Best stories come from a place of risk: Sumeet Vyas

Despite being one of the earliest poster boys of OTT and having transitioned to Bollywood, Sumeet Vyas says he always finds his way back to where it all began: theatre. The actor-director, who was in Bengaluru for his play Saanp Seedhi produced by Aadyam Theatre, shares his love for acting, his creative process, and the OTT boom. Excerpts:
‘THEATRE IS WHERE YOU GET TO DIVE DEEP, AS AN ACTOR’
Sumeet started theatre in the early 2000s and has remained actively involved. “Theatre is the only space that truly belongs to an actor. It is where you get to indulge in your craft. If you like acting as a profession, then the stage is where you return, because that’s where you get to dive deep,” he says.
‘CRAFT LASTS, NOT FAME’
Sumeet believes in hard work rather than viral fame. He explains, “I don’t take labels like ‘web hero’ or ‘Bollywood actor’ too seriously. They’re fleeting. One year you’re in the spotlight, the next you’re not. Fame comes and goes. What truly lasts is one’s craft and the commitment towards it.”
‘GENRE DOESN’T MATTER, THE STORY DOES’
From comedy to drama to action, Sumeet has worked across all formats. He tells us, “Genre is very incidental to me. If I find the story compelling and I feel the urge to be a part of telling that story, then I say yes in a heartbeat.”
‘I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO DIRECT’
Sumeet recently directed an OTT series called Raat Jawaan Hai, which he considers to be a significant step in his career. Before this, Sumeet had also been directing plays. For him, the urge to direct was natural. “I started writing for films, and every time I wrote something, I had a certain vision. I always felt the need to direct because that vision never left me,” he says.
‘IN OTT, EVERYONE WANTS THE SAME FORMULA OF A STORY’
Amidst the overwhelming number of OTT shows, Sumeet believes that to stand out, one needs to take a leap of faith. “Today, everyone is looking for a formula to replicate, to gain success. Shows that truly made an impact were never following a formula. They succeeded because they broke the mould instead of fitting into one. The best stories come from a place of risk, from a willingness to leap into the unknown,” he says.
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