Born and brought up in the US, actor Akshay Oberoi feels that his connection with films is a gift from his father that made him passionate enough to live the dream of becoming an actor, and today, when he has made it, feels like a dream come true, where there is no scope for regrets. In conversation with 
TMM, he talks about his journey, the most challenging role till date, and why the concept of the director’s actor is misconstrued.
How and when did you fall in love with acting?
I guess my father played a big role in making me who I am today. I was 12, and he used to make me watch the films of Guru Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Balraj Sahni, and many more, and then post-movie, he used to have in-depth discussion about the plot and acting and slowly I was so deeply soaked in the process that drove to me join the acting school and at 15, I joined Kishore Namit Acting Institute and from there the passion to become an actor started. Also, from the very beginning, my father told me that becoming a star is not in your hands, but becoming an actor is, so make sure that you study acting as an art form and evolve with it.
You are a passionate dancer too. Did you ever think of picking it as a career?
Honestly, I am not a passionate dancer; I learned dancing just to be a full package Hindi film actor. Slowly as I have evolved as an actor I don’t see myself dancing in front of the camera and it is quite visible in the types of films I have done till date. Also, now I see dancing as a separate entity and people who expertise in that. I don’t think I like the idea of actors as dancers, definitely not my cup of tea!
You have done theatre, television, and films too. What is most exciting and at the same time truly challenging and why?
Well, acting for any medium is exciting and therapeutic. As far as which one is challenging is concerned, they all have their own pros and cons. For me, the technical aspect of film making is exciting and challenging at the same time and it the blend of excitement and challenges it offers is something that I love being a part of it. However, the theatre has its own charm and it can never be replaced, in terms of proximity and intimacy it offers with your audience.
Are you a director’s actor or you prefer to walking the journey as per your vision?
I guess this whole idea of are you a director’s actor is misconstrued. We need to understand that it’s the director’s vision to which we all are working, so as an actor it’s my responsibility to work on it. Having said that, it is my creative instinct and role as an actor too, to bring more variety to the table. So, when it comes to my projects, I work on the vision of the director, but at the same time, I surely give my inputs in making the scene or sequence more meaningful and content to reach the ultimate goal of the director.
Which has been the most challenging role till date and why?
It is definitely Shankar Raman’s Gurgaon. The film actually stretched me a lot as an actor and taught me some really good habits. It was for the first time I play an antagonist and spoke Haryanawi. The most interesting part in this film was, there were very less dialogues, so majority communication happened through feelings and gestures and that called for understanding the script and scene. It’s a path-breaking movie in my career till date.
You were pretty active on Instagram during the lockdown 2020. What is social media for you?
(Laughs) I was relatively more active on Instagram during the lockdown. For me, it is more about connecting with fans and followers and read through what people say about my work. Apart from that, I find it far away from the reality of life. To be frank, if I would not have been an actor, I would have never made an account even. It’s a superficial world, while I am searching for the truth in life.
Will you ever participate in a TV reality show? If yes, why, if not, then also why?
Probably not! I say probably because you never know what happens in the future and financial issues make you choose a path that you never wanted to walk on. I became an actor to hide behind the characters and with these reality shows, I will have to be who I am, and I don’t think I came here for that. I am here to showcase my art and I am happy doing so.
How do you choose projects and do you have regrets for signing or not signing any project till date?
I make choices on the basis of creative instinct and what my heart says. Apart from that, I think there is so much energy involved in this industry with every nitty-gritty that you don’t have time to regret, or I would say, there is no need to regret, because nobody can predict that whether the project will be a hit or a flop.
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