For an audience, theaters and the movie industry might seem like highly competitive fields. But for actors, it is their job to make their audience believe, be it from a stage or through a screen. While the Nepali movie industry has been here for long, theater culture only recently set its foot. My City’s Ashma Aryal caught up with two Nepali actors, who’ve acted in movies and theaters alike, to talk about their journey in the entertainment industry.

Shristi Shrestha
How has your experience of working in theatre and movies been?
It has been a great experience for me. Initially, doing movies demanded a lot of effort because I needed to know what angle was going to make the scenes look good and I had to bring out right emotions at the right moment. You are an individual performer when acting in movies. But for plays, once you’re in the theatre, every actor stays in the character. This makes it easier to bring out the emotions naturally. Also, I love the direct contact I can have with the audiences during plays. I think it’s a beautiful moment.

What made you chose the acting field?
I feel that theatre is a grounded way to learn and act. I also feel like theatre plays are raw, personal and authentic. However in case of movies, I think it’s a little bit more commercial. Also a lot of technical know-how is involved in movies.

Is there a difference between theatre audience and movie audience?
Movies have a vast audience. Like, people usually watch movies with family or friends of all ages to have a good time. But theatre audiences are selective. Only people who are really interested and experienced ones come to watch plays in theaters. In Nepal, theatre is not as commercialized as movies.

While working, which one do you enjoy the most, movies or theatres?
Since I have acted in a single movie and a single play, I don’t think I can decide it already. I’m not really experienced and I don’t think I can judge. I’ll have to see it yet.

Any recent projects?
My recent project is ‘Romeo and Muna’. I am also currently working on a film called ‘Laure’.

Life lessons you’ve learnt while working in the field?
From theatres, I learnt that the more you are aware of yourself, the more you can give as an actor. It’s really important to self-observe and self-study in order to give your best. Since almost everyone has gone through tough times, it has taught me to use those experiences to bring out the most out of my character. As for movies, I’ve definitely learnt to be patient.

Where do you see Nepali movie/theatre scenario in around five years?
More than predicting it, I wish that both areas of work will progress in a parallel manner. I hope the audiences will showmore admiration and respect for these fields so that actors get to show their creativity, skill and love for acting.

Divya Dev
How has your experience of working in theatre and movies been?
I started acting in theatre and movies almost at the same time. Initially, acting in theatre was more challenging because I wasn’t well equipped with the skills it requires. But nowadays, I find acting for camera more challenging as there is no room for dishonesty on the screen and also because of the fact that it is technically sound.

What made you chose the acting field?
Probably because of the fact that things that I can do or express in my life has a limit, but I can play exceptional and unimaginable characters, deliver the most brilliant lines, explore intense and complex human emotions when I am acting. It’s so much fun.

Is there a difference between theatre audience and movie audience?

Theatre demands participation from its audiences, a kind of coexistence with the performance. Audiences have to put an effort while watching a play. Meanwhile, going to watch a movie is merely escaping from boredom.

While working, which one do you enjoy the most, movies or theatres?
I love the whole process of making a play. You get to work/rehearse closely with the entire team for two to three months and that adds to the performance. The live audience and their energy are addictive as well as surreal. On the other hand, acting for camera is an intimate business. It allows me to be subtle with my craft.

Any recent projects?
The biopic ‘Rudane’ is in the post-production phase. I will be back to theatre with Clifford Odets’s ‘The Golden Boy’ in September and I will be shooting my next film in November.

Life lessons you’ve learnt while working in the field?
Take it easy and have fun. After all, as Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”

Where do you see Nepali movie/theatre scenario in around five years?
I hope we will be more professional, make much better movies/plays and tell our stories to an international audience.