Theatre personality and actor Advait Kottary can’t remember a time when he wasn’t fascinated by the idea of being on stage. The automobile engineer turned actor, who recently made his international debut with UK filmmaker Gurinder Chaddha’s Beecham House, has his sights set on many things. In a candid chat, he shares the inside track— his growing up years, and his filmy aspirations.
“Ever since I had watched Bend it Like Beckham as a kid, I had wondered what it would be like to work with someone like Gurinder ma’am.
Naturally, when I got the confirmation I was thrilled but nervous too,” begins the Mumbai boy, who spent a significant part of his student life in Manipal, and has also lived in Bengaluru. “This city gave our group the first taste of professional theatre when we performed One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at Alliance Française,” he reminisces, while adding, “I think Manipal was an amazing phase in my life. It has the perfect setting for anyone to explore themselves and grow.
Getting to perform plays not only there but in cultural festivals across the country for the college, was the foundation of my theatrical experience. I’m half Kannadiga so I really took to the food like a duck to water. I think it’s in our genes! One place I always make it a point to visit whenever I am in Bengaluru is one of the MTR restaurants”
Quiet like most starry-eyed newbies, Advait is all praises for Gurinder Chaddha’s execution. “Gurinder gives a lot of freedom to everyone to do their job to the best of their ability, and really drives everyone to deliver their best.”
Advait attributes the discovery of his passion for lights, camera an action to destiny. “I was always a very curious child, and that’s still true about me. My first experience with acting happened in school, where I had to play two roles in a small play and got a standing ovation for my performance.”
And well, that’s where it all started. Elucidating about the same, Advait adds, “My teachers and principal were all very surprised to see this side of me because I was otherwise very reserved. Then when I was in college, we put up a lot of plays in Manipal where I studied, as well as in Bengaluru. Doing an acting course at Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares was a turning point. It opened my eyes up to a whole new world of acting on camera. And of course, playing the lead in Wizcraft’s extravagant musical Jaan-e-Jigar in Dubai for a year after that was a surreal experience.”
Advait is open to taking on small yet significant roles. For instance, his role in the upcoming Akshay Kumar starrer Mission Mangal. He elucidates, “My role was a small but really fun one. The atmosphere on set was awesome. Our director Jagan Sir is like a well-oiled machine, just inspirational, and Akshay Sir is really amazing and always in a good mood.”
