Siddharth Gupta reveals how playing Lord Krishna helped him deal with ‘mental pandemic’ and find clarity

Actor Siddharth Gupta, who won praise for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in the 2026 box-office surprise Krishnavataram: Part 1 – Hridayam, says stepping into the role became a deeply transformative experience.

As the country celebrates Janmashtami, Siddharth opened up about how preparing to play the deity changed his outlook on life, helped him navigate personal struggles and gave him lessons that went beyond his work as an actor.

Siddharth Gupta says becoming Krishna changed him

For Siddharth, preparing to portray Krishna had a greater impact than the performance itself. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said that “the process of becoming Krishna” had a bigger influence on him than simply playing the character.


The actor acknowledged that he could never compare himself with the deity, but described Krishna as both “a God and a thought process”. His teachings, he said, helped him find clarity while he was struggling to cope with the pace of life.

“We are in a mental pandemic, as a lot of people are going through mental issues in today's time and age, and I was no different,” Siddharth said, adding that preparing for the role helped him find answers to some of the questions he was facing.

‘Karm kar, phal ki chinta mat kar’: Siddharth’s biggest lesson

One of Siddharth’s biggest takeaways from portraying Krishna was the philosophy of karma yoga — focusing on one’s actions rather than being consumed by the outcome.

The actor said the experience taught him “the virtue of doing” and finding fulfilment in the process instead of constantly worrying about the result. For him, the essence of the lesson was: ‘Karm kar, phal ki chinta mat kar.’

Siddharth explained that while the philosophy is often repeated, truly understanding it requires putting it into practice. Once a person gives their best effort, he said, the outcome should no longer become a source of stress.

When fans saw Krishna in Siddharth

His portrayal also led to some extraordinary reactions from audiences. During theatre visits following the film’s release, Siddharth recalled seeing fans struggle to separate him from the character of Krishna.

He described witnessing people become emotional after screenings, with some crying, shaking and attempting to touch his feet. Siddharth said these moments made him realise that the affection was not really directed towards him, but towards Krishna and the devotion people carried within them.

The actor said he was grateful for the respect but remained grounded enough to understand the distinction between himself and the deity he portrayed.

Janmashtami brings back childhood memories

Janmashtami has been a significant festival in Siddharth’s family since his childhood. He recalled celebrating it enthusiastically and even making Krishna idols from wax and painting them as a child.

He also remembered participating in dahi handi celebrations in his colony, where people would often tell him that he resembled Lord Krishna.

Years later, the fact that he eventually portrayed Krishna on screen feels ironic to him.

‘It feels like it’s your own day’

Playing Krishna has also given Janmashtami a deeper significance for Siddharth. The actor said he is now much more aware of the festival’s relevance and feels a stronger personal connection to it after portraying the deity.

This year, his family has travelled to Mumbai to celebrate Janmashtami with him. Siddharth said his home is filled with Krishna idols and that he plans to make an idol himself using clay and paint.

He also hopes to attend a Janmashtami event and participate in dahi handi celebrations with devotees.

Siddharth Gupta’s Krishnavataram: Part 1 – Hridayam

Krishnavataram: Part 1 – Hridayam was released in theatres on May 7, 2026. For Siddharth, however, the film appears to have become more than another acting assignment — it has shaped the way he approaches life, work and the idea of letting go of the outcome.