Adarsh Gourav, the actor celebrated for his fearless and unconventional choices, is once again stepping into uncharted territory. In Ridley Scott’s Alien Earth, now streaming on FX and Jio in India, he takes on the extraordinary challenge of playing a 10-year-old boy—a role that demanded emotional vulnerability, imagination, and an unusual kind of preparation.
To inhabit the inner world of a child, Adarsh went far beyond traditional rehearsals. He spent time with children, closely observing their spontaneity, curiosity, and sudden shifts of mood. Workshops and creative exercises became his training ground to rediscover the innocence and unpredictability of youth, while also stripping away the layers of control and calculation that come naturally to adult performers.
“Playing a child was unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” Adarsh reflects. “Children live with a freedom and abandon that adults often lose. To prepare, I watched how kids react to situations, their little distractions, bursts of silliness, and endless questions. That became the essence of my performance.”
His preparation also included unique sessions in Bangkok with child psychologist April, where exercises like drawing, clay modeling, and storytelling helped him reconnect with his own childhood self. “It was therapeutic,” he admits. “Even watching shows like HiHo Kids on YouTube reminded me of how differently children see the world—with wonder, innocence, and complete honesty.”
For Adarsh, surrendering to such a role meant letting go of control and embracing discovery. “It was both liberating and challenging,” he says. “You’re constantly reminded to think less like an adult and more like a child encountering life for the first time.”
With Alien Earth, Adarsh Gourav once again proves that his devotion to craft knows no boundaries, cementing his place as one of India’s most daring and globally relevant actors—an artist unafraid to take risks, reinvent himself, and redefine what performance can be.
