Nikkhil Arya on playing the sharp and silent Kotwal in Sony SAB’s Tenali Rama 

Mumbai: Sony SAB’s Tenali Rama is a historical drama showcasing Tenali’s (played by Krishna Bharadwaj) wit and wisdom—and has earned a loyal audience across generations. At the heart of this entertaining yet layered show, is the Kotwal of Vijayangar kingdom, portrayed with quiet strength and seriousness by Nikkhil Arya. His composed performance anchors even the most intense situations. In this candid conversation, Nikkhil Arya shares what drew him to the show’s unique style, how he enjoys playing a quiet yet impactful character, and his off-screen bond with his co-actors on set. 

1. Tenali Rama blends history, and life lessons in a format that’s both entertaining and layered. As an actor, what about the show intrigued you most? 
What really drew me in was the show’s format. It’s not the usual historical drama filled with gods, wars, or larger-than-life battles. Instead, serious mysteries are solved in a light, fun, and satirical way—yet each story ends with a meaningful social message. Balancing that tone was both refreshing and challenging.

2. Your character has evolved significantly; what have been the most rewarding (or demanding) moments? How do you personally connect with your character’s journey? 
I’m glad my character has evolved so much. I play the kotwal of the kingdom—a serious man who rarely smiles or speaks. But somehow, that straight-faced humour in tricky situations has really worked. Shifting from quiet scenes to ones with emotional depth has been creatively satisfying. I also relate to the character’s values and discipline.

3. Without relying heavily on dialogue, your character still commands attention. What’s your process when performance hinges more on physicality and presence than spoken word? 
That’s actually one of the most challenging and fun parts of this role. You don’t need to make faces or be loud to be funny—it’s all about timing, expressions, and stillness. It’s tough to pull off, but when it clicks, it really stands out. That’s what keeps it exciting.

4. Themes like loyalty, wit, and justice are central to your character. How did you prepare to bring out these virtues on screen while keeping the character grounded and relatable? 
These qualities really resonate with me personally. The only difference is that the character belongs to a different era, so I had to work on aspects like body language and speech to make him feel authentic, yet true to that time. It’s all about finding that sweet spot.

5. You’ve worked closely with Kunal, Aditya, and Krishna. How has that camaraderie off-screen influenced your performances on-screen? Any behind-the-scenes anecdotes that reflect your chemistry? 
The bond we share off-screen definitely reflects on-screen. The four of us get along really well, and that comfort makes our scenes flow naturally. One hilarious moment I remember was when I got praised for a shot—only to find out later that my wig was missing! The makeup guy had forgotten to put on my kotwal hair, and none of us noticed until the entire scene was done. We had to reshoot everything, but we couldn’t stop laughing about it.

6. What can viewers expect in the upcoming episodes? 
There’s so much more fun, unexpected twists, and clever storytelling in store for the audience! What excites me the most is that even though my character rarely communicates through words, he still manages to leave an impact. It’s challenging yet incredibly rewarding to convey emotions, wit, and presence mostly through expressions and body language. If the audience is connecting with him despite his silence, I think that’s a small but meaningful win for me as an actor. It’s proof that sometimes, it’s not about how much you say—it’s about how you make people feel.