Film and theatre actor Piyush Mishra has no airs about the projects he has been a part of or the fact that he can manage multiple roles with such panache. In a candid chat with TiniSara Anien, the actor-director-lyricist-singer, who was in town for the Bangalore Literature Festival, shares his thoughts about the film industry.
The experience of being part of such a festival...
It is a great break to be away from the film industry and interact with new people. It's nice to be in Bengaluru as the weather is amazing. I like being in such festivals as they give new perspectives to different things. (Smiles) This festival was more elite compared to the others which is also a problem sometimes.
Having donned many avatars in the film industry, what do you like being known as?
I've always wanted to be remembered as an actor. Everything stemmed from acting for me. I have always wanted to know everything about this craft, be it how the expressions are formed or the technicalities. I have wanted to know what is happening from the atomic level itself.
How different is it to act for theatre and in front of the camera?
Acting is the same everywhere. In movies, sometimes the climax is shot earlier, thus one has to reach that emotional graph suddenly. This seemed awkward earlier but now it seems natural. In theatre, to remember everything and deliver at one go is difficult, but the graph helps. There are a lot of rehearsals involved in theatre. (Smiles) But the biggest difference is the fat cheque that follows for a movie, compared to theatre.
From your first project till date, which are your favourite ones?
I've learnt a lot from each of my projects, especially from 'Dil Se' where dubbing was difficult to 'Pink' where things were in better control. Interestingly, the projects that I am known for are not necessarily the projects that I like. I do not like my performance in 'Gangs Of Wasseypur'. I had a lot of screen space in the movie and I am thankful for the project, but I feel that I was just there and didn't do anything revolutionary. I do like my performance in 'Pink' and 'Revolver Rani'.
What are the lessons you've learnt, having acted with the youngest and also some of the veteran actors in the industry?
In 'Pink', I got a chance to interact with Amitabh Bachchan. It was amazing to see how disciplined he is. I've never seen someone who practises their lines more than me. In fact, he can go on till he feels everything is perfect. Acting with Shah Rukh was interesting in 'Dil Se'. I came to know much later that he used to bunk college to watch my plays. Manoj Bajpayee and I used to do theatre earlier and he is a great actor. Acting with Kangana was different as she wants to experiment with everything in different ways.
How has the industry changed since the late 90s to now?
The industry can be divided into a pre and post Anurag Kashyap phase. There are a lot of new writers and actors now. The industry has so many interesting filmmakers from Vishal Bhardwaj to Imtiaz Ali to Rajkumar Hirani now. There are many new plots and stories now, which wasn't the case earlier.
Where are the lyrics for your songs inspired from?
Keep your eyes and ears open and you will be automatically inspired. I cannot write out of thin air. All my themes are inspired from socio-political backgrounds or unstable situations. Art is created out of instability.
An exciting twist to your journey so far...
Forming my own band 'Ballimaran' is a unique twist to my story. I got the same kick that I got from live performances. Exploring different things in life is the biggest aim of it.
Film and theatre actor Piyush Mishra has no airs about the projects he has been a part of or the fact that he can manage multiple roles with such panache. In a candid chat with Tini Sara Anien, the actor-director-lyricist-singer, who was in town for the Bangalore Literature Festival, shares his thoughts about the film industry.
The experience of being part of such a festival...
It is a great break to be away from the film industry and interact with new people. It’s nice to be in Bengaluru as the weather is amazing. I like being in such festivals as they give new perspectives to different things. (Smiles) This festival was more elite compared to the others which is also a problem sometimes.
Having donned many avatars in the film industry, what do you like being known as?
I’ve always wanted to be remembered as an actor. Everything stemmed from acting for me. I have always wanted to know everything about this craft, be it how the expressions are formed or the technicalities. I have wanted to know what is happening from the atomic level itself.
How different is it to act for theatre and in front of the camera?
Acting is the same everywhere. In movies, sometimes the climax is shot earlier, thus one has to reach that emotional graph suddenly. This seemed awkward earlier but now it seems natural. In theatre, to remember everything and deliver at one go is difficult, but the graph helps. There are a lot of rehearsals involved in theatre. (Smiles) But the biggest difference is the fat cheque that follows for a movie, compared to theatre.
From your first project till date, which are your favourite ones?
I’ve learnt a lot from each of my projects, especially from 'Dil Se’ where dubbing was difficult to 'Pink’ where things were in better control. Interestingly, the projects that I am known for are not necessarily the projects that I like. I do not like my performance in 'Gangs Of Wasseypur’. I had a lot of screen space in the movie and I am thankful for the project, but I feel that I was just there and didn’t do anything revolutionary. I do like my performance in 'Pink’ and 'Revolver Rani’.
What are the lessons you’ve learnt, having acted with the youngest and also some of the veteran actors in the industry?
In 'Pink’, I got a chance to interact with Amitabh Bachchan. It was amazing to see how disciplined he is. I’ve never seen someone who practises their lines more than me. In fact, he can go on till he feels everything is perfect. Acting with Shah Rukh was interesting in 'Dil Se’. I came to know much later that he used to bunk college to watch my plays. Manoj Bajpayee and I used to do theatre earlier and he is a great actor. Acting with Kangana was different as she wants to experiment with everything in different ways.
How has the industry changed since the late 90s to now?
The industry can be divided into a pre and post Anurag Kashyap phase. There are a lot of new writers and actors now. The industry has so many interesting filmmakers from Vishal Bhardwaj to Imtiaz Ali to Rajkumar Hirani now. There are many new plots and stories now, which wasn’t the case earlier.
Where are the lyrics for your songs inspired from?
Keep your eyes and ears open and you will be automatically inspired. I cannot write out of thin air. All my themes are inspired from socio-political backgrounds or unstable situations. Art is created out of instability.
An exciting twist to your journey so far...
Forming my own band 'Ballimaran’ is a unique twist to my story. I got the same kick that I got from live performances. Exploring different things in life is the biggest aim of it.
The experience of being part of such a festival...
It is a great break to be away from the film industry and interact with new people. It's nice to be in Bengaluru as the weather is amazing. I like being in such festivals as they give new perspectives to different things. (Smiles) This festival was more elite compared to the others which is also a problem sometimes.
Having donned many avatars in the film industry, what do you like being known as?
I've always wanted to be remembered as an actor. Everything stemmed from acting for me. I have always wanted to know everything about this craft, be it how the expressions are formed or the technicalities. I have wanted to know what is happening from the atomic level itself.
How different is it to act for theatre and in front of the camera?
Acting is the same everywhere. In movies, sometimes the climax is shot earlier, thus one has to reach that emotional graph suddenly. This seemed awkward earlier but now it seems natural. In theatre, to remember everything and deliver at one go is difficult, but the graph helps. There are a lot of rehearsals involved in theatre. (Smiles) But the biggest difference is the fat cheque that follows for a movie, compared to theatre.
From your first project till date, which are your favourite ones?
I've learnt a lot from each of my projects, especially from 'Dil Se' where dubbing was difficult to 'Pink' where things were in better control. Interestingly, the projects that I am known for are not necessarily the projects that I like. I do not like my performance in 'Gangs Of Wasseypur'. I had a lot of screen space in the movie and I am thankful for the project, but I feel that I was just there and didn't do anything revolutionary. I do like my performance in 'Pink' and 'Revolver Rani'.
What are the lessons you've learnt, having acted with the youngest and also some of the veteran actors in the industry?
In 'Pink', I got a chance to interact with Amitabh Bachchan. It was amazing to see how disciplined he is. I've never seen someone who practises their lines more than me. In fact, he can go on till he feels everything is perfect. Acting with Shah Rukh was interesting in 'Dil Se'. I came to know much later that he used to bunk college to watch my plays. Manoj Bajpayee and I used to do theatre earlier and he is a great actor. Acting with Kangana was different as she wants to experiment with everything in different ways.
How has the industry changed since the late 90s to now?
The industry can be divided into a pre and post Anurag Kashyap phase. There are a lot of new writers and actors now. The industry has so many interesting filmmakers from Vishal Bhardwaj to Imtiaz Ali to Rajkumar Hirani now. There are many new plots and stories now, which wasn't the case earlier.
Where are the lyrics for your songs inspired from?
Keep your eyes and ears open and you will be automatically inspired. I cannot write out of thin air. All my themes are inspired from socio-political backgrounds or unstable situations. Art is created out of instability.
An exciting twist to your journey so far...
Forming my own band 'Ballimaran' is a unique twist to my story. I got the same kick that I got from live performances. Exploring different things in life is the biggest aim of it.

The experience of being part of such a festival...
It is a great break to be away from the film industry and interact with new people. It’s nice to be in Bengaluru as the weather is amazing. I like being in such festivals as they give new perspectives to different things. (Smiles) This festival was more elite compared to the others which is also a problem sometimes.
Having donned many avatars in the film industry, what do you like being known as?
I’ve always wanted to be remembered as an actor. Everything stemmed from acting for me. I have always wanted to know everything about this craft, be it how the expressions are formed or the technicalities. I have wanted to know what is happening from the atomic level itself.
How different is it to act for theatre and in front of the camera?
Acting is the same everywhere. In movies, sometimes the climax is shot earlier, thus one has to reach that emotional graph suddenly. This seemed awkward earlier but now it seems natural. In theatre, to remember everything and deliver at one go is difficult, but the graph helps. There are a lot of rehearsals involved in theatre. (Smiles) But the biggest difference is the fat cheque that follows for a movie, compared to theatre.
From your first project till date, which are your favourite ones?
I’ve learnt a lot from each of my projects, especially from 'Dil Se’ where dubbing was difficult to 'Pink’ where things were in better control. Interestingly, the projects that I am known for are not necessarily the projects that I like. I do not like my performance in 'Gangs Of Wasseypur’. I had a lot of screen space in the movie and I am thankful for the project, but I feel that I was just there and didn’t do anything revolutionary. I do like my performance in 'Pink’ and 'Revolver Rani’.
What are the lessons you’ve learnt, having acted with the youngest and also some of the veteran actors in the industry?
In 'Pink’, I got a chance to interact with Amitabh Bachchan. It was amazing to see how disciplined he is. I’ve never seen someone who practises their lines more than me. In fact, he can go on till he feels everything is perfect. Acting with Shah Rukh was interesting in 'Dil Se’. I came to know much later that he used to bunk college to watch my plays. Manoj Bajpayee and I used to do theatre earlier and he is a great actor. Acting with Kangana was different as she wants to experiment with everything in different ways.
How has the industry changed since the late 90s to now?
The industry can be divided into a pre and post Anurag Kashyap phase. There are a lot of new writers and actors now. The industry has so many interesting filmmakers from Vishal Bhardwaj to Imtiaz Ali to Rajkumar Hirani now. There are many new plots and stories now, which wasn’t the case earlier.
Where are the lyrics for your songs inspired from?
Keep your eyes and ears open and you will be automatically inspired. I cannot write out of thin air. All my themes are inspired from socio-political backgrounds or unstable situations. Art is created out of instability.
An exciting twist to your journey so far...
Forming my own band 'Ballimaran’ is a unique twist to my story. I got the same kick that I got from live performances. Exploring different things in life is the biggest aim of it.