Behind Closed Doors with Kapeesh Mourya

Movie Marker Magazine went behind closed doors with stunt-actor, Kapeesh Mourya to talk acting, life before LA, and being a series regular on ‘Welcome to Plathville’ currently streaming on HBO Max. 

Welcome to Movie Marker! I understand you were born in India. What was it like growing up there?

Growing up in India is just awesome. Just like any other Indian parent my father did want me to be an engineer as well, but he was also very open to what I had in my mind. I was brought up in a boarding school for most of my life. It made me very independent, and I’d say ready to face what life had to throw at me. And the one thing that I miss the most about India after my family is food. In India you will find so many varieties of food you end up moving to India just for that. Also, I miss my friends a lot. I still remember when in hostel we would wait for Sunday morning so we could go play football and I mean the one you play with your feet. The late night scooter rides to go get ice cream. Going on the roof with nonalcoholic drink shaped in beer bottle shape and pretending to be drinking with my brother. All the sweets and gift that we would get for the festival of Diwali. Painting my entire family with colors for the festival of holy. India stands for outstanding joy and it was nothing less than a blessing growing up there.

What made you decide to leave India and head to Hollywood?

First, I wanted to get more training and what better place the home of Hollywood to get it. Secondly, I love the action that Hollywood has and the kid inside me knew that what I want and I’m going to get it. Thirdly, I wanted to be one of those Indian born actors who leave an impact on the international level. I know the language will be a challenge and the casting will be a challenge but i want that challenge cause ones past that I know I’ll be incredible.

What makes you unique?

Besides being an actor and stunt choreography? I am also a music composer. I play guitar, piano, and the flute. I speak Hindi, Haryanvi, Punjabi and English. Trained in boxing, gymnastics, mixed martial arts, and artificial rock climbing.

Who are your filmmaker influences growing up that helped to mold you into who you are today?

Amongst all the movie stars who have had an influence on me the biggest one was the people I started this journey with. The people that went to acting school with me. Not the American ones but the ones in India. It was a school where they taught not just acting but direction, cinematography etc. and my first ever project was from a guy named Sunjay who approached and asked me to be a part of his project which led to another project which later lead to him writing me testimonial letter for my acting school in America. Those people have been the biggest influence because they believed in me when I was nothing and they still do.

That support of my fellow filmmakers’ actor friends is the biggest influence that makes me even more crazy to chase my dreams. It keeps me going.

That’s superb! Tell us about ‘Welcome to Plathville’ on HBO.

This is actually a reality show now streaming on HBO. It follows the life of the Plath family, and how they go through their individual journeys in life after being brought up sheltered. I am friends with Haiden who is friends with Micah, one of the Plath kids and I met Micah through Haiden. We became friends and the network, HBO, wanted to see more of us after that. Just friends hanging out.

As a reality show, what character did you play?

I am in Season 4 and Season 5. My role was to be myself the awkward Indian guy and just have fun and entertain people. I play myself, but when the cameras are on, I had to turn it up a bit. In real life I am shyer and more introverted.

How different is working on a reality show than a bigger movie?

It’s definitely different – the two concepts on set. Movies require a lot of preparation, whereas for a reality show there wasn’t much preparation needed, but I had to get used being mocked and just getting used to repeating myself when the production asked me to do so. It didn’t feel very real, but they would just want a better take on it.

Can you share any fun facts on set?

There us one very interesting story from set we were shooting an episode for Season 4 and until that moment I had no idea what Netflix and chill meant. When asked by my friends what I did for Christmas I said Netflix and chill to be honest I thought the chill part was eating nice food and just chilling. They started laughing at me and asked so who was with you, and I said oh I was by myself and then they asked so how it went, and I said I had so much fun one weekend I stayed on the couch all day. Then later my friend told me that the chill part is for sex, and I replied well then it was Netflix and popcorn – the trademark is coming soon!

What can we expect to see you doing over the next few months?

My first project as a fight choreographer and stunt double will be my next project. It’s called ‘Alpha’, but it’s still in work so that’s all I can say. Plus, you might see me singing or just pretending to sing more on that later.

How can people find and follow your journey?

You can check out my IMDb as well as Instagram, and Facebook.