‘My first performance was on Apeejay’s stage’

Like many of us who have participated in school plays, Gurasis Singh’s first stage performance was to become a tree amongst 40 other students. From there, the young actor soon became a regular performer at his school, Apeejay School Mahavir Marg’s annual appreciation days. Awarded the ‘Best in Theatre’ recognition at school that is given to an actor only once in his school years, the seeds for Singh’s acting career were sown early on. In an interview, he talks about his work and aspirations. Edited excerpts:   

Please tell us about your educational journey.

I am a first-year Masters student at the Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA), Jalandhar, pursuing the M. Voc (Theater and Television Production) programme. Prior to this, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Television Production from the same college and I studied at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg from classes 1 to 12.

When did your first brush with theatre happen?

I have been on stage since grade 3. Initially, it began as part of extracurricular at school. However, my teacher, Mr. Sunil Joshi Sir to whom I owe my knowledge of the field, built my confidence to pursue it professionally. My parents and my brother also supported me immensely in this career path.

Please give us an insight into your work

I have won twice the ‘Best Actor’ award at Youth Festivals from college. In the past five years, I have worked in short films and web series as an actor and director. I do content writing and copywriting too. Recently, I have started rapping and stand-up comedy as well.

I along with my college team created a short-film, ‘Useless’ in 2019. The movie was nominated for the 9th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival and we won a Special Mention Award. I had acted, written and co-directed the film. I have also worked as a writer for the show, ‘Dil Diyan Gallan with Sonam Bajwa’ that is telecast on Zee5 Punjabi channel.

What is your most memorable experience on stage?

Recently, I performed at a Winter Carnival where we witnessed a gathering of thousands of people. I performed a rap song there which I had written for my mother for her birthday in January. When I performed it on stage, I received a tremendous response from the audience. I was surprised to see how everyone had put on the flashlights of their mobiles, and they sang along and wished my mother. For me, it was a priceless moment and one of the biggest recognitions the stage has given me.

What would be your key learning from the stage?

How to live, that’s what I have learnt.

For someone wanting to start acting, your advice?

It is passion which really cannot be learnt. As far as I understand it, one should just go out there and try to explore it. There is no coaching that could be given to learn this art.

Your role models?

Diljit Dosanjh – be it acting or music, he is the best. I think he is the only artiste who has been a big hit amongst the audience from the 2000s to 2022. I look up to him on how he has adapted to the demands of the industry. He has continuously evolved and explored different genres as a performer. Also, Gurdas Maan Sahab, the Indian playback singer, is like a god for me as I have grown up listening to his music.

Where do you think you would be in the next 5 years?

On stage.