Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; October 23, 2026)

Actor, writer and theatre director Manav Kaul considers the Emmy-nominated Real Kashmir Football Club one of the finest works of his career. As the series heads to the 54th International Emmy Awards in New York on November 23, Manav reflects on the joy of seeing a story he believed in receive global recognition, the collaborative effort behind the show and why he would rather trust his instincts than chase validation. Excerpts from an exclusive conversation...

The 54th International Emmy Awards will take place in New York next month. What are you looking forward to the most?
Right now, what I really want is to get my US visa as soon as possible so I can go and be with my team at the Emmys. I just want to get drunk, dance and celebrate! I love New York. I have been missing New York for so long, and I want to be there.

What does the Emmy recognition mean to you?
When I read the script and we were shooting Real Kashmir Football Club in Kashmir, I could see that it was a beautiful collaborative effort, with everyone coming together to make the series special. After it released, everyone who watched it seemed to like it a lot. But sometimes, a project doesn’t reach as many people as you had expected. And it’s not about validation; it’s about trusting your instincts. You know this is work you have enjoyed and believed in. Then, suddenly, there is recognition in the form of an Emmy, which is so prestigious. They must have seen something in it and that reassures you about your instincts and the things you believe in. It has global value; it tells you that people have connected with the story. Toh woh bahut accha lagta hai. Ab iss chakkar mein shayad aur log dekhenge iss series ko.

You seem uncomfortable with the attention and praise that come with acting. Why is that?
I believe acting is just a job. I go, perform and come back home. When I return, I am a basic human being, like all of us jo kaam karte hain aur ghar chale jaate hain. I don’t understand why people give you so much attention and congratulate you for things you have done in the past. I always say that it’s a collaborative effort and it’s not me alone. I feel I am getting unnecessary credit for something that wasn’t done by me alone. With my books, however, I understand. I have written everything myself, and people are reading what I have written, liking it and giving me credit for it. But in acting, there is so much more to a film or series than just one person. I am always a little shy, and I am not very good with compliments anyway.

You don’t take up too much of work, is that a conscious choice?
Yes, it kind of is. After every good project, suddenly, people start offering you the same kind of work. And then you have to wait for something exciting to come along. I’m very good at waiting; main lamba wait kar sakta hoon. Ek-do saal main koi acting nahi karta. Actually, I love acting so much that I don’t want to do it too often. Instead, I write, do theatre, direct my plays and travel a lot.

Have you ever felt typecast after a successful project?
Yes. When I did Kai Po Che!, for a year, I got almost identical roles, one after the other, as if I were playing the same character. When I did Ankahi, tab bhi do-teen filmein aisi aayi jismein main deaf and mute hoon.
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"I think this Emmy nomination is good for the series and the people who want to tell different kind of stories. It’s a confidence booster for those who want to create something different, rather than sticking to the so-called, ‘ke yaar, yahi chalta hai’ formula. Instead, hum apni kahaaniyaan banayein"