The constant chase for instant results can dilute the depth of one’s craft: Piyush Mishra

Actor-lyricist-singer Piyush Mishra is set to bring his much-loved stage act Aarambh 2.0 to Kolkata, with his band Ballimaaraan. The event, organised by Calcutta Times, Maharashtra Times and Navbharat Times, promises to give the city an evening of music, poetry, and unfiltered storytelling. In an exclusive chat ahead of the show, the actor, known for films like Gulaal and Maqbool, talks about the energy of today’s youth, strength of imagination, and the importance of honesty – in life and art. He also speaks about the evolution of his art, and why transparency remains the truest form of connection.

‘Youngsters today are creative,brilliant but always in a hurry’
Piyush speaks of today’s generation with unmistakable affection. He’s drawn to their energy, imagination, and creative spark — qualities he believes are breathing new life into art and culture. “This generation is incredibly energetic and creative. They appreciate art and literature in ways that surprise me, they’ve made songs of Gulzar big hits. How can I say they don’t have an artistic sense?” he says, brushing aside the oft-repeated claim that young people today have a lower IQ. What he wishes they would nurture, though, is patience. “The constant chase for instant results can dilute the depth of one’s craft. They must understand that good things take years to build. People like me, Manoj Vajpayee, Irrfan Khan and many more, had to work hard to get where we are today. Yeh log bohot betaab hain, bus thora sabr sikh jaayein,” he said.

On having a fan base across generations
Piyush finds it both humbling and heartening that his work continues to resonate across age groups. He attributes this enduring connect not to fame, but to the honesty with which he lives and creates. “It’s because of my nature that people accept me so easily,” he says. For Mishra, transparency is the bridge that keeps him relevant in an increasingly mechanical world: “People have forgotten how to be transparent, but it is the most important thing to be.” He admits, however, that this clarity wasn’t innate. “Even I was proud and arrogant once upon a time. But if you want to be accepted, it is important that you become transparent,” he reflects.

Ik Bagal and the power of dreams

“Ik Bagal Mein Chand Hoga (from Gangs of Wasseypur) is not merely a song — it is a meditation on the human capacity to find solace in imagination,” says Mishra. He describes it as an ode to the mind’s resilience, to that part of us which continues to dream even when reality falls short. “Imagination is a powerful thing. This song is an imagination. We haven’t actually eaten the bread; we just imagined that we did and went to sleep. The things we are unable to do in reality, our dreams sometimes fulfil for us. That is what this song says — that imagination, or dreams, can at times bring immense comfort.” he says. This song, he explains, is about that small, luminous space between deprivation and contentment, where the mind chooses to dream its own peace. It is, in essence, a celebration of the strength of human hope — of how imagination can turn even emptiness into beauty.

Depth over duration: ‘Role mein acting ka scope hona chahiye’

“The true measure of an actor lies not in the length of a role but in the depth it carries,” said the Tamasha actor. He firmly believes that every character, no matter how fleeting its presence on screen, has the power to leave a lasting mark if performed with conviction. Citing his roles in Tamasha, Maqbool, and Rockstar, Mishra reflected on how even his brief appearances were crucial to the story’s emotional core. “When Imtiaz narrated my role in Tamasha, I said yes the moment I realised its impact – that I’d be the metaphorical catalyst to the protagonist,” he recalled. To him, a well-crafted role, no matter how short — can shape the narrative and elevate the film’s message. “It’s not about how much you are seen, but what you leave behind when you are done,” he added, underscoring a philosophy that has guided his journey across stage and screen.

Kolkata is a vibrant and deeply literate city. I was at Coffee House once, thinking about how many great minds must’ve sat there over the years. The city has changed since the 1990s. The working class has changed, and so has the city’s character

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