The opening day of the ongoing Shreeram Lagoo National Theatre Festival proved to be a delightful experience for theatre enthusiasts from the city as two stalwarts took the stage – Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal. Their candid interaction was nothing short of a masterclass for those present, as the two actors reflected on acting, theatre, their personal journeys, influences, and much more.
Acting Is a Mutual Pretence: Paresh Rawal
Speaking about his approach to acting, Paresh Rawal said he believes in allowing performances to flow naturally. 'I absorb and assimilate what I can. At the same time, I ensure that overthinking does not take over my performances. My acting should be easygoing,' he remarked. Describing acting as a mutual pretence between performers and audiences, Rawal added, 'If you slit someone’s throat with a sword on stage, the audience is not going to go to the police station and file a complaint. They know you are pretending, and they pretend to believe it.'
The Importance of Thought and Caution Against Overindulgence
Shah stressed the importance of constant thought while performing. 'Thought and action should be simultaneous. An actor must not stop thinking,' he said, adding that actors should remain immersed in the context of the character and what has been written. However, Shah also had a word of caution for actors regarding excessive indulgence in a role. 'You cannot and should not become the character,' he warned.
If the Writing Is Good, Half the Actor’s Work Is Already Done: Naseeruddin Shah
As the conversation unfolded, Rawal asked Shah whether he preferred to make an emotional or cerebral impact on audiences. 'Of course, cerebral,' Shah replied, adding, 'It is easy to make people cry with fake tears. But if audiences understand humans better after watching a performance, that’s more meaningful than somebody coming backstage crying and hugging me.'
Shah also emphasised that theatre is not about displaying one’s talent. 'You don’t do plays to show off how good an actor you are. You do it to communicate the written word. Strong writing remains the foundation of good acting. If the writing is good, half the actor’s work is already done. The performances of mine that were appreciated were all well-written. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have been able to bring anything to the table,' he added.
On a concluding note, Rawal acknowledged the influence of Shah on his acting and praised him, saying, 'Hamara naseeb hai ki Naseer hain.'
