Doctor with his heart in plays

Nurturing and following his dreams of becoming a plastic or cardiac surgeon, Aaron Julius Punnen takes his dedication to the arts to a whole new level! Also a theatre actor, director and script writer, this 24 year old is taking the city by storm with his performances on stage and off.

In a candid chat with us, this young Bengaluru-boy tells us about his love for medicine and theatre, and clears the stigma around how doctors don’t have the time, and are all serious.

He has been interested in the field of medicine from the time he was a kid, thanks to his father, a cardiac surgeon. And while most people from the field don’t encourage others to be a part of it because of the stress and exertion, Aaron decided to go with it anyway.

“There’s just something about all the cutting and blood,” he says laughing! And how did a doctor get into theatre? “I did my first play in college and I fell in love with it. But at the same time I didn’t want to give up on medicine so continued to do them side by side, managing to go for practice soon after college ended,” says the lad who has also bagged a number of commercials including Vodafone, Peter England and Gone Mad, to name a few.

But for a “sort of employable” doctor, as he calls himself, does he feel like being on screen could affect his career? “Well, it hasn’t so far and I don’t think it should affect the work I do once I’m in a hospital because I do give my hundred percent and my colleagues as well as employers know it,” he adds confidently.

Currently working on directing his latest production Romeo and Juliet, Aaron tells us how he manages to improve himself using both his talents.

“I played the role of a balloon maker in a play and mastered the art of blowing balloons. So when I had to check on kids in the hospital, a I realised that a good way to catch their attention was to give them balloons which also distracted them and calmed them down,” says Aaron, who wants to go on to become a plastic surgeon and then help children overcome their fear and open up with the help of theatre, as a form of therapy.

Clearly, he has a soft spot for little ones. “I’ve realised that kids don’t get many opportunities in schools, just because they aren’t the best at something. I too was the underdog and only realised my potential once I opened up a little in college. So I want to encourage these kids who aren’t given many opportunities and try to teach them because they’re so interested,” chimes Aaron, who recently conducted an acting workshop in the city.