In Conversation with Udit Arora: From Jamtara to The Royals, Bringing Nuanced Characters to Life

Welcome to the 90s! We had a childhood filled with simplicity and just the right touch of chaos. Our days were spent playing gully cricket, marbles, and lukka-chuppi in the streets, while evenings meant watching everything from Shaktimaan to Malgudi Days. We had no smartphones, just landlines and letters, and our entertainment came from cassette tapes, Tinkle and Chacha Chaudhary, and Sunday movie marathons on DD1. Snacks meant Parle-G, Rasna, and Pepsi (the tube one, not the drink!). School life was about brown-covered notebooks, chalked white canvas shoes, and ink pens that felt like a rite of passage. We rewound tapes with pencils, played 8-bit Mario games, and believed Maggi was a complete meal. It was a time when joy came easy, friendships were real, and imagination filled the gaps where technology hadn’t yet reached.

Every time we would watch a film, most of us would dream of becoming a hero or heroine. For Udit, growing up in Kanpur, this wasn’t just a fleeting fantasy, it was a whisper of what could be. With his father being a theater actor himself, Udit felt the pull of the stage early. But when have the paths to pursue our dreams been linear?

Garima sat down with Udit to understand his journey – from Kanpur to Mumbai. Today, Udit is recognized and celebrated for his outstanding performances in The Royals, Agni, Crash Course, Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, Jamtara, and more.

His story is a raw, relatable nudge for anyone chasing a dream. And here's the excerpt from the conversation. Read along as we begin the conversation with his latest show – The Royals on Netflix.

What made you say yes to The Royals?

I love drama – just not in real life, but I love drama in the sense of the human exchange, the dynamics of relationships. I love exploring those things. The thing is, you can look at a situation as serious, but you can also give it a funny angle.

So when the part came to me, I thought, okay, this is a massive project, and it’s a rom‑com, rom‑coms aren’t being made in our country lately, so I felt personally there were many things that attracted me to it. I’ve been doing a lot of dramas for a long time. I wanted something fresh, something light, a comedy – nothing was coming my way. So when this came, and also Priyanka Ghosh (I’d worked with her on a TV show), I met her for a day because she was directing the younger versions of our characters in the show. We had a great chat, we kept in touch after Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, and this came after that. She was directing, I gave the test, they loved my audition.

And it was with Bhumi, Ishan, and all the big names, I thought, this is going to be amazing. Then I read the script – I felt it’s a fun, light‑hearted show with lots of subplots, and the characters are strong, each one with their individual arcs. When I read it, I thought it’s a good, very good satire.

We’re both 90s kids, a time when career options were quite specific and well outlined by our parents. Tell me, did you always want to become an actor?

Well, I think everyone at some point dreams of being an actor. Especially when you watch films, there’s something magical about it, and I think everyone wants to be a part of that world. But pursuing it professionally requires a certain temperament, a certain kind of person who realizes they can handle that kind of lifestyle.

For me, growing up, my father was a theater actor, and I’d often watch his plays. I was directly in contact with that process — the audience cheering for him, the way people reacted when he made his grand entry on stage. It was mesmerizing. And I would watch films and think, "I want to experience that.”

But at the same time, I didn’t want to follow that path for a long time. My school didn’t offer any theater programs, and I didn’t have the opportunity to pursue it. I was into cricket for a while. I even left my studies for cricket, but then I realized I was neglecting my academics, so I switched back to focus on that. My sister, on the other hand, was very clear about her future. She wanted to study literature and go abroad, and I just felt lost. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But then things changed.

My grandfather was a self-taught man, a very intelligent person. He worked at IIT Kanpur and always encouraged me to pursue engineering. And though I had an interest in science, I realized that engineering wasn’t for me.

By the time I was 17 or 18, I decided to pursue theater. I just felt, I shouldn’t let it go. My father was incredibly supportive, and that’s how my journey into acting began.

That’s such an interesting journey, Udit. Theatre had a big impact on you, even from a young age. But you didn’t just stop at theatre. You ventured into cinema as well. How was your transition into the film industry?

The transition to films was an interesting one. When I started auditioning, one of my first roles was in The Zoya Factor. It was a great experience, and even though the movie didn’t do as well as expected, people still appreciated my character. That was really encouraging. I always wanted to do something related to cricket, and that movie brought me full circle. It felt like a special moment.

But I’ve also had other experiences that were more personal. Crash Course, for instance, was a reflection of my own experiences. I had gone through that pressure of becoming an engineer, just like my character. And when I got the chance to portray that in Crash Course, it was very cathartic for me.

I think that’s why people connected with your character so much in Crash Course. You were able to bring a personal touch to it. And I think people resonated with the growth and redemption arc of your character. How do you manage to move on from a role like that, especially when the audience connects so deeply with it?

That’s a challenge for every actor. When a character stays with you, it’s hard to let go. Especially after you’ve invested so much into it. But, ultimately, it’s about realizing that the character’s attributes — whether it’s arrogance or humility — are really about understanding yourself.

In Crash Course, for example, I played a character who’s initially arrogant, but by the end, there’s growth and redemption. The audience appreciates that because they see themselves in that transformation.

When I’m preparing for a new character, it’s all about switching gears. Sometimes it’s exhausting. I remember shooting two projects at once — Zoya Factor and Jamtara. There was a point when I’d shoot for one project in the day and another in the night. It can be draining, but it’s also rewarding. You have to dig deep into your own experiences to bring those characters to life.

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You’re an outsider. Do you think that makes a difference?

Yes, people from film families might have an advantage when they start, and that's just the way it is. But that’s not the full story, and it’s not their fault. Anyone could have been born into a family in the industry, so I don’t blame them for it. If they get the chance, it's not on them.

At the end of the day, it's about hard work. If you don't have talent, no matter what advantages you have, how long can you go on if the audience doesn’t accept you? Hard work matters, and the rules are same for everyone — whether you’re from a film family or an outsider.

You mentioned that as an actor, you sometimes don’t get the luxury of time between roles. So how do you switch between characters? For instance, if you’ve played a character like Binny in Crash Course, and then you have to move on to something completely different, how do you transition?

That’s the toughest part about being an actor — especially when you’re constantly jumping between roles without a break. Ideally, after you finish a project, you’d take a break and recharge before moving on to the next one. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you’re going from one project to the next, and the transition is difficult.

When I’m playing a character, I try to understand how the audience will perceive them. For example, if I’m playing a character who’s unpredictable, like a gangster, I have to project that through my body language and expressions. That can be tough when you’re transitioning from one role to another, especially when they’re polar opposites. But at the end of the day, it’s about drawing on your own experiences and finding the essence of the character within you.

That’s fascinating. And I think that’s what makes your performances so impactful — your ability to connect with your characters on such a deep level. So, Udit, what’s next for you? How do you want to be remembered as an actor?

When I think about legacy, I always think about the impact of films and the stories we tell. Some of the films I saw growing up had a profound effect on me. They shaped who I am today, and I want to create work that resonates with people in the same way.

I want to make a difference, not by changing the world, but by telling stories that matter. Even if people remember just one of my performances, I hope it stays with them and leaves an impression.

Udit Arora: A Household Name

What does it actually mean to be a household name? When everyone from the youngest to the eldest person in the family relates with you, finds you familiar, and finds a voice through your character - that's actually when everyone's talking about you. Udit has quietly become a household name as his ability to seamlessly transition between intense, dramatic roles and more subtle, nuanced characters has earned him a loyal fanbase. And here are some of his outstanding performances.

Udit as Jazz Joseph in Agni

Agni, a 2024 film directed by Rahul Dholakia, is a moving tribute to the unsung heroes - the firefighters, showcasing their courage and selflessness. The story revolves around Vithal Rao (Pratik Gandhi), the head of a fire station, who, together with his dedicated team, faces life-threatening situations daily to safeguard lives. Udit (Jazz) plays an important role as a firefighter who helps educate children on the importance of the firefighting profession. His character adds a unique layer to the film, highlighting the emotional and societal aspects of the job while reinforcing the sense of community and supreme sacrifice that defines this profession, which can rightly be termed as 'service'.

The film was an instant hit and here's how Amul celebrated it.

Udit as Dhiman in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo: A battle between the heart and the mind

Udit Arora's portrayal of Dhiman in Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo stood out as a deeply nuanced character.

God, this was something else. I remember preparing for it and telling myself, ‘For the next two months, forget everything else, just focus on this.’ It was such a big break for me –working with Dimple Ma’am and Homi. When Homi explained the character to me, I was like, ‘Why did he choose me? I’m nothing like this person.’ But then I thought, okay, he trusts me—Homi’s taken a big gamble casting me.

Udit helps us understand his process of getting into the skin of a character like Dhiman.

It was very challenging. I knew I could do it, but there were certain attributes of Dhiman I wanted to bring out in my performance. Homi told me he’s a cold-blooded killer, but when he sees Shanta, his heart starts pounding. So I thought, ‘Okay, I can’t play this as two separate personalities, it’ll seem disconnected.’ I had to merge it all into one. Ultimately, it became a battle between the mind and the heart.

Udit says becoming Dhiman wasn’t easy. It’s about understanding the attributes. Dhiman enjoys killing. Udit had to find that aspect in himself and portray it convincingly, guilt-free. He adds how acting lets you explore parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.

Rashmirathi by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar helped me a lot. My Dad gifted me the book, I started reading about Karna, and that changed everything. Homi was telling me about Dhiman at the same time, and suddenly I saw the connection – Dhiman is Karna. An outcast. No one acknowledges him, but someone like Duryodhan sees him, accepts him, embraces him. That became my reference: Duryodhan could be my mother, because only she accepted me. That gave me a whole new perspective – to look at the world through Dhiman’s eyes.

On Working with Homi Adajania

With an experience like this, you don’t want to move on. I remember telling Homi, ‘You’ve spoiled us. Where else will we find something like this again?’

Udit said that working with Homi made him understand what real creative freedom feels like. Homi listened to everyone’s ideas and made everyone feel completely comfortable. He even shared stories about actors like Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah making mistakes, showing that it’s all part of the process.

At their first table read with Dimple Kapadia and the cast, Homi told everyone, “Throw the negativity out, bring in positivity.” That one line set the mood. Udit said, “We were all so different like a disfunctional family, but Homi brought us together under one roof.”

Talking about the success of Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo and why people connected with it, Udit said the story was dark but full of heart. What stood out most was that there was no judgment. “That’s Homi’s strength,” he said. “He doesn’t tell you what’s right or wrong – he just lets the characters be.”

Written by Garima, the Founder of The Story Bar, this article features an exclusive account of our conversation with Udit Arora. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube for more such stories.