'If You Stay Honest, the Audience Will Connect' — Kunal Sharma on Multilingual Acting & Learning by Doing

With his latest film Maqam in theatres, Kunal Sharma reflects on a decade-long journey that has taken him across languages, regions, and cinematic styles.

Best known for his roles in Rahasya, The Ghazi Attack, Plan B, and soon to be seen in the upcoming Telugu film Trend Marina Friend Maradu, Kunal says working in films across different languages has been both tough and transformative. “Switching languages isn’t easy,” he admits. “I used to get dialogues written phonetically in English and then work on the tone and pauses with an assistant.”

A memorable moment came during a shoot with veteran actor Murli Sharma. “We were doing a scene in Plan B, and after the take, he said my Telugu delivery felt natural. That gave me a lot of confidence.” Kunal notes the difference in work culture too. “In southern industries like Tamil and Telugu, there’s an unmatched level of punctuality and professionalism. It sharpens you. Also, the way they respect actors—it’s inspiring.”

On the learning front, Kunal says working in unfamiliar languages made him a better listener. “You can’t just rely on lines—you understand emotion through rhythm, pauses, and expression.” His exposure to different regions has also helped him grow personally. “You experience cultures from within. It’s not just acting; it’s understanding how people live, feel, and tell stories.”

He credits early encouragement from actors like Ashish Vidyarthi. “He once told me he worked in South films without knowing the language—just with commitment. That stuck with me.”

Kunal now finds strength in this versatility. “Whether it’s Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or Oriya—I want to keep learning, keep growing.”