‘An actor prepares’

A famous book by the legendary Russian actor Constantin Stanislavski. In the book he describes his journey as an actor. He describes his triumphs and tribulations and the invaluable lessons that he picked up from the greats in the acting field. I read the book a few years ago when my son was trying his hand in Bollywood. The book mesmerized me.

There is so much hard work that all the good actors put in. It's not all glamour and glitz. There is lots of work before you give a single shot or before you come on stage live. I had a taste of this while preparing for my role in the play I'll be playing tonight and two more days.

I had been doing plays in my school and college. Even here I have been acting and of course my radio program has me acting all the time though behind the microphone. But preparing this role under the tutelage of our director Prakash Date, an accomplished director was another story.

There were long practice sessions, yes, but getting into the character in the real sense was what he demanded from all of us. The feelings can’t be intellectual he said, and how right he was. They have to come from the gut and then you get real tears and real laughter.

So, my training in diaphragmic breathing came in handy. You can hold a lot of air for a longer time and that gives your dialogue delivery an edge. You are playing a character and you are in the character. What a difference!!! Now I realize why Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Om Puri, Robert de Nero, Anupam Kher are what they are. My salute to these stalwarts. I had studied film critiquing and had always admired their acting but after going through the rigmarole myself, I now stand in all humility.

I don’t know if I will deliver tonight but I am sure of one thing. As I stand there and deliver my two-page long monologue, I will be in the character and not playing it.

So be it!!!