Vinay Pathak brings Nothing Like Lear to Bengaluru

Bollywood actor Vinay Pathak returns to Bengaluru this week with his acclaimed solo show Nothing Like Lear, staged as part of the Bengaluru Theatre Festival. A frequent visitor to the city, Vinay says Bengaluru has become an essential stop in his theatre journey — one that continues to reignite his love for the stage.

‘Bengaluru is a wonderful theatre hub’
Calling the city’s theatre scene vibrant and evolving, Vinay says he’s thrilled to see festivals grow in scale and ambition. “Theatre festivals like these are a big step forward, not just for the city but for theatre lovers across India. Earlier, there were local-level festivals, but this format — travelling from Delhi to Mumbai, Hyderabad and then Bengaluru — is helping theatre reach more people,” he says. “It’s such a wonderful theatre hub. You meet new audiences every time. There’s Kannada theatre, English theatre, Hindi, Marathi… It’s so diverse,” he says.

‘Theatre takes an actor back to the drawing board’
Despite his long list of films and OTT projects, Vinay says theatre remains his most energising space — though he refuses to romanticise it. “I don’t know if it keeps me grounded or not, that’s for others to judge. But I’ll be very honest, theatre keeps me very happy. It keeps me on my toes,” he says. “Theatre is a great school. It brings you back to your drawing board as an actor. Before a show, there’s a whole process — physical, mental, aesthetic, spiritual, emotional. You need all of these,” he says.

‘I feel awed by how knowledgeable the new generation is’
Having collaborated with many young actors and directors in recent years, Vinay says the biggest shift he sees is in their preparedness. “I feel awed seeing how knowledgeable, prepared and well-read many of the new actors are. It’s a very individual craft, and everyone has their own style, but the diversity is a positive sign,” he says.

‘Art can’t be rigid’
On the debate around method acting and technical approaches, Vinay says, “Each to their own — art can’t be rigid. You can’t tell a painter what brush to use or a musician how to sit. Whatever technique helps you be honest in your craft is the right one. If you’re dishonest in your craft, it shows, whether you’re performing before 300 people or on a screen before thousands. Especially today, the audience knows.”