Aroh Welankar: Theatrical background helped when Kabir Khan directed me for 'Chandu Champion' - Exclusive

From the intensity of ‘Rege’ to the humour of ‘Ghantaa’, and the emotional depth of ‘Fun’ral’, Aroh Welankar has quietly built a body of work that reflects range, instinct, and strong theatrical grounding. A trained theatre actor who transitioned seamlessly into Marathi cinema and television, Aroh’s performances are rooted in spontaneity rather than formula. With a Bollywood appearance in Kabir Khan’s ‘Chandu Champion’ and continued involvement in experimental and mainstream theatre, he represents a new generation of actors balancing credibility with visibility. In this conversation, Aroh opens up about his process, choices, and future direction. In a quick conversation with ETimes, Aroh shared his plans, working in theatres and much more.

Can you share the creative challenges you faced while directing 'Veer', a theatrical production inspired by historical figures like Veer Savarkar?

Unfortunately, Veer is still stuck in the pre-production stage. My producer has backed out, so I won’t be able to comment much on that project at the moment. However, I am currently working on two large-scale Marathi Broadway-style theatre concepts with Omkar Gokhale, the writer of 'Aata Thambaicha Nai'. These productions are planned for release in 2026 or possibly early next year. They are ambitious projects, and I’m deeply involved in shaping them.

You’ve worked across comedy (Ghantaa), drama (Fun’ral’), and neo-noir (Rege). How do you prepare for such varied genres?

I have always considered myself an instinctive and spontaneous actor rather than a method actor. I do prepare for my roles, but my primary focus is always on the script and the dialogues. I believe the writer has already done a lot of homework, putting their soul into the character and the narrative. If you internalise the script and truly understand it, half your job as an actor is done.

When you finally face the camera, instinct matters the most. You have to live in the moment, respond honestly, and act from the heart. I focus more on jamming with the director and writer before the shoot begins rather than overworking the character in isolation. If the role demands specific preparation, like for historical or period films, I do read, watch, and listen to relevant material. But in general, my process revolves around understanding the script deeply and trusting my instincts on set.

Your Marathi cinema success led to 'Chandu Champion' in Bollywood. How was the transition to a big-budget Hindi film with Kabir Khan?

The transition was very smooth and extremely positive. I’ve done only one Hindi film so far, and it was a small role in Chandu Champion, but the experience was phenomenal. It was a massive production with a big director like Kabir Khan and a very cooperative star like Kartik Aaryan.

Everything from contracts and payments to the shooting process is highly professional. The scale is completely different from Marathi cinema. I genuinely feel that my theatre background and experience in Marathi films and television helped me a lot on such a big set. You need confidence to face the camera when someone like Kabir Khan is directing you, and that confidence comes from years of performing live and working consistently in the industry.

Reality shows like Bigg Boss Marathi give you mass visibility. How do you balance commercial success with artistic credibility?

Honestly, it’s quite difficult to balance the two. But I try to be very selective about the work I take up. I usually go by instinct—the people I’ll be working with, the content, and what the project stands for.

Whether it’s a play, a TV show, a film, or an OTT series, I weigh the pros and cons before saying yes. Theatre, for me, is where artistic credibility truly lies. Every actor should experience theatre it sharpens your craft and keeps you honest. That’s where my artistic satisfaction comes from.

Commercial visibility, on the other hand, comes from films, OTT platforms, television, and even reality shows. They help you reach a wider audience and ensure financial stability. Right now, I try to maintain that balance. Currently, I’m part of Mahapur, an iconic Marathi play completing 50 years, which we are performing at Kala Ghoda. That kind of work keeps me creatively fulfilled.

Looking ahead, do you see yourself continuing theatre alongside films, or will screen roles eventually take priority?

I definitely see myself doing both. Films and OTT platforms will remain important, but theatre will always be a part of my journey. Ideally, I would like to do at least one theatrical production every year while continuing to work on strong scripts in films and OTT.

This year, I’m looking at two major releases, and as I mentioned earlier, we’re developing two large Marathi Broadway-style productions. I’m also currently performing in Mahaputra, produced by Dwinks Media. So yes, balancing theatre and screen work is something I’m actively working towards and intend to continue.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”