At a time when streaming platforms and big-ticket spectacles dominate conversations around entertainment, actors Mohan Kapur and Vidya Malvade are betting on live theatre.The duo is currently gearing up for their stage production Merry Go Round, which was staged in Mumbai on April 18.
The play is said to be a mix of drama, humour, music and a sharp social undercurrent set against the backdrop of a big fat Indian wedding.
But beyond the spectacle, both actors see theatre as a medium that is quietly, but steadily, evolving in India.Mohan Kapur on rediscovering the craftFor Kapur, returning to theatre after nearly a decade has been less about nostalgia and more about recalibration.
“The moment rehearsals began, I realised I had gone back to the drawing board of performing.
No matter the medium, the craft remains the same, but theatre forces you to discipline your basics.
It grounds you,” he said.Unlike film sets, where retakes, camera angles and edits can refine a performance, stage acting offers no such safety net.“It’s a one-take show.
You begin, and you end.
Everything in between is yours to hold together.
That’s both terrifying and exhilarating,” he added.Hollywood vs BollywoodKapur’s entry into the Marvel universe with Ms.
Marvel was, by his own admission, almost accidental.“I didn’t even have a portfolio ready,” he recalled with a laugh.It was his manager who pushed him to audition, despite him being unfamiliar with the process of headshots and showreels.
“I got into the industry by chance, and things just kept happening.
I never thought of packaging myself that way,” he said.The audition eventually led to his casting, but the journey underscored a larger lesson for the actor.
“You realise that no matter where you go, even in Hollywood, you have to show up and prove yourself for every role.
There are no shortcuts,” he said.Having worked internationally, including in the Marvel universe, Kapur is often asked about the differences between Hollywood and the Indian film industry.
His answer cuts through the glamour.“The craft of performing is exactly the same.
The differences lie in the ecosystem, larger budgets, better preparation time, and a more structured approach to collaboration,” he said.The actor pointed out that in Hollywood, table reads and rehearsals are integral to the process, allowing actors to explore their characters more deeply before stepping onto set.
“There’s a certain gravitas in....
