I believe that life’s like a flowchart. You pick one from a given set of choices and an entire sequence of events is set into motion. I grew up in Delhi and my life took an unexpected turn in the late ’90s when I failed to clear the IIT entrance exam. That’s when I started taking theatre seriously. Before this, I had only done bit roles in school plays just for fun.

It started with a Spic Macay workshop where veteran theatre personality, Habib Tanvir, was holding an audition for a play. When my turn came, I sang a Kishore Kumar song. Tanvir’s feedback was that I had ‘good voice projection’. That was it. Getting noticed by a stalwart like Tanvir instilled confidence in me.

My parents, of course, were not impressed. In a simple, middle-class Bengali family, acting was never considered a serious career option. But theatre was an eye-opener. At 17, I was not sure of what I really wanted to do with my life but the stage gave me determination and confidence. It made me realise my true calling. I was hooked and I have acted in and directed several plays since.

Another major turning point in my life was bagging the role of Lysander in Tim Supple’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2006. It transported me to a different space altogether. We toured abroad with the play and the keen interest that people had in theatre, their admiration for actors gave me a new high.

Then came Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey — perhaps the most glorious milestone for me so far. The audience’s appreciation of my role as Mikhail has been a humbling experience. Having spent a lot of time in theatre — acting, writing, directing, set designing, lighting… the works — I now want to get equally involved in films. I’ve just finished shooting for Hema Malini’s Tell Me Oh Khuda with Esha Deol. I’m looking forward to Remo D’Souza’s Faltu, Rafik Ellias’s Love you to Death and Santosh Sivan’s Urumi.

(As told to Angona Paul)