Adarsh Gourav Reveals If He Felt Like An Outsider On Alien Earth Sets | Exclusive | Hollywood News

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 20:18 IST

Adarsh Gourav stars as Slightly in Alien: Earth, a Noah Hawley prequel to Alien, joining Sydney Chandler and others, exploring childhood, identity, and global collaboration.

Adarsh Gourav as Slightly in Alien Earth.

Adarsh Gourav continues his international journey with Alien: Earth, an ambitious new chapter in one of cinema’s most enduring franchises. Created by Noah Hawley, the American science fiction horror series serves as a prequel set two years before the events of Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien. The series features a stellar ensemble including Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, and Timothy Olyphant.

Gourav takes on the role of Slightly, a hybrid and member of the “Lost Boys,” formerly known as Aarush Singh before being renamed by the Prodigy Corporation. In an exclusive interview with News18 Showsha, the actor talks to us about stepping into a globally beloved franchise, the challenges of portraying a 10-year-old in an adult’s body, and finding connection with his castmates on an international set.

Excerpts from the interview:

You play a 10-year-old in Alien: Earth. How did you connect with your character?

It was about connecting with the physicality of a child—their energy, fluidity, and the way they move. That naturally influences your thoughts too. I tried to observe children closely and bridge that gap by connecting with my own version of them, the way they stand, move, and operate.

What was the biggest challenge of playing a character like this, especially since he isn’t entirely human?

The challenge was embodying the body of a 10-year-old while being 31 myself. The way a child’s body operates, the hands, shoulders, the back. everything has a certain fluidity. Even in speech, the physicality influenced how I spoke, but there was never a conscious attempt to sound like a child.

Did you draw from your own childhood while preparing for this role?

Yes, absolutely. It was about tapping into the curiosity with which children approach life. The kind of questions you have as a child can often be more creative than what you ask as an adult. I tried to hold on to that sense of curiosity.

You’re the only Indian actor in this project. Did that bring with it a sense of responsibility?

I didn’t look at it as a responsibility of representing anyone. For me, the responsibility is always to bring truth to the character and not let it be superficial. The writing of this show has so much depth that half the actor’s job is already done when you get a script like this. My focus was only on being honest to the character, nothing else.

Did you ever feel like an outsider, being the only Indian on set?

Not at all. What united us was our common passion for the craft. Everyone came from different parts of the world and there was a genuine curiosity to know each other. I often took people to Saravana Bhavan in Bangkok, at least three times! Others made plans around their own interests like bouldering and climbing, and we’d all join in. We had a lot of free time to explore the city and each other’s worlds.

Were your co-stars curious about your past work?

Yes, a lot of them had seen The White Tiger, and many were curious about Indian films like RRR and others. During those six months, we spoke about everything, our work, cultures, and experiences. It was a great exchange.

Your co-stars Essie Davis and Erana James mentioned bonding with you over Lagaan. How was it working with them?

It was amazing. They’re all insanely talented, so present, and so passionate about their craft. On top of that, they’re just really fun people to be around, each with very specific passions and interests. It was a joy to work and spend time with them.

From The White Tiger to Alien: Earth, you’ve chosen projects that are worlds apart. What draws you to such starkly different roles?

Honestly, I was just lucky. I auditioned for this like I do for many projects, and I got the part. It still feels surreal that a show like this, based in Asia, was even made. It’s just a stroke of luck, and I feel grateful to be part of it.

Many expected you to lead more big Bollywood projects. Do you ever feel underutilised by the Indian film industry?

Not at all. I’ve always chosen work that inspires me at the script level and story level. That’s most important for me. I agree sometimes the work has been less, but whatever I’ve done has given me joy and fulfilment.