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Versatility is the ultimate virtue of refined actor. His or her ability to bring to life a character which is a mere scribble on a paper is what defines a true actor. Having donned both a comedic and dramatic avatar, there is no one better than Pankit Thakker to tell all when it comes to the art of performing.
When asked which of the two is more difficult he actor said,
“Honestly, I must say that even though it’s my forte, comedy is harder. Mainly, because you can’t fake funny.If you don’t believe me, try making yourself produced a laugh, and then try making yourself produce tears. I think you’ll find it much more challenging to make yourself genuinely laugh, than you will tears.”
He further states,
“I once hear in an interview that even the great Dilip Kumar had a difficult time making himself laugh on cue in a scene. I have found that most comedic actors can easily shift into drama, yet not all dramatic actors can make the shift into comedy.Comedy is demanding because it’s all about having a keen sixth sense of timing.You have to feel when to pause for the laughs; sensing when to continue.”
So how difficult is comedy which is not interactive?
“That is even more difficult because there is no live audience. Comedy relies much on the participation of the audiences audible reaction. So, if you are doing a scene in a television show and have a dead silence on the sets, you have to learn how to rise above it and not permit that to affect your performance. Once you can sense that the person behind the camera or the people in the crew surrounding you are smiling and trying to control the laughter, you know you’ve got it right!”
How important is your co-actor’s understanding of a scene for a proper execution?
“I have always found it frustrating to work with other actors who like to talk about and analyze a scene incessantly before rehearsing it. I guess you could call me an ‘organic actor’ because I don’t act by thinking about it. I act by throwing myself into a scene and then seeing what happens. I let my intuition lead the way.”
Pankit further goes on to explain that nothing is more important than believing in yourself and in your character. As for picking between drama and comedy, the dramatic actor with an active funny bone feels that he’s got the best of both worlds with his latest venture Bahu Hamari Rajni_Kant.
“Comedy and Tragedy (drama) are like two sides of a coin. If one side is missing, the coin is a useless counterfeit. For me Dhyan’s character is the best of both world.”
Be sure to tune into Bahu Hamari Rajni_Kant to catch Pankit in action!
