Conversations with Harsh Garg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Harsh Garg.

Hi Harsh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From a school in the hills of Ooty to the land of Bollywood to the City of Love to Hollywood, It’s been a roller-coaster.

I was a one year and three months old baby when I stepped on a stage for the first time. My mom dressed me up as Lord Krishna for a skit in the colony we lived in back then. My entire childhood until my late teens (4-17) was in a boarding school in Ooty (Good Shepherd International School) which helped shape my interest in Acting and Music to make it my profession. I started playing the trumpet at the age of nine and learned various other instruments along the way. As a kid, although my initial interest was to pursue a career in sports, I always knew that I wanted to be an Actor. I was so adamant about pursuing acting that I wanted to drop out of school after the 10th grade.

My father, who I look up to as my hero, convinced me to stay in school and complete my schooling. I’m glad I listened to him as the following year in the 11th grade would be the first time I’d act on stage as a lead role for my dramatics team. This definitely gave me clarity in terms of choosing my profession.

After finishing high school, I got my Diploma in Acting from Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares, Mumbai. Post Diploma, I tried my luck in the industry in Mumbai but was rejected, given false hopes, and cheated on multiple times. I was told hundreds and hundreds of times by people that I would never make it as an actor or “you don’t look like an actor” and had more than a year of constant rejection but all that negativity only made me stronger and pushed me to work harder because my ambition was bigger than their opinion.

At the age of 18, I moved to Paris to pursue my BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Stage Acting from Cours Florent, Paris. I got to do a lot of plays and parts on a daily basis which had a massive impact on me as an artist. Cours Florent seasoned me really well both as an individual and as an artist. During my time at Cours Florent, I was introduced to Musical Theatre. My first ever professional public performance as an actor/musician/singer was at the “Chantiers D’Europe 2019” where I got the opportunity to perform in front of a massive crowd of 500+. It was indeed a life-changing experience. I sang in seven languages – French, Italian, Zulu, Hausa, Spanish, English, and Hindi out of which am fluent only in English and Hindi. After Chantiers D’Europe I performed at ARTA’s (Association de Recherche des Traditions de l’Acteur) 30th anniversary. These performances gave me a lot of exposure, and I got to explore myself as an artist. I had a lot of ups and downs during my time in Paris; the language barrier being the most difficult one and of course that I was away from home. There was a time when I fell into depression and almost gave up but fought my way back by writing my feelings out in the form of poems and by using these dull emotions on stage in the various characters I played. My art saved my life.

After my BFA, I flew back to Mumbai during Covid. I got to be a part of a few commercials in Mumbai but did not see any progress. I went on to pursue a 1-year Conservatory course in Acting for Film at the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles. NYFA gave me an unforgettable experience and a massive amount of exposure for which I am immensely thankful for. During my time at NYFA, I worked in about 35 short films. I met people from all walks of life and made incredible connections. I graduated from NYFA in December 2022.

Ever since my graduation, I have worked on several projects some of which will be making festival circuits. I got to be a part of an independent feature film where I got to travel and film in different cities. It was a beautiful experience and I got to meet and network with a lot of people in the industry. As of today, I have worked in almost 40-45 short films and am very grateful for all the experience and the beautiful people who have given me the opportunity. I have several projects coming up for which I am extremely excited about. I am constantly working, learning, and growing.

I fought my battles and will always keep fighting because I have an ambition and ‘miles to go before I sleep’.

I’ll prove all of them wrong.

I wouldn’t be here without the constant support of my parents. Forever blessed and fortunate to have them.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m actually glad that it wasn’t a smooth road! Everything that I’ve been through did crush me but at the same time built me stronger than ever. I look back at my journey, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Back when I was starting out in Mumbai, my dad and I would go to different “production houses” (literally a scam) to get me an audition every week be it in the rain or in the scorching heat. We did not have any family connections in the film industry so we did not know how the industry worked back then. People took advantage of that and started practically looting us as per their convenience with so-called “membership” (scam again) benefits. We would pay a certain amount in hopes of getting me a role or even an audition but I waited in long queues only to come back without giving an audition. I would wait for days for a reply which eventually turned to weeks and months and then absolute silence. A lot of my time, energy, hopes and a lot of money went down the drain.

A lot of places that we went to I’d always be told that I shouldn’t pursue acting and that I don’t look like an actor. As a 16-year-old back then, I’d feel extremely low, pressured, and bad about myself and even considered quitting.

During my time in Paris, there were times when I missed my stop and got lost in the outskirts of the city with no battery in my phone really late at night so I’d sleep on the bench of the bus stop and I’d figure my way out during the first transport service and go perform the same day without proper sleep but I was happy to be on stage every single time.

I’ve had “friends” whom I once considered close have laughed and talked behind my back and considered me a failure.

All in all, I am thankful for such people along the way because if it weren’t for their disapproval, rejection, and betrayal, I wouldn’t have the motive to work on myself and push myself beyond what I am truly capable of.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Actor. Apart from Acting I am also a musician. I sing and play various instruments like the Trumpet, French Horn, Baritone, Euphonium, Flugelhorn, etc.

I am most proud of the fact that I started aspiring to become an actor in the 7th Grade faced a lot of rejection but did not give up and I’ve come so far, and I’m still going. Performance-wise, I am extremely proud of the fact that I’ve performed in seven different languages, out of which I am fluent only in two.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t waste an opportunity, however small it may be and that I am constantly on my feet 24/7. I am ready to get to work at any given time of the day and never crib about it.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for those who are just starting out is that everything happens for a reason, it is a blessing or a lesson and that lesson itself is a blessing in disguise so no matter how hard you get knocked down pull yourself up because when you fail it is proof that something bigger than that failure is what you deserve to get you the big win. Failure is the stepping stone to success. Thomas Alva Edison said: “I did not fail 10,000 times, but I found out 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” So in every failure, there’s a learning experience.

Above all – take your time, don’t rush into things.

I’m glad that I didn’t know anything when I was starting out because if I did I wouldn’t learn it the hard way and I wouldn’t be where I am today and climbing so I would wish the same and wouldn’t take the easy way out.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/harshgarg.4?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Brandon Elonzae John Soto III Allan