June 25th 2023.
Actor and author Vivaan Shah is one busy bee! His work diary is full to the brim with web series, movies, theatre, and literary pursuits. Recently, Vivaan released his third novel, The Forsaken Wilderness. At present, he is a part of the anthology Koi Baat Chale by Zee Theatre, directed by Seema Pahwa. In this anthology, Vivaan is seen in Gulli Danda, which is based on the legendary writer, Munshi Premchand.
In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, Vivaan opens up about his new project as well as his journey as an actor and a writer. Talking about his experience of narrating Munshi Premchand’s story Gulli Danda for Koi Baat Chale, Vivaan says that it was a dream come true. He has always been a huge admirer of Munshi Premchand’s works and had even written a literary essay about how much his works mean to him.
When asked what makes Koi Baat Chale special for him, Vivaan talks about the immense opportunity it gave him to work with Seema Pahwa and to be able to inhabit the work of his favourite writer, Munshi Premchand. He adds that through this project, he was able to explore and showcase the wealth of Hindi literature that is our heritage.
Vivaan then talks about his journey and initiation into theatre. He recounts how theatre has been a part of his life since childhood, thanks to his parent’s production which featured the famous short story, Bade Bhai Saahab. He further adds that his involvement with theatre has spawned his career as a novelist.
Vivaan also talks about his parents’ influence on his career as an actor. He reveals that his parents warned him to focus on the craft and not be swayed by the bells and whistles of stardom. They also told him that if he wanted to be a star, then he would have to work very hard to be able to do so.
When asked about writing, Vivaan says that he has always been a writer and regards himself as not just an actor. He then talks about his third book, The Forsaken Wilderness, which is quite different from his previous works. He reveals that what made him deviate from crime fiction to sci-fi was the sense of wonder about the cosmos that has always permeated the tradition of science fiction that he draws from.
Vivaan then talks about his literary inspirations, which include Edgar Allan Poe, Joseph Conrad, Munshi Premchand, and Manto. When asked how he finds time for his literary pursuits, Vivaan says that it is an essential part of his day and he is constantly writing, even when he’s on a shoot.
Finally, Vivaan is asked to choose his favourite platform out of theatre, movies, and OTT. He says that theatre is hands down his favourite and believes that the digital revolution has made the distribution of work more democratic.
As for his future projects, Vivaan reveals that he has several exciting projects lined up, including Charlie Chopra and the Mystery of the Solang Valley by Vishal Bhardwaj, U-Shape ki Gully by Avinash Das, a show about doctors directed by Sahir Raza, his film Coat, and a thriller for Applause Entertainment.
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