Kishore on returning to theatre, conscious cinema choices, and life on the farm

I’ve always had the intention and urge to do theatre. But the biggest obstacle has been time, finding time to rehearse and being free during show dates. Unlike cinema, where the dates keep shifting and shoots can be moved around, theatre demands a fixed schedule. That commitment is difficult. This particular project felt more feasible. Initially, we rehearsed for a good number of days, and now for repeated shows, we only need a couple of rehearsals. Since it’s a reading of letters rather than a full-fledged play, it appears to require less practice, but it has its own unique challenges. At first, I said yes thinking, “It’s just a reading, let me give it a try.” But theatre, even when it’s just a staged reading, is a completely different medium. Another reason I decided to return to theatre is that, as an art form, it offers more freedom and it's less constrained by financial pressures or political boundaries.

Yes. Thanks to the efforts of the entire team and an open-minded audience. It’s a different kind of play, just two actors reading letters on stage. It’s not an easy format to accept. But the audience has been so generous and are ready to accept whatever we are trying to tell. A huge thanks to them.

Absolutely! In cinema, we’re used to having multiple takes, rehearsals, and comfort on set. Theatre is raw. There’s no luxury of retakes. You rehearse, go on stage, and perform in front of a live audience. I had to do a lot of unlearning.

Definitely! After all, it’s still acting, just that here, you act in front of an audience instead of a camera. But cinema has given me a lot of tools: timing, emotion, discipline. Still, the pressure of theatre is very different. You have one chance to get it right.

Yes, I did college and amateur theatre. After I got into films, we formed our own team and did a couple of small productions. But beyond that, I couldn’t continue with theatre seriously. So, I’d say my theatre journey was largely limited to college days.

I don't know if ‘satisfied’ is the right word. I’ve been given more than I deserve, honestly. I’ve seen very talented people who never got the opportunities they deserved. So yes, I feel fortunate. I’ve learned to manage and adapt, that’s all. I see myself simply as a ‘reactor’, just getting by. If I've achieved anything, it's by responding to others' ideas. So, the credit truly belongs to the other actors, the director, and the entire team.

For me, the story itself and its underlying message are what matter most. The role comes next, how it’s portrayed, what it conveys, all of that. The ideology behind the film is very important to me, along with what the film intends to communicate and the impact it will have on the audience. Of course, it’s impossible to fully predict how the audience will respond, but based on my knowledge and experience, both the effect on the audience and on myself play a big role in deciding whether to take on a project. When given a choice, I do have some say, but often, for many projects, you have to dive in regardless.

To some extent, yes. Like I said earlier, what truly matters is the message the story conveys. I often play negative roles in films, like in Kabali, where I portrayed an upper-caste character who carries an undercurrent of caste bias and prejudice. Despite playing a negative role, the film’s overall message was positive and aligned with the right values, so I was comfortable with it. Ultimately, the film’s intent is what matters most to me.

If a film promotes ideas I don’t believe in or spreads misinformation, I won’t be part of it. For example, I was approached for a film on Savarkar, which was clearly a propaganda film, but I refused. I said, ‘Even if you pay me Rs 10 crore or 20 crore, I won't do this.’ It wasn’t truthful or based on facts, so I simply said no. Similarly, I was asked to audition for Aurangzeb, which I declined. At one point, I thought maybe I could be part of such a film and use my voice to speak against the propaganda, but I realised the machinery behind these projects is too powerful, it would silence me or prevent me from speaking out. In the end, by not participating, I can rest easy knowing I’m not contributing to something that spreads division and hatred.

I believe we’re obligated to. I have my own perspective on this, and I don’t expect everyone to agree or follow it. But to me, cinema is more than just an art form, entertainment, or a means of expression. There’s something deeper, an emotional connection with the audience. People come back to watch us repeatedly because they love us and the characters we portray. That trust and affection build up over time. They’re not obligated to feel this way; they could simply pay for the ticket, watch the film, and move on with their lives. But they choose to follow us, to support us, and that gives us more opportunities.

So, cinema isn’t just a business, it’s something more. Because of that, I feel a sense of obligation. That’s why I speak up. I believe I should be a voice for the people who love and trust me. Not everyone may nurture art, and art itself isn’t a basic necessity, yet people still support it because it keeps their own voice alive. In that sense, I feel responsible to speak on behalf of those who believe in me.

There’s room for all kinds of perspectives in cinema. India is a democracy, a free country, and everyone is entitled to their own way of thinking. That diversity of thought is important. It’s a valid school of thought and contributes to keeping cinema alive. When you want to tell stories that reflect real issues and struggles people face, those films need an audience willing to engage with them.

At the same time, purely entertaining films play a crucial role in sustaining the audience and bringing people back to theatres regularly. This keeps the entire industry alive. Every kind of film has its place and purpose, and none should be dismissed outright. They all serve their intended roles in different ways.

Well… I am still driving (laughs). I hope to complete it soon. Once you’re an actor and start getting good roles, it becomes very difficult to focus on anything else. Even if I’ve planned shoots and everything else, when a great role comes up, you can’t let it go. The film is actually about letting go, but ironically, I find it hard to let go of the roles I’m offered. Hopefully, we’ll get to see Drive soon.

I’ve finished a Kannada film with director Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy, who earlier made Aachar & Co. It’s an interesting script. There are a couple more films in the pipeline, some that were completed earlier and are now in post-production.

The farm is growing on its own, and I don’t need to interfere much. Occasionally, I step in, mostly to replant trees or plants that have suddenly dried up or died, or the ones that others may have accidentally damaged. Aside from that, not much intervention is required anymore. We still grow some basic annual crops like ragi, mostly for fodder. It's more about caretaking now, watching the plants grow, harvesting, sharing the yield, and enjoying the process. Nothing too intensive. We get quite a lot of produce, mainly fruits. Earlier, we had a rule in the house- to eat a full plate of fruits every morning. We used to buy fresh fruits daily. But now, we’ve let go of that rule. We eat only what’s available, mostly from the farm.

Since my wife also runs an organic store, the fruits that come there, often the overripe or slightly spoiled ones, end up being our share. We salvage what we can and eat those. It’s been that way for almost 5–6 years now, and even the kids are used to it. We all have just two meals a day.

Farming has actually taught me a lot of patience. And, unexpectedly, it’s given me a process for acting too. It happened by accident, but I’ve found that the two are deeply connected. I remember being in an interview while promoting She, where I was with a group of young actors. They were incredibly dedicated, putting in so much effort and preparation. I was amazed by what they did. But I couldn't do any of that as I’m a very lazy actor. I even tried, briefly, but realised that if I forced myself to work like that, I’d end up ruining what I was already doing. I don’t know those techniques, and I’ve made peace with that. I’m okay doing things my way.

During the interview, someone asked about my process. All the younger actors were enthusiastically describing their routines, and I started to get nervous because, honestly, I don’t have a process. That’s when I came up with an answer. I told them I’m a natural farmer. In farming, I don’t interfere much. I just go, sit, observe, and only step in when absolutely necessary. My role is mostly to be present and let things grow on their own. I don’t disrupt what’s naturally happening. I realised that’s exactly how I approach acting too.

I call it “do-nothing farming,” and that’s how I act as well. I just show up, be present, listen to the story, absorb what’s happening, and only act when it’s needed. The rest of the time, I step back and let things unfold.

They’re quite okay with it. It’s nothing special for them because they’ve been exposed to it from a young age. There are things they enjoy, and things they don’t. They don’t necessarily want to keep working in the fields, and that’s perfectly fine. The elder one loves animals and is now studying veterinary science. In fact, the way he interacts with animals is something even I don’t do. It’s really beautiful to watch. He is very calm and caring.

Our dog is a hound, and she naturally wants to run. I couldn't keep her on the farm because she started hunting the hens in the village, which led to fights with almost every neighbour. So, I had to bring her back home. As soon as I open the door, she runs away and refuses to come back. If I call her, she’ll come and stand in front of me, but the moment I take a step toward her, she runs again. But with him, it’s different. When he calls her, she quietly comes inside. That’s just how he is. They’ve picked up so much from the farm, their own way of understanding and relating to things.

It’s really interesting to see how they experience it differently than I do. I don’t expect them to see things the way I do, or to follow in my footsteps. I let them find their own way.

I’m not into biking as a sport or hobby, but I do ride. I prefer using my bike to get around wherever I go. Back in the day, we used to ride through the Himalayas and take long trips like that. But over time, with increasing responsibilities, we chose to hold back. There was a kind of self-restraint we put on ourselves.

Having said that, I really want to start riding long distances again. My bikes are ready. There’s an old diesel Bullet I gave to a mechanic for modification about seven years ago, and they're finally giving it back now! Now that the kids are grown up and the responsibilities have eased a bit, I think it’s time to get back to it. Especially in a city like Bangalore, a bike is still the best way to get around.