Gautam Mehra | The writer-actor who started his journey with theatre in the Capital, and was seen in movies like Roohi and Akashwani, speaks with Shalini Saksena about his latest project Chutzpah and how writing for theatre and films is different
What is Chutzpah about?
The show is about today’s life and how reality is totally different from the virtual world. Today, everybody is living a dual life — one that is real and the other is virtual (social media). The series is interesting because it talks about the duality of life especially in the cyber world. The storyline is different and something that people would love to watch since it will definitely resonate with the young people of today.
What’s your role?
I play Kevin. He is a social media influencer; in other words he is a small social media star. But through the course of the story and as the story progresses, he becomes a much bigger star. And as times change, how people’s perception around him changes and how he does things that he is not supposed to do. But this changes his cyber status. Through the character, it shows how our real lives and our identities in the cyber space are so inter-connected.
What made you say to an OTT project?
Kevin is such a brilliant character. He is many things; he is funny and does crazy things. He is so different from people one would see. There is no reference for Kevin in any of the shows or movies that one would have seen. Those who are following the show will know that Kevin is extremely crazy and is ready to do anything just to entertain his followers and to get more people to follow him. Playing him has been interesting since it is such a whacky character.
Was it tough to identify with such a role?
Not really. When I read the script for the first time, I could identify with the role — Kevin’s passion and the energy he exudes. The character is so passionate about what he does that makes him so human. He is passionate about his work, friends, the people around him who identify with him. But his life is all about social media. But, in real life I am not that person. Sometimes, weeks pass before I even manage to post anything. My friends tell me that I need to be more active. With Kevin, it is just the opposite. He posts six-seven times and then calls his friends and asks them to like, share and comment.
How did writing happen?
My journey started from theatre in Delhi. I used to write my plays and then enact them with my friends at various places in the city. There was a play that I had written, Mad, Madder, Maddest. It is very close to my heart and wanted to make a movie on it. I adapted it in a script and came to Mumbai. It was immediately taken over by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who titled it Teen They Bhai. That is how it all started. As a theatre artist, you do everything — be a writer, actor and director. I have always been an actor and done short films and do a full-length movie takes time.
How important is to live in reality?
For me, it is important that I meet people face-to-face. But I have met so many people who live only in the virtual world They are sacrificing so much just to be relevant on social media. But this is very exhausting for me to centre my life around it.
How is writing for theatre different from a screenplay?
There are many. In theatre, the ideas are big but you have limited means and need you restrict yourself to the stage. There are financial constrains that limit you; you have to think within a narrow framework that has to fit the stage. Your scope of imagination is huge when it comes to films. You can let things run wild. In movies, you have to think of lot of locations and take the viewers quickly in and out of a scene. Theatre doesn’t allow this luxury.
Are you still associated with theatre?
No, unfortunately I am no longer associated with it. It has been a very long time since I was on stage.
How would you describe yourself — writer or actor?
I would say I am both. The writer and the actor compliment each other. When I write I inact the dialogues as well. When I am acting and read the script, I learn from them.
What are your upcoming projects?
There are two movies for which I have written the script. Now that Chutzpah has released, I am getting many offers that I am now considering.