‘It felt like coming home’: Ishwak Singh opens up about returning to theatre after years… says the stage still gives him unmatched freedom

Mumbai: Actor Ishwak Singh has spoken about his emotional return to the stage, describing theatre as the place where he truly discovered the art of acting. After spending several years working in films and OTT projects, the actor says stepping back onto the stage in 2026 felt like “coming home.”

Ishwak was associated with the Asmita Theatre Group from 2010 to 2019, a period he considers foundational to his acting journey. Although he made his stage comeback in 2023, it was his recent performance in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, where he portrayed the Maniac, that reminded him how deeply he had missed live theatre.

Reflecting on the experience, Ishwak said theatre offers a creative freedom that is difficult to replicate on camera. Unlike films, where actors can rely on multiple takes and edits, stage performances demand complete focus and spontaneity.

According to the actor, every show becomes a unique experience because the emotions, audience reactions, and performances naturally evolve with each presentation. That unpredictability, he believes, is one of theatre’s greatest strengths.

The play, adapted from Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo’s celebrated political satire, also reunited Ishwak with Asmita Theatre Group, making the experience even more meaningful.

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He described the production as physically demanding and emotionally intense, saying the fast-paced nature of the play required complete commitment from the cast. However, performing with the theatre group that shaped his early years made the challenge especially rewarding.

Ishwak also spoke about the unique bond between actors and a live audience, calling it one of the most fulfilling aspects of theatre.

“The energy that flows between the audience and the performers is immediate, unpredictable and alive,” he said, adding that those moments cannot be recreated in any other medium.

Comparing theatre with screen acting, Ishwak noted that the stage allows performers to experiment more freely with body language, voice modulation, and emotional expression. He believes theatre gives actors the space to remain vulnerable, take creative risks, learn from mistakes, and continue growing as artists.

Despite establishing himself in films and digital entertainment, Ishwak says theatre remains the foundation of his craft. Returning to the stage reminded him that actors are lifelong learners and that revisiting their roots often helps them grow even further.

Looking back on his comeback, the actor said the silence before a performance begins, the audience’s reactions, and the knowledge that every live show exists only once made the experience truly priceless.

On the professional front, Ishwak Singh has an exciting slate of upcoming projects. He will next be seen in Maddock Films’ Sarvagun Sampan, Prakash Jha’s Janaadesh, Devashish Makhija’s Gandhari, and Gaurav Madan’s independent feature What Remains.