Be it writing or acting, I want to explore all the possibilities,” shares Aditya Rawal, who was in Ahmedabad for a play he has written and produced. The actor-writer, who was appreciated for his recent film Subedaar, adds, “I will continue to write. I want to explore every aspect as an actor and writer.”‘I want to remain versatile’ Aditya, who has done films like Faraaz and OTT shows like Daldal, is selective while signing projects. He shares, “I want to take on diverse roles and remain versatile. I prioritise the story and character over whether a project is commercial. If the narrative is compelling, the role is something I haven’t tackled before, and the makers are people I want to work with, I am interested. In everything I have done, you will find a sense of versatility and something unique in the character.”
Asked about playing an antagonist in most of his projects, he says, “As an artiste, you need a story and a character that can hold your interest for the four or five months you dedicate to a project. It can be an antagonist or a protagonist. I don’t want to be pigeonholed into playing just one type of role. My next two projects are worlds apart. I am doing Hansal (Mehta) sir’s Gandhi, and the same team that cast me as a terrorist in Faraaz has now given me a very different role. That contrast is a completely conscious choice, as I want to show just how far apart these characters can be.”‘I enjoy writing for other makers too’ Elaborating on his approach as a writer, Aditya shares, “I have written three films and several screenplays for amazing directors and plays too. I don’t want to limit myself to writing in just one area. I have written screenplays with hardcore commercial directors that are out-and-out romantic films. I enjoy writing everything under the sun; the only thing I don’t yet understand as a writer is horror because I don’t watch much of it.”He adds, “I also enjoy writing for other makers. Working with a collaborator who has a strong vision is fun because you are helping to bring that vision to life. Those choices and decisions are always made with a partner, which is fulfilling and makes the process less lonely. Writing by yourself can be a solitary experience, which I have gotten used to and enjoy now, but it is good to have a change.”‘I gravitate towards stories that are best told on stage’Aditya, who was exposed to sets early, shares, “I gravitated towards stories that are best told on the stage. My first play is about three soldiers stuck on a glacier. Creating that glacier on a wooden stage in Ahmedabad or Mumbai provides a magical, transporting experience for an audience. My aim has always been to tell stories that truly belong to the stage and cannot be told elsewhere. The same applies to my films. Growing up, I watched works of greats like Satyajit Ray and the Coen brothers, who possessed a clear worldview. I wanted to create work where my own perspective and the way I see human beings come through. Be it a play or film, the goal with any written material is to communicate what is inside of me.”‘Live performances will always exist’ Talking about the challenges faced by theatre, Aditya reassures, “Theatre has been challenging to do for 5,000 years, but it has existed for all these years. Live performances will always exist. With AI on the rise and screen-based content losing its perceived value, live performances are set to regain their significance. Through some of the big theatres in our country, we are bringing international shows and training our audiences to pay a higher amount to watch massive productions, which changes the economic model. There will always be shifts and changes, but I am not worried about theatre. It will continue to exist. Anything that has been around for so long will have its ups and downs, but that is part and parcel of the process. I am open to making small changes where we can.”‘Ahmedabad has developed without losing its character’Getting nostalgic, Aditya shares, “I’ve been coming to Ahmedabad since I was a child. While the city has grown, it never loses its soul. Most Indian cities start to look the same after a while because of all the new buildings, but Ahmedabad still feels special—it has its own khushboo. I love how it has developed without losing its character. Places like the Natarani Amphitheatre are perfect for this city; they aren’t just stages but spots where artistes can really come together and build a community right by the river.”‘Comparisons with dad can wait’ As Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat’s son, do comparisons with his famous parents bother him? Aditya smiles, “I don’t focus on escaping the shadow of being their son. They have been established for so long. My focus is always on carving my own identity, and I believe comparisons can wait until I have a career of similar longevity. The guidance is always there, but it is less about specific choices and more about the analysis of the work itself. We constantly discuss our projects, including my father’s, to evaluate what worked and how it could have been better, which is the great advantage of being part of a family of artistes”.
