Nandan Nair

Being an actor is a strenuous job. It requires heart, stamina, and above all, dedication. This could mean staying late to perfect a specific scene, or spending extra time to learn the music. Sometimes, it could even mean changing your physical appearance to better portray your character.
For the upcoming play, there is a scene where my hair catches on fire. The director had a brilliant idea to convey this to the audience: To dye my hair gold and red, and then shine a light on the hair, to create the illusion that it is on fire. The obvious catch to this plan is, of course, that I would have to dye my hair. This was a serious question of my dedication: Would I be willing to change my hair color for the sake of the show? Would I be willing to go to such an extent for the benefit of the show?
Seeing it as an exciting opportunity to experiment with different appearances, I agreed to do so, and for two days had gold and red dye in my hair. While it may have faded after the first 24 hours, it was nice to experiment with different styles and images. I enjoyed the whole experience, receiving positive feedback from my peers, and I am excited to see what lies ahead.