Archana Kumar

About

Acting is how I move through life—sometimes with words, a lot of times with silence, and always with my heart out in the open. Every performance, whether it's on stage or screen, is my way of working through dreams, grief, love, and the madness of the world. This is my journal, just a bit more public.

Solo Work: Stories I Can't Let Go Of

When it's just me on stage, the walls come down. I dig deep into questions that won’t leave me alone. Pieces like "All About Nothing" look at what we really value and whether love is at the core. "DANDYLION" is still growing with me, all about climate and the earth's stubborn will to live. My "Courtesan Series" mixes Kathak, poetry, and my own tunes—old-school meets me.

Collaboration: The Power of Us

Working with others brings a different energy. In Bangalore, I’m part of "No Strings Attached," a mix of mime, Kathak, and Flamenco. It's funny, definitely, but there’s always something real underneath. In Tokyo, I work on cross-cultural stage acting with the 'Asia Meets Asia' gang, taking on global themes like the refugee crisis with physical theatre.

Screen Work: Same Heart, Different Medium

Whether it’s a film, a short, or even an ad, I bring the same intensity and physical theatre approach I use on stage. The medium changes, but my search for truth in a character doesn’t.

Why I Do This

Art is my way of making sense of the world. Sometimes, it’s too much—ye zulm ka... labrez hai paimana mere dimaag ka (all this injustice, my mind is overflowing). That’s what goes into my work. If you feel it too, maybe you’ll find something in my performances.