From penning dialogues to calling the shots, Sumeet Vyas has donned multiple hats in the entertainment industry. Known for his versatile acting and writing skills in hits like ‘Permanent Roommates,’ ‘TVF Tripling,’ and ‘Veere Di Wedding,’ Sumeet has now successfully ventured into direction with his debut series ‘Raat Jawan Hai’ on Sony LIV.

In an exclusive chat, Sumeet opens up about his journey from actor-writer to director, sharing invaluable insights into the making of ‘Raat Jawan Hai.’ He delves into the unique challenges and joys of working with child actors, including infants, and reveals what inspired this poignant storytelling. As we delve into his creative process, Sumeet offers a candid look at the triumphs and tribulations of his directorial debut.

How did ‘Raat Jawan Hai’ happen to you?

I didn’t come up with the story. It’s written by Khyati Anand Puthran. We met two years ago, in 2022. I was, in fact, wanting to direct at that time. I had written a script, and I was moving around trying to find producers to do my project because I always wanted to direct the stuff that I had written, instead of directing someone else’s writing. But it so happened that I met Khyati; she told the story to me and sent me the script. At that time, she had written only two episodes of it. I really liked the universe she created and her writing. Because it is her first full-fledged film that she has written, there were no tricks of the traits involved. I connected with the material, and then we went on from there.

Did you have any kind of reservations about your directorial debut in the sense that the project should have a particular genre or element?

I wanted my debut to be a  good scale project and a good experience. I didn’t have a strategy per say, that I would do this kind of film or that kind of project. It’s because I don’t think one has control over such things. But I did wish that whenever I direct for the first time, I hope I’m not in circumstances that are very tough, because that happens most of the time, such as not finding the ideal actors for your project. Thankfully, I didn’t have to go through that; I was lucky on that front.

What inspired you to transition from acting to directing, and what drove this creative shift?

I have directed in the past; I have been directing plays for the longest. In fact, before we started shooting for this series, I had directed a play that stars Kumud Mishra, called ‘Purane Chawal’. I had been directing for a while, but for some reason, I didn’t perceive directing a cinema or a series that actively because the stakes are very high and a lot of money is involved. It's a whole different kind of struggle.

Do you see any technical differences while directing a play or a series?

It’s night and day. Directing a play is a very different experience where only the actors and the story are involved. Here (in a series), you’re telling the story through a camera.  There’s a lot that changes. Essentially, there is a lot of liberty but there is also a lot of technicality involved while directing a series or a film. You have to know how to tell a story through the camera. This is the difference between cinema and theater - in cinema, you don’t have to say everything. Since it’s a visual medium, if I can just have a shot of a particular moment, then that visual itself is a part of the narrative. It’s a very different experience.

How did your experience as an actor and a writer inform your approach to directing 'Raat Jawan Hai'?

I have been an actor for some 22-24 years now. I know what an actor goes through. I know why acting can get stuck on some things. Temperamentality I understand how they (actors) function. Being a writer helps too, because you’ve written in the past. Sometimes a lot of things that you have written get lost in the transition, which is the most painful part as a writer. You write something, give it to someone to direct it, and they have their take on it, and sometimes that take can be very different from what you must have thought while writing it. So, I was very cautious while directing the series because I didn’t want to change things. I wanted to keep my directorial tendencies in line with what the writer had written, instead of doing something entirely out-of-the-box. I didn’t want to challenge the material.

An actor, writer, or a director - the most challenging role, and why?

Being a director is the most challenging of these three roles, hands down. Writing and acting are also challenging in their own ways but just the sheer amount of things that you are in charge of as a director, is humongous. In that sense, I feel it’s a far more challenging job wherein the stakes are really high. For instance, some financial calls that you have taken during the pre-production, have a ripple effect during the shooting. In that sense, you have to be very cautious of a lot of things. At the same time, it’s also very rewarding that you have control over so many aspects.

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Sumeet Vyas | Photo: instagram/sumeetvyas

What were some of the most significant challenges you faced while filming ‘Raat Jawan Hai’?

The biggest challenge we faced was that we were shooting with children. We had kids involved - one was eight or nine months old, the other was a year and half old, and then the third one was three years old. We had a very silent set. Me being a father and our writer also being a parent, we were very cautious of the fact that we were shooting with children. We didn’t want to exert them. We had basically manoeuvred our things around their behaviour. For instance, we would keep a track of their sleep schedule. If the child sleeps at 1’o o'clock, then 15-20 minutes later when the child is in his deep sleep, it would be the appropriate time to shoot scenes where we had to show the kid sleeping. The entire set would go completely into a silent mode during that time. And sometimes the kids were just not in a mood. So those were the biggest challenges for us. All in all, it was great fun. It was like shooting with the superstars basically where the kids were the superstars.

How was working with the cast - Barun Sobti, Anjali Anand, and Priya Bapat?

I really think I was blessed to have a cast like Barun, Anjali, and Priya. They are all really talented and skilled actors. They are very good at what they do. They were very accommodating with me because it was tough to shoot with the kids. They were so real in their performances that at no time I felt it was an act. They made scenes feel like it really happened. All these three actors are absolutely gems.

Mickesh and Chandan - your favourite role?

It’s very hard to say which one is my favourite role. Acting is a very cathartic experience. It's therapy for me. I look for particular parts or scenes because I want to express something. If you look at the past few years, the paths that I’ve chosen are slightly more greyish because I wanted to feel like a different person. When I did Mickesh or Chandan, I wanted to feel like them. I wish I was as fun as Mickesh but I’m not. In fact, I'm a very dull and boring person; my wife would second that. For me, playing Mickesh was the most fun because it gave me an opportunity to be this person with no complexes. I had not come across a person or a character which is so transparent in the way he expresses. I wish I was as uncomplexed as Mickesh.

You expressed that you wished your directorial debut was one that was written by you. Do you have a project ready that is written and will be directed by you?

Yes, I have a script ready and I’m at a stage where I’m finding the right cast and the producer for it. That’s another struggle all together. I hope we find something. It’s going to be a romantic comedy about young people. I do feel that space is still unexplored. We generally have older actors playing younger characters. The idea is to cast actual young people and tell their love story. That space really excites me. I hope it happens soon.

What’s next on the acting front?

I just finished shooting for one film. It’s a beautiful story; I wish I could reveal more details but it’s under pipeline, and should be out by early next year.