Aryan Mehta on pursuing theatre: I want to be known as a performer before anything else

Aryan Mehta, son of producer duo Kinnari and Jay Mehtaa, has been quietly preparing to step into acting. Instead of taking the conventional route, he chose theatre to hone his craft. He shares, “I feel theatre is an actor’s medium to express themselves in the best possible way. There are so many small and intricate things you need to do. There are no multiple takes, unlike in films. This experience of being a theatre actor will make me a better performer. One of the main reasons I pursued theatre is that I want to be recognised as an actor above everything else, and for me, there is no better medium than theatre to showcase that.”

Having grown up in a family deeply involved in television production, Aryan was exposed to showbiz from a young age. He says, “I grew up around TV and film sets and was always drawn towards acting. I loved Bollywood and have been a movie buff. I studied film production and theatre at a university in London for three years, which became my first major introduction to the world of filmmaking.”

After completing his education, Aryan worked as an assistant director at Karan Johar’s production house for two years. He says, “I worked on Nadaaniyan, which gave me valuable insight into how films are made, how acting works, and the many other aspects of filmmaking. Those early experiences helped prepare me to be part of this industry.”

His acting journey began in his teenage years. He adds, “I trained at the New York Film Academy and Barry John’s acting institute and worked with a few theatre groups. I also collaborated closely with casting director Dhananjay Pandey, who helped polish my skills. Later, I trained under Ashok Pandey sir, who taught me the intricacies of acting, including voice modulation, understanding expressions, reading subtext, and becoming a better performer.”

Reflecting on what the profession has taught him, Aryan says, “Acting breaks the monotony of conventional professions, and that was a big reason I chose this path. It allows me to escape reality. I can be one person today and someone completely different the next day. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt is the importance of discipline. Time is money. Every second and every minute costs something, so as an actor, you need to stay focused and disciplined to achieve the best results. You also have to be prepared for surprises and challenges because you never know what might come your way.”

Now, after patiently preparing himself, Aryan is ready to showcase his acting skills on stage. He will be seen in Rangrezz, which opens tomorrow. He shares, “Rangrezz is a Hindi adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. It is a tragic love story that teaches you not to doubt yourself and to trust your love and your own self. The USP of the play is that it explores different sides and shades of a single character.”

Speaking about his artistic aspirations, Aryan says, “I want to explore every medium, including web series and films, and take on interesting and complex roles. I am doing theatre because I want to polish my skills and be recognised as an actor. This is my first step, and the next would be doing a film or a television show.”

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