Alumni Portrait – Abhishek Krishnan

Actor, writer, director and TISB Alumni, Abhishek Krishnan graduated from TISB in 2009. After going to Aston University in the UK to complete his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Management, he decided to switch paths and studied an Advanced degree in Performance at the Birmingham School of Acting. He is now living in Mumbai and works intensely in the creative scene with acting and filmmaking. We reached out to Abhishek to find out more about his time at TISB and how this has impacted his life. 

For me, the holistic approach was the biggest takeaway – Abhishek Krishnan

While doing his IBDP at TISB Abhishek’s HLs were Business Management, Economics and Mathematics and the SLs were Biology, English and Hindi. But he feels that TISB offered him many experiences outside of the classroom as well. “There was a strong focus on extra-curricular activities along with core education, while inculcating a sense of discipline in everything that we did”, says Abhishek, who did everything from waking up early in boarding for a jog with his friends, or took part in rehearsals for the annual drama production. “Weaving it all together paved the way for an inter-connected and balanced approach.” 

Being able to sing landed Abhishek the lead role of Tevye in TISB’s annual drama production ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, at the time directed by Ms Tracy Lord. “That definitely opened the doors to this world and as I dove deeper, I realised that there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing”, says Abhishek, whose experience of Music and Drama at TISB gave him the opportunity to say and do things that he could otherwise only have dreamt of. “I get to explore being a different person, living in a different world each time!” This has been done by working on projects, such as  two-time Oscar winning French filmmaker Claude Lelouch’s film ‘Un + Une’, Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Stupid Cupid’, Sony Liv’s ‘Tan Lines’, the NCPA ‘Gandhi - The Musical’ (title role), and Aadyam’s ‘Sing India Sing’ and ’Mother Courage and her Children’.

Additionally, Abhishek runs a small creative agency called ‘The Misfits Co’ through which he has worked with brands, such as Bajaj Finance, Aditya Birla Capital, IDFC First Bank, and Oxford Uni. He recently produced a film titled ‘Green Room: Thehrav’, which he both wrote and directed. The film won an audience award at the Cannes Short Film Festival ’21, along with being an official selection at the Dharamshala International Film Fest ’21. “Up next, I’m waiting for the release of Yash Raj Film’s ‘Prithviraj’ and Netflix’s ‘Trial By Fire’. Should be fun!” 

Abhishek plans to keep doing what he loves doing, while developing his talent. “Act, create, write, direct, produce, all of it is part of the plan. Step by step does it!”, says Abhishek, who still appreciates TISB and the work of the Drama department, ending on a rhyme: “I really wouldn’t be doing what I do today, if it wasn’t for that one role that I got to play.”