You need to prepare for any role really well if you take acting seriously – Neeraj Kabi

Actor Neeraj Kabi is without any doubt a veteran when it comes to the art of acting. A veteran of many films and theatre projects, Neeraj has also shown his potential as an acting coach. Recently, he came up with ZEE5’s latest, ‘Line Of Descent’ alongside Ronit Bose Roy. Neeraj engaged in an exclusive chit-chat with IWMBuzz, where he opened up on his role, the experience of it and a lot more. Read on to find out –

You played a dark, shady character in ‘Line Of Descent’. As an actor, how difficult is it to prepare for such characters? Do you enjoy it?

Well, preparations are there for every role that I do. You need to prepare for any role really well if you take acting seriously. Be it a biopic or an intellectual, every character requires you to prepare. As an actor, you need to do justice to all and you would want your audience to empathize with your character and not merely hate it. So as an actor, you are playing it at a global level and not for yourself. Thus, there is a lot of preparation that is required.

You have been doing theatre and have even functioned as an acting coach. How much does theatre help in the discipline?

Yes, absolutely, a lot. Theatre definitely helps. There are many film schools that teach acting. Until and unless you have learnt that discipline to perform darker characters, it is very difficult. Theatre is the foundation. There are classical singers doing riyaz even at the age of 80. So it is very important to practice. Theatre teaches you linearity. Theatre gives you a sense of voice and a lot of things. It is very important. I am very happy with whatever I have done in my character and I credit theatre a lot for that.

In this project, were you given the creative liberty to perform the way you want to or were you given a brief?

The director definitely gave me a brief and I interpreted the brief accordingly, to essay my character. When you have a great director and an actor, there’s a lot of mutual trust that happens and then it happens the other way round as well, where there’s a lot of creative liberty.

Lastly, what would be your favourite moments from the sets?

Well, there are definitely quite a lot, but I would say, my moments with Prem Chopra Sahab would be at the top. I have adored and loved this man’s work since my childhood, and have been frightened by his impeccable acting skills as a villain. So to have the same man around is amazing. My most favourite moments have been around him and with him for sure.