Damian Hardung: Never imagined that acting could transcend borders

The success of Maxton Hall has taken German actor Damian Hardung places he never expected — literally and emotionally. The actor says the show’s global reception has changed the way he looks at his craft and its impact beyond the screen. Hardung tells Mumbai Mirror, “What the show has given me is something deeper. I think the most beautiful lesson that I’ve taken away from it is — and JFK said this back in the 60s already — that art can be a bridge between us. Art can remind us that that which unites us runs deeper than that which divides us.”Hardung says the response to Maxton Hall has been strikingly similar across continents. He adds, “No matter the country that I visit, I could be in Asia, I could be in South America, I could be in North America — anywhere on this planet — people resonate with the universal message of love and what this show represents.”For the actor, that shared emotional connection has been the most powerful takeaway. “It’s important for us to have some commonality, some reference points that we share. Because if we do share something — if you and I love something wholeheartedly together — it’s harder for me to then go and hate you. I never imagined that acting would entail that. I never imagined that it could transcend borders,” he explains. Earlier in an interview with Bombay Times, Damian spoke about his equation with India. He told us, "What stayed with me are the people and the culture, not to forget the food. Indian cuisine is the best. The country has a welcoming culture. You can be anywhere — in a tuk-tuk or in a car — and suddenly you’re discussing world politics and spirituality. India has always struck me as a place where you find a spiritual connection that I sometimes miss in other places."