Known for taking bold creative risks, Sumeet Vyas discusses how he consciously avoids comfort zones, instead seeking roles that challenge his instincts and push emotional boundaries. In an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, the actor reflects on his evolving journey through theatre, web series, films, and audio storytelling
Highlighted Quote: I generally look for something I haven’t done recently. If I’ve done a couple of lighter or funny projects, I’ll look for something more intense next. And vice versa. It has to stay fun and fresh for me
Tejal Sinha
What happens when an actor refuses to play it safe—even when success makes it easy to do so? You get a career as layered, surprising, and quietly revolutionary as Sumeet Vyas’s. Long before OTT was a buzzword and web series became mainstream, Sumeet was already carving his own path—one that prioritised authenticity over applause, and craft over convenience.
Now, in his latest film Detective Shergill, Vyas steps into a genre-blending narrative that’s part murder mystery, part comedy, and wholly reflective of the artistic risks he thrives on. In this exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, the actor opens up about embracing discomfort, the characters that shaped him, and why chasing complexity is what keeps his passion alive. “I’ve learned that I really enjoy and embrace risks,” shares Tripling creator and lead actor Sumeet Vyas with a smile. “As a performer, I get very bored when I get comfortable.”
It’s this desire to escape comfort that’s guided Vyas through his most unexpected turns. Whether it’s portraying the charmingly awkward Mikesh in Permanent Roommates or delving into dramatic territory in Aurangzeb, he finds creative fuel in the unfamiliar. “Every time I get into a trap of doing something that works and I get the chance to repeat it, something just switches off in me,” says the Tripling star. “I don’t want to do it again. I want to try something else—something that has an element of risk and reward.”
That drive to tell stories his own way has been the backbone of his digital journey. Long before the term “web series” entered popular conversation, Vyas was helping shape the landscape. “More than being hungry, I’ve always had a strong urge to tell my kind of stories,” explains the Veere Di Wedding actor. “And the digital space allowed people like me to do that—to tell stories differently and do our thing. That’s what kept me going back then, and it still does.”
Of course, experience has added layers to his process. While instinct remains his creative compass, he now approaches projects with both heart and head. “You can’t be completely idealistic or naive about how things work,” reflects the Aurangzeb actor. “Over time, I’ve learned to check if the people making the script have the resources to do justice to it. Are we creatively aligned? Are we on the same page? These things matter now.”
One of the things that continues to set Vyas apart is his deliberate shift across genres. From light-hearted romantic comedies to deeply introspective dramas, he doesn’t allow himself to repeat roles. “I generally look for something I haven’t done recently. If I’ve done a couple of lighter or funny projects, I’ll look for something more intense next. And vice versa. It has to stay fun and fresh for me,” shares the Jugaadistan actor.
That’s exactly what he found in Detective Shergill—a fresh, unpredictable tone that instantly stood out. “There wasn’t just one thing that drew me to it,” says Vyas, who starred in English Vinglish and Ribbon. “I liked the script—it was a full drama. I’ve known the director, Ravi Chhabria, since he was an assistant on Aurangzeb. I was thrilled he was finally making his own film.”
He also shares his admiration for the film’s producers, Tiger Zinda Hai director Ali Abbas Zafar and Himanshu Mehra, calling them “exceptional” and “some of the best people I’ve worked with in a long time.”
In Detective Shergill, Vyas plays Angad, a wealthy heir whose entitlement masks a deeper emotional void. Known for portraying grounded and relatable characters, this role offered a new challenge. “From the outside, he looks like a spoiled brat. But for him, this life of privilege is his reality,” says the Raat Jawaan Hai actor. “He doesn’t see himself as entitled—he believes this is how life is supposed to be.”
Portraying Angad required Sumeet to let go of judgment—something he admits wasn’t easy. “I’ve judged people like this all my life. To play someone like Angad, I had to first empathize with that mindset,” he reveals. “That was the toughest part—trying to understand how someone like that thinks, without judging them.”
He built the character from the inside out: a man burdened not just by privilege but by emotional neglect. “He feels like he was never loved enough, like his sister was always the more loved one. That’s his lifelong gripe. He’s not just arrogant—he’s hurt.”
Though Detective Shergill is, at its core, a murder mystery, Vyas explains that the storytelling tone is far from what one might expect. “It’s not dark or gory. It’s a comic, wholesome drama. A very interesting genre. We don’t have too many stories like this in our industry.”
For a genre that often demands tight-lipped restraint, Vyas says the key to delivering an honest performance lies in one thing: empathy. “I never think about playing it subtle or loud. If I can stop judging the character and empathize with them, internalizing their emotions comes naturally.”
Angad may not have a vast emotional graph, but Vyas ensures his shifts feel organic. “He doesn’t go through a wide range of emotions. It’s mostly arrogance, fear, and defensiveness. So the challenge was to make that journey feel real.”
And what about future roles? Is he leaning more toward complexity or open to lighter, full-blown entertainment? “I loved playing Angad—it pushed me to places I don’t usually go. It was intense and challenging, and I truly enjoyed it,” Vyas shares. “So yes, I hope more such characters come my way.”
And if past choices are anything to go by, the journey ahead is sure to be as dynamic and layered as the man himself.
