Talktime | Sumeet Vyas
He became popular after being a part of the web series Permanent Roommates and CEOgiri. Actor-scriptwriter Vyas, who was last seen as the lead opposite Kalki Kochelin in Ribbon, talks to Sangeeta Yadav about his upcoming movies and love for acting
How was it to play the lead in High JackIJ
It was amazing. It is India’s first ever stoner comedy, a sub-genre of comedy films that revolve around the use of cannabis. This film is like a contemporary version of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron. All the characters go through their personal crises and they happen to be on a flight which gets hijacked. The situation is funny but everybody else is serious.
How does your role add to the comic elementIJ
He is a struggling DJ and hopes to get an opportunity to perform at a big gig. He carries illegal stuff in the flight which gets hijacked and in panic, he mixes it all that in the drinks and everybody gets high, literally.
How was it to work with Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar in Veere Di WeddingIJ
It was a lovely experience. They are professional actors. I liked the story and was keen to work with director Shashank Ghosh. I said yes before reading the full script and without knowing who are my costars.
What made Permanent Roommates a super hitIJ
A lot of things like Mikesh’s character who has meek reactions to every situation. Some of the most funniest parts are improvised. The credit goes to director Sameer Saksena who allowed us to improvise.
Which role was close to your heartIJ
Chandan’s role in Trippling because he was a strange version of myself. His situation was extraordinary and his reaction a version of my reactions. Since I also wrote the script, I was able to perform it.
Which role was toughIJ
Dilavar in CEOgiri as he has anxiety disorder, is an introvert and an anti-social. These parts are more complex to play as I didn’t want to make it look like it was a health problem. The role drained me. I had to feel all those things. I had to dig in from my experiences of sorrows to relive those moments.
Which is more difficult — scripting or actingIJ
Scripting is definitely more work and a complex job. When you are acting, you are basically focussing on one character. When you are scripting you are living each and every character’s life in your imagination. Acting is tough in its own way. A lot of people just focus on their lines but a lot of acting happens in a reaction. When you understand that, you start enjoying the scene more.
What are your Bollywood dreamsIJ
The work that I have done so far has been partly realistic in style, character and situation. I want to go all out and work on a larger than life canvas, like the original Agneepath which is a perfect blend of glamour, scale and fantastic dialogue. That film really changed the way I looked at things.
I became an actor because at some point, I wanted to run through fire. There is poetry in dialogue. The writing in the film is way ahead of its time. If this film was to happen today, it would be a Rs 1,000-crore film. The movie is the ultimate underdog story.
I also loved Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind. I was blown by his performance for which he won the Oscar. I wish I could get to play a part like that — complex yet interesting and the internal journey that that man goes through.
Do you feel the pressure to outdo your previous performancesIJ
No, but I like to surprise my audience. The pressure is that it takes so many years to create an image and then so much of an effort to break that image and create a new one. To come out of the comfort zone and experiment is what I want to do.