I never let larger-than-life roles influence me: Sourabh Raaj Jain

Written By: Ancela Jamindar
Best known for portraying divine and powerful mythological characters on screen, especially Lord Krishna in Mahabharat, Sourabh Raaj Jain has cultivated a loyal fan base through performances that balance intensity with restraint. “Instead of mythological roles, call them historical roles,” he says while speaking about portraying Lord Krishna. The versatile actor, who was in Ahmedabad for the play Mere Krishn, speaks to us about exploring diverse characters across mediums, the importance of separating his real self from the roles he plays, his fond memories of Ahmedabad, and more.

‘The execution is very different in theatre’

Speaking about doing theatre, Sourabh underscores how the medium differs fundamentally from television and films. “Theatre is an entirely different platform—so the execution changes significantly. There are certain aspects we must be mindful of, especially since the audience watches us live rather than through a camera. While shooting allows for multiple cuts to adjust angles or refine dialogue delivery, theatre demands a continuous performance from start to finish. As an actor, that uninterrupted flow is extremely satisfying, and receiving instant audience reactions adds an exhilarating energy to the performance,” he feels.

‘I’ve never let larger-than-life characters influence who I am’

Despite portraying deeply revered characters on screen, Sourabh says he has always drawn a firm line between his real self and the roles he plays. He shares, “Off camera, I’ve never let these larger-than-life characters influence who I am. I remain the same person, regardless of the roles I’ve taken on. I played negative characters in Uttaran and Chandragupta Maurya, that doesn’t mean I’m anything like them in real life. Similarly, playing Lord Krishna doesn’t give me a God complex. I know who I am—I’m Sourabh Raaj Jain—and that clarity has always been intact. The boundary between reel and real has never blurred for me, and it has never affected my mental peace.Often, when we portray a character, a part of it lingers within us and subtly shapes our perspective. For me, playing Lord Krishna brought about a shift—I became less impulsive and more composed. It made me calmer. On screen, I’ve explored a range of personalities, from calm to fierce, but in real life, like most people, I exist somewhere in between, without leaning too strongly towards either extreme.”

‘I’d love to explore crime thrillers’
Sourabh is eager to explore new genres and formats. “I want to experiment and remain open to doing different genres. I am already doing the show Sangamarmar on OTT now, and people have loved my character. Fans have been messaging me on social media about my performance. I have been getting love for most of my characters. I am also playing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in an upcoming film. I’ve always tried to explore different kinds of work, regardless of the medium or genre. I’d love to explore crime thrillers—just not the gory kind. I mean the kind of stories I can comfortably watch with my parents and children,” he says.

‘Love having thepla with mango chhundo’

The actor also spoke about his fondness for Ahmedabad, reminiscing about his childhood visits. “I’ve been to Ahmedabad earlier for work and promotions, but I haven’t really explored the city—something I’d love to do if I get the chance. The food here is incredible; I especially enjoy thepla with mango chhundo for breakfast. I also have relatives in Gandhinagar, which I used to visit as a child. One of my fondest memories is going to the open-air drive-in theatre with family in the evenings—we would take our cars there and have an amazing time,” he reminisces.