Deepak Dobriyal on theatre scene: Most people believe that if they get a clicked with a star, they will be successful

Actor Deepak Dobriyal started his acting career with stage plays, but now, he only wants to focus on acting in films.

He has been acting since 1994. And before getting a break in films, theatre was ‘home’ for actor Deepak Dobriyal. But, after his debut in 2003 with Maqbool, theatre took a backseat for Dobriyal and he hasn’t been part of any [stage] productions, since then.

Deepak Dobriyal started acting in films in 2003 with his debut in Vishal bharadwaj’s film, Maqbool.

“I did theatre for seven years in Delhi. But, after a point, it became difficult because it’s an expensive city to stage a play in. Also, unlike Delhi, [theatre] actors in Mumbai are involved in other forms of art, like TV or films, too. So, the level of dedication isn’t same. While in Delhi, there is a sense of seriousness, it is lacking in Mumbai. That’s why I never did plays in Mumbai,” says the actor, whose last film Kaalakaandi released on January 12.

Explaining the level of commitment present in theatre actors of Delhi, he elaborates, “If there are 40 people involved in a play that’s running for three months, in Delhi, all 40 of them would be present every day. There wouldn’t be a case, where someone is missing for 10 days because the person is involved something else. [Also] mostly casting directors, directors and producers constitute the audience in Mumbai. So, that perspective is missing.”

While there are no plans to return to stage, Dobriyal says, when in Delhi, he never fails to pay a visit to National School of Drama, where he conducts workshops and interacts with aspiring actors. He says, “I meet people associated with theatre. I sit with Arvind Gaur [The theatre director with whom Deepak began his acting career in 1994] and MK (Raina) [Theatre actor]. I also conduct acting workshops for kids. Now, most of them believe that if they get a clicked with a star, or are able to impress a star, they will be successful. They don’t realise that it’s their work and not connections that will take them far. And that’s what I try to tell them. I don’t have plans of getting back to acting in theatre soon and there are no regrets about it. When I was doing it, I did it with dedication and passion. Now, I want to concentrate on films, and now, that’s the only passion for me.”

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