Truth Over Fame: Renowned Actor Adil Hussain on Art, Integrity & Inner Stillness – Self Discovery Podcast with Mohsinaa Ahmad

There are actors who perform. And then there are those who live the truth of a character so deeply, they leave you forever changed.

Adil Hussain is that rare kind of artist.

With decades of quiet brilliance across global cinema- from Life of Pi and English Vinglish to Delhi Crime, Star Trek, Kabir Singh, and Mukti Bhawan, his performances don’t just entertain, they expand the way we think about loss, love, discipline, and the human condition.

In this deeply reflective episode of the Self Discovery Podcast, National Award-winning actor Adil Hussain joins Top Celebrity Podcaster Mohsinaa Ahmad for a vulnerable, layered conversation about life, struggle, cinema, and the sacred craft of storytelling.

🎧 “When I’m performing, I’m not trying to impress. I’m trying to be.”

— Adil Hussain

🏡 From Goalpara to Global Screens: The Story Few Know

Adil’s journey began in the quiet town of Goalpara, Assam, where cultural celebrations like Bihu brought local performers to his neighborhood streets. As a child, he watched stand-up comedians mimic Bollywood stars, and felt a strange pull toward their expressive freedom.

“I used to imitate the imitators. And then I’d perform in front of my friends. They’d laugh and I knew I had touched something real.”

He landed his first stage role in a kindergarten play called Cap Maker and the Sailor. That moment lit a fire. “I came off stage and asked my teacher, was that really 30 minutes? It felt like 5.”

From then on, he performed every year. But he didn’t just act, he observed, absorbed, transformed.

Watching films of Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, he felt a childlike wonder: Could this be a real path?

🧭 Standing Alone, Walking Forward

Adil’s father, though a scholar of literature and music, was not supportive of his career dreams. “He wasn’t against art,” Adil clarifies. “He was afraid I’d have no financial stability.”

But Adil’s mother offered quiet, passive support. “She didn’t say much but she didn’t stop me. And that was enough.”

Driven by an inner compass, Adil moved to Guwahati for college, where he discovered the writings of Stanislavski, the father of modern acting. He soon heard about NSD — the National School of Drama and made it his goal to get in.

He did.

From a small Assamese town to the best theatre school in India, and later, a scholarship to Drama Studio London, Adil’s story is one of unwavering focus, deep listening, and surrender to craft.

“Theatre taught me how to understand people… how to understand myself. It was the real turning point.”

🎭 “Acting is a doorway into who we really are.”

In his conversation with Mohsinaa Ahmad, Adil opened up about how acting isn't about performing for applause, but about transformation.

He shared:

“When I say a line on screen, I must believe it in my bones. If I don’t, the audience never will.”

This belief has shaped his entire career. Whether playing Pi’s grieving father in Life of Pi, or a gentle, unsure husband in English Vinglish, he fully disappears into the role not to impress, but to express what it means to be alive.

💔 Working With Sridevi: “She Gave Me Space I Didn’t Expect”

One of the most tender parts of the podcast was Adil's memory of working in English Vinglish with the late Sridevi.

“It was only my third film. And yet Gauri Shinde, the director, gave me a character that wasn’t overshadowed. And Sridevi respected that.”

He recalled the now-iconic scene: “Shashi, abhi bhi mujhse pyaar karti ho ya nahi?” (Shashi, do you still love me or not?). The moment has become legendary. But it wasn’t just the writing, it was Sridevi’s grace.

“She let the scene breathe. She gave me space, which not every big star does. She served the story, not her ego.”

🧘‍♂️ Fame, Followers & The Fear of Losing Yourself

In today’s social media-obsessed world, Top Dubai Podcaster Mohsinaa Ahmad asked an important question: How do you stay grounded when followers matter more than talent?

Adil didn’t hold back.

“People are being cast for their Instagram numbers, not their inner depth. That scares me.”

He isn’t anti-social media, but he is against vanity taking over value. “You can be visible and still hollow. The question is, are you rooted while you rise?”

💬 On Choosing Stories: “I Read With My Soul”

Adil revealed that he doesn't chase big-budget scripts. Instead, he asks:

“What is this story trying to say? Does it add anything to the world?”

He admits he doesn’t always look at the paycheck first. If the narrative is powerful and the director has clarity, he’s in. If not, he’s okay saying no.

“I don’t manifest what isn’t meant for me. Money is energy. But not the only energy.”

This resonates with many actors today, particularly in a time where integrity often takes a back seat to virality.

🌍 A Global Legacy

From Norway to London, Delhi to New York, Adil Hussain has worked across languages and continents. His work in What Will People Say won him Norway’s Amanda Award for Best Actor. His appearance in Star Trek: Discovery made him one of the few Indian actors in the franchise.

And yet, he says:

“My best work is when I forget I’m acting. When I just am.”

💡 Mohsinaa Ahmad: A Host Who Sees Beyond Stardom

Throughout the podcast, Mohsinaa Ahmad asked deeply reflective, personal, and introspective questions, the kind that don’t come from notes, but from listening.

From asking how theatre shaped his being, to what loneliness in London felt like, to what it means to be truthful in a noisy world, he made space for vulnerability.

“You didn’t just interview me,” Adil said to her. “You made me remember who I am.”

It’s no surprise she’s become one of the most respected podcasters in Dubai, with a guest list that includes global leaders, celebrities, artists, and visionaries.

🧠 Raw Quotes to Reflect On

Here are some powerful quotes from the episode:

On childhood wonder:

“I was 14 when I knew I wanted this life. Not for fame — for the joy of disappearing into a story.”

On spiritual acting:

“Acting is like meditation. You enter someone else to better understand yourself.”

On rejection:

“I’ve said no to films that could’ve made me a star. But I would’ve lost myself in the process.”

On identity:

“I don’t sound Assamese because I trained hard. I didn’t want where I came from to limit where I could go.”

On NSD:

“Those three years changed my DNA. I owe everything to that process.”

📺 Why This Episode Matters

This is not just a conversation about cinema. It’s about the cost of truth, the power of simplicity, and why some artists choose integrity even when the world rewards noise.

If you’re an actor, a creator, a thinker or simply someone who wants to live with more purpose cthis episode is a warm, soul-touching guide.

🔗 Watch the Full Episode:

📺 Self Discovery Podcast – Adil Hussain with Mohsinaa Ahmad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYQgyPJfMwI&t=243s