Sumeet Vyas On Taking Up A Different Brand Of Comedy With Chumbak: ‘I Immediately Vibed With My Character’

Sumeet Vyas has opened up about stepping into a different kind of comedy with Netflix’s Chumbak. Known for his dry and understated sense of humour, the actor said the show challenged him to approach comedy differently, but he immediately connected with the character he was eventually chosen to play.

1. Sumeet Vyas wanted to try something different

Sumeet Vyas said Chumbak offered a brand of comedy that was different from what audiences have typically seen him do.

The actor, who has built a strong reputation for his dry sense of humour, admitted that the new style initially felt like a significant change for him.

2. He was initially unsure about the role

When creator Aatish Kapadia first narrated the project, Sumeet was considered for the character eventually played by Sumeet Raghavan.

Vyas admitted that he initially wondered whether he would be able to pull off that part because it required a very different skill set. He felt the role represented a substantial jump from his usual comic style.

3. Then he heard about his actual character

Things changed when Sumeet was introduced to the character he ultimately plays.

The actor said he “immediately vibed” with the character, suggesting that the personality and temperament felt much closer to him.

That instant connection made it easier for him to take the leap into the show’s unusual comic world.

4. Sumeet plays Aditya Khanna

In Chumbak, Sumeet plays Aditya “Adi” Khanna, a deadpan advertising executive married to Priyanka Khanna, played by Manasi Parekh.

Adi is presented as the calmer half of the couple, balancing his wife’s energetic personality with a dry, world-weary sense of humour. Netflix describes him as someone who has perfected the art of making lemonade from life’s lemons.

5. He trusted the creators’ vision

Sumeet also praised the conviction of the team behind Chumbak.

He said the makers’ commitment was refreshing because their decisions appeared to come from a desire to make the show work rather than from personal preferences.

That confidence ultimately encouraged him to surrender to their vision and trust the creative direction.

6. Chumbak brings back neighbourhood comedy

Created by Aatish Kapadia and Jamnadas “JD” Majethia, the series revolves around five families living alongside one another in Mumbai’s Chumbak Colony.

The comedy comes from the everyday chaos of neighbours who are deeply involved in each other’s lives — from family arguments and marriages to celebrations, gossip and unexpected crises.

The ensemble includes Neena Gupta, Deven Bhojani, Sumeet Raghavan, Sandeepa Dhar, Arjun Bijlani, Helly Shah, Manasi Parekh, Delnaaz Irani and Amyra Dastur, among others.

7. The series is now streaming on Netflix

Chumbak is currently available to stream on Netflix.

The show brings together the creators associated with cult comedies such as Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Khichdi, while placing their familiar brand of character-driven humour in a contemporary Mumbai neighbourhood.

KnowBuddys Take

Sumeet Vyas trying a new comedy style and then immediately finding his character relatable is exactly the kind of creative risk actors should take.

The interesting part isn’t just that Chumbak is a comedy.

It’s that the actor known for his dry, understated humour deliberately stepped into a different comic rhythm.

And when the creators said, “Trust us,” he essentially went:

Fine. Let’s see where this goes.

That kind of trust between an actor and a show’s creators can make all the difference.

Plus, a Mumbai neighbourhood where everyone knows everyone’s business?

That already sounds painfully familiar.