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For a short period of time, Omkar Kulkarni has played various roles in web shows and movies. The TVF-produced digital series ‘I’mMature’ helped Omkar gain wide recognition and since then he has played several memorable roles. He was recently seen playing the role of a rapper in director Ratna Sinha’s youth drama Middle Class Love. After doing a bunch of projects that required him to play the boy-next-door, Omkar now wants to portray tense and uptight characters.
In this interview, the young actor talks about his journey so far in the entertainment industry, taking advantage of the digital revolution, his love for theater, ambition as an actor and more.
You’ve been working primarily in the digital space for the past few years. Do you feel that this particular environment played an important role in your growth as an actor?
Yes, I got the opportunity to play different roles and try different formats in the digital space. From long-form series to short fiction content, I had the chance to explore a few things. Now, storytelling has become quite challenging as you have to engage the audience in a shorter period of time. Telling a story in a minute is much more difficult than taking three hours to do the same.
While webcasts helped me gain credibility as an actor, short format videos helped me gain a good foothold in the digital space. I see myself doing a lot of long-form shows in the near future. I come from a theater background. We rehearsed for a play for 2-3 months and then did shows in different cities. With each show, you also get to know the character better and become a more refined performer. Because of my background, I tend to gravitate towards projects that require a lot of preparation. As an actor, I am driven by challenges.
You were in eighth grade when you realized you wanted to pursue acting as a profession. You have been doing theater for years. How did it help you improve your skills?
There are no “cuts” in the theater. Once on stage, you must perform in one take. It’s like a test match for an actor. As you rehearse for a play, you discover several different ways you can play a particular character. You get feedback from your co-stars all the time. It’s a very collaborative process. I need at least a few hours to talk about the importance of rehearsals.
Your theater training comes in handy when you’re shooting for a film or TV series. When I’m on set, I know I can give multiple takes, but I try to give a good shot on the first take. Theater prepares you to make fewer mistakes as an actor. Since I have been doing theater for years, I have good control over my emotions and know the techniques through which I can understand a particular character. Theater also teaches you the value of discipline. You do everything as part of a big family. I learned to unlearn a few things while doing theater. After a few performances of a particular play, things may change and one may have to perform in a different way. I learned to adapt to different situations and scenarios.
What was it like being part of a Broadway musical like Disney’s Aladdin?
It was a brilliant experience! We rehearsed for about four months. We had acting, singing and dancing rehearsals every day. We also practiced Parkour. We also trained hard in the gym every day. More than 300 people participated in the production. It was a huge production and the whole team worked very hard to ensure it was a success. It was quite a unique experience for me as we had to sing and dance at the same time. It was something I had never done before. We did 65 shows in 95 days.
You have done several films like 3 Storeys and Middle Class Love. Do you plan to work more actively in films in the near future?
As an actor, I look for good work all the time. I grew up with the dream of working in films. I am reading several scripts and would love to do more films.
Of all the characters you’ve played so far, who’s your favorite?
It’s like asking a mother who her favorite child is (laughs). All the characters I have played so far are equally special to me. I played Albert Einstein in my first professional play and it was quite a memorable experience. One of my favorite roles is Kishore from the anthology series Bravehearts.
What are the projects we will see in the near future?
I will continue to do a lot of work in the web space. I am currently in talks for a film. I look for roles that can challenge me as an actor and let me do things I wouldn’t do as a human. The further a character is from my true self, the more exciting it is for me to play it.
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