pianist when I grow up. I’m also looking forward to maybe becoming a cop. A real one.”