Purab Kohli's first stage experience excites him

He’s been a popular face on TV and an accepted face in films of late, but now Purab Kohli is trying something new: theatre. We caught up with the actor when he was rehearsing for a play in the city to talk about Bangalore, dance, theatre and more. Excerpts from the interview…
First time onstage
This is my first play. I started with TV, then moved on to being a VJ and then did films.Some time ago, I started thinking that I have never been to an acting school — I started off just like that and kept acting. I started feeling that I have hit a wall and there is nowhere to go now or if there was, I don’t know where. A few people associated with theatre had asked me earlier if I would do a play, but I was a little scared to get onstage and always avoided it. I called Atul Kumar, the director of Trivial Disasters, who I’ve known for a long time. I thought of asking Atul to teach me acting. A month after that, he called back and asked me about this play and I said, “I’m in,” even without listening to the script. The play has nine pieces and it is about everyday life with sudden twists. It has dark humour that’s reminiscent of the Joker — you don’t know whether to laugh or be scared!
On Bangalore weather
I used to spend a lot of time in Bangalore and I experienced the city’s beautiful weather then. But, during the last few times that I came here, it was only in summers and it got really hot then here. This time around though, when I landed, I felt as if I was in some European country. It was a pleasant surprise as the city’s natural air-conditioner seems to be on and I got to experience the classic Bangalore weather.
Dancing shoes
I used to dance a lot in school, and even danced with Shiamak Davar and Salome Roy Kapur’s professional troupes. My cousin and I used to choreograph our own shows and dance routines. But when I turned 15, we just stopped, and I got into football. When I was approached for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, they did not even know that I used to dance. I readily agreed, thinking that if I stayed in the show for two to three months, I can actually dance. The more you dance, the more your body gets used to it. I was getting there, but sadly I was eliminated as I forgot a step.
South films
I’ve seen some popular south films that are remade in Bollywood as I need subtitles to understand the originals. I got two calls from the Telugu film industry years ago. In one instance, a Telugu producer was making a Hindi film, but that did not work out. In the second instance, I was offered a negative role in a Telugu film, but I was busy with something else and couldn’t manage the dates. That was five to six years ago. No one has called me recently. I’d love to do a south film, provided the makers give me the time to learn the language.