Acting with finesse

Veteran actor Akash Khurana has been in the industry for over two decades now. Playing small but prominent roles in hit films like Saaransh, Beta, Sarfarosh, Koi Mil Gaya and more
recently, The President Is Coming, Akash is a well-known face in the industry and amongst the audience. Akash spoke to Metrolife about his passion for acting when he was in the City to stage his play Blackbird. “I have come to Bangalore a hundred times,” he laughs. “It’s just wonderful. That’s why I keep coming back.” Akash loves performing at the Ranga Shankara, just like any other artist. “It’s an enjoyable space, and I have received a gratifying response in Bangalore.”

A quiet and soft-spoken man, Akash’s passion lies not just in acting. He is a story, dialogue and screenplay writer as well. He has written screenplays for films like Black and White, Daag: The Fire and Duplicate. “I am not limited to a single genre,” says the man, who believes that diversity is the key to life. “So even when it comes to scripts, I take up all kinds of interesting ones.” But what role has he enjoyed playing the most? “When it comes to the recent films, I’ve enjoyed the roles I played in Company and Sarfarosh,” he says.

According to him, “I’ve faced many challenges so far, as challenges come with every
assignment. But I have enjoyed them a lot.” 

He is one actor, who feels that the passion for theatre is growing in society. “Theatre is getting a lot of encouragement these days, and it’s definitely not a dying art form.” Has
theatre helped him prepare for his roles in movies, or vice versa? “Neither,” he answers. “Theatre may have helped me, though not in an obvious way. I was doing theatre much before I started acting in films.” 

One person that Akash is proud to have worked with is Naseeruddin Shah. 

So what does the talented actor do in his free time? He admits that he eats, breathes and sleeps acting. Besides, he plans to take a break now to decide on future projects, “I have had pretty much a complete journey but there are many unfulfilled desires,”
he says.