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The opening day of the ongoing Shreeram Lagoo National Theatre Festival was no less than a treat for theatre enthusiasts from the city as two stalwarts took the stage – Naseeruddin Shah and Paresh Rawal . Their candid interaction was a masterclass for those present as the two actors reflected on acting, theatre, their journeys, influences and more.

ACTING IS A MUTUAL PRETENCE: PARESH RAWAL
Speaking about his approach to acting, Paresh Rawal said he believes in allowing performances to flow naturally. “I absorb and assimilate what I can. At the same time, I ensure that overthinking does not take over my performances. My acting should be easygoing,” he said. Describing acting as a mutual pretence between performers and audiences, Rawal added,

Shah stressed the importance of constant thought while performing. “Thought and action should be simultaneous. An actor must not stop thinking,” he said, adding that actors should remain immersed in the context of the character and what has been written.However, Shah also had a word of caution for actors on excessive indulgence in a role. “You cannot and should not become the character,” he said.


IF THE WRITING IS GOOD, HALF THE ACTOR’S WORK IS ALREADY DONE: NASEERUDDIN SHAH
​As the conversation unfolded, Rawal asked Shah whether he preferred to make an emotional or cerebral impact on audiences. “Of course, cerebral,” Shah replied, adding,