Abhinav Sharma is the new young actor who has risen to fame after the massive success of the new season of 바카라˜Mismatched바카라™ on Netflix. The handsome actor has been called the epitome of the new-age chocolate boy hero or the boy next door character. However, there is much more to this young lad than meets the eye.
Speaking to Prateek Sur, Abhinav Sharma talks about his journey, his peers, fitness, trying to avoid stereotypes and how actors these days are trying to maintain an alternate source of income. Excerpts from the candid chat:
You바카라™ve received a good response for your recent release, 'Mismatched 2'. Tell us a bit about your journey in acting. Where did it start and how did you end up here?
I was born and brought up in New Delhi so it was during my school years that I started doing plays and skits which then carried forward to college. I went to Hansraj College at Delhi University so the theatre scene there was and still is I believe some of the finest, bravest and most inspiring works that you see. Post that I moved to New York and went to The Lee Strasberg Theatre And Film Institute which gave me the proper impetus, guidance and belief to move to Bombay, and since then It바카라™s been what I believe to be one of the best decisions I바카라™ve made.
As a young actor auditioning is a part of the process of acting. Who are your peers whom you look up to or talk to while you바카라™re preparing for an audition?
I think it was during my time at drama school in New York when the teachers there gave us a very detailed understanding of how the industry and the auditioning process work.
I remember being so excited for my audition classes in school, preparing with that one scene or piece of work that you바카라™d get to perform and knowing that the best thing you can do for your career is to approach auditions like you바카라™d approach the character once you got the job. It바카라™s unprofessional to take an audition for granted and irrespective of how it works out no casting director ever forgets talent. So yes, I always go back to my notes from my teachers.
Young actors always end up getting stereotyped in similar kinds of roles. You바카라™re doing a variety of characters. Is it a conscious choice to not pick up a similar chocolatey boy next door kind of role?
I was told that early on you will be cast for how you are and carry yourself in real life because nobody has really seen your work. And within that space, you need to make interesting choices and commit to them when you get the opportunity. Even the most stereotypical parts can be played around with in fun ways if you바카라™re willing to explore and be intuitive. Having said that I feel I바카라™m blessed to have played the roles I바카라™ve got but I바카라™m just getting started and am constantly trying to hone my craft. I will always try and make the braver choice compared to the comfortable one.
You바카라™re one of the fittest young actors that we have today. How much importance does fitness have in an actor바카라™s life?
I바카라™ve always enjoyed it to be honest. I feel that when you바카라™re fit, take care of yourself and are healthy it always shows in your personal and professional life. And no I do not mean you need to go to the gym and have a six pack and muscles, those are results that come over a period of time depending on what your goals are. What I바카라™m talking about is respecting your body as an instrument and choosing some sort of physical activity that you enjoy be it Yoga, Pilates, Swimming, Dancing etc. because as artists we바카라™re expressing through this instrument. We must take care of it.
What바카라™s more important 바카라“ having a six-pack abs to show off onscreen or having a great character to play onscreen?
As I mentioned earlier, it바카라™s about being healthy and fit. Not about the six-pack abs.
I바카라™m happy to play all kinds of characters and it바카라™s important my body allows me to be flexible and fit when I approach the physicality of the part. You can always see an actor who바카라™s stiff and not his most comfortable self through their posture and movement when they perform.
Plus what if you have to play a great character who바카라™s also very fit? It바카라™s a playground out there for me as an actor and I바카라™m going to try all the swings I can.
Acting is a very uncertain job. How important is it for actors to have an alternate profession or an alternate source of income alongside acting?
I feel you need to be a mix of an idealist and a realist. At least that is what sounds the nicest. I feel when you go for it you really should go for it. There is no reason why it wouldn바카라™t work out if you have the right intentions and work hard at your craft, opportunities will always be there and I strongly believe you create your own luck.
Having said I understand it바카라™s easier said than done. Everything is so circumstantial and momentary so yes, if you feel you have other interests beyond this and feel like you바카라™re as excited about exploring them as well then there바카라™s no harm in having a plan B or C.
Do you바카라™ve any such alternate source of income or do you know any of your friends who바카라™re trying to juggle between acting and another profession also?
I feel it바카라™s important to invest and use your money wisely. I credit my parents for that approach because it바카라™ll always work out over the long haul. And yes, I actually do have friends who are exploring multiple professions along with acting and to be honest it seems like it바카라™s working out well.
What바카라™s coming up next from you?
We바카라™re about to finish shooting for something very special. I hope I can share that soon, I바카라™m excited and nervous but I바카라™m praying and hopeful. Other than that we resume filming for 'Campus Diaries 2' soon so that바카라™s going to be exciting. There바카라™s a lot I wish to achieve and I바카라™m going to work very very hard. I바카라™m just getting started.
