Sep 09, 2026 6:00pm IST
Puneet Issar on Playing Ravana on Stage and ‘Ramayana’ Cast: ‘Yash is Good as Ravana; The Fact That a Big Film is Being Made on Lord Rama Makes Me Happy’ (EXCLUSIVE)
From playing Duryodhan in B.R. Chopra’s iconic “Mahabharat” on TV, to playing Ravan on stage, Puneet Issar has embraced characters who stand on the other side of the hero’s narrative. He believes the vanquished, too, deserve a voice—and that the most compelling antagonists are those who are intelligent, powerful and deeply flawed.
The actor who essays the role of Ravan in the play “Ishwar” says, “At present, ‘Jai Shri Ram: Ramayan,’ ‘Jai Shri Krishna: Gita Saar,’ and ‘Mahabharat: An Epic Tale’ are being staged. I occasionally perform shows of ‘Ishwar,’ too.” In a conversation with Variety India, he talks about the appeal of playing mythological characters, the discipline and adrenaline of live theater, his preparation for Duryodhan, the hardships that followed the “Coolie” accident and his journey from actor to director.
From Duryodhan to Ravan, what draws you to giving antagonists a platform to voice their perspective?
Ravan and Duryodhan are very interesting characters. Because my persona is so big, I fit into those roles like a glove. At 60-plus, I’m in the right age group to play Ravan. I played Duryodhan when I was 30, which was the right age then.
What high does live theater offer you that acting for the camera simply cannot match?
As an actor, one is performing and expressing oneself; whether it’s theater, films, television or web. In a film, you get reactions after you’ve done your work. But in theater, you get an instant reaction. If you are doing well, the applause comes right at that moment. Live theater is a direct adrenaline rush.
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You have also written your own lines.
Anyone can write normal dialogues in a prose style. My thought was to experiment with poetry, but that doesn’t mean it’s a poetry convention. The difficult part is that you cannot change the dialogue, because its meter might get messed up. You have to memorize those exact lines by heart and speak only those.
Is live theater seeing a resurgence, and is it economically profitable now?
Natya Shastra is thousands of years old and will always exist. Live performance is a good thing. But economically, not at all. People misunderstand that theater is profitable—no, we are very far from that.
Your performance as Duryodhan in B.R. Chopra’s 'Mahabharat' remains the benchmark. How did you physically and mentally prepare for the part?
You have to voraciously read whatever was written about Duryodhan—Mahakavi Bhasa’s “Urubhangam,” Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s “Rashmirathi,” Maithili Sharan Gupt’s “Jayadrath Vadh,” and Ved Vyas. Reading led to the conclusion that Duryodhan is a headstrong, stubborn boy with complexes. Physically, I had to be strong. I started weight training and bodybuilding because Duryodhan needed to be bare-bodied. Back in 1988, nobody had a built physique—everyone was wearing heavy armor. I was the only one doing weight training back then, so I was ahead of my time.
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What kind of reactions did you receive for your Duryodhan cameo in 'Welcome to the Jungle'?
I was laughing when director Ahmed Khan told me about the cameo. People liked it.
What’s your take on Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana in ‘Ramayana’?
Ranbir Kapoor is brilliant as Lord Rama; Yash as Ravana is good, too. The very fact that such a big film is being made on Lord Rama makes me happy. Ranbir is the best actor we have in the industry today. He is sensitive and has a wide range. When Ranbir plays Lord Rama, he will do it brilliantly.
The years following the accident on the sets of ‘Coolie’ redefined your career.
It was all destiny; a period of churning for me. My struggling period from 1982 to 1987, when I got less work due to the backlash, made me stronger mentally and physically. Destiny intended for me to go through this hardship because it made me stronger.
Did Amitabh Bachchan ever say anything?
No, he is a brilliant, big-hearted and magnanimous man. There was not even a trace of any issue in his heart.
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