Has the acting bug bitten you? Are you ready to don the grease paint and face the arc lights for ‘Lights, Action, Cut?’

It is the dream of many to be seen on the silver screen or the small screen where many heads will turn once people go out. One has seen the public applauding their stars and surrounding them when they visit theatres or commercial places for promotion of their movies. There is no doubt that anyone would love the mass hysteria and fan following. To achieve that one has to take acting seriously and remember that it is like any other career where people train for it.

In today’s world, where there are a generation of actors and acting runs in the blood there are many others who have stood their own ground and become successful actors after undertaking courses. Some others have come up because of their ties with film fraternity.

Today’s young actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Nag Chaitanya have all undergone classes at training institutes abroad despite their fathers being successful actors. Let us not forget that Southern Superstar Rajnikanth joined the Madras Film institute and underwent an acting course in 1974. He got a break in Kannada movie ‘Katha Sangam’ directed by Puttanna Kanagal. However, he achieved success and recognition in K Balachander’s ‘Apoorva Raagangal’ in 1975 which also starred Kamal Hassan. Since then, this actor hasn’t looked back and has starred in blockbusters and has his own fan following, a glimpse of which was witnessed in his recently released movie ‘Robo’ starring opposite Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Aishwarya Rai too entered the film industry after winning the title crown of Miss World in 1994. There have been many actresses who have entered the film industry by winning beauty pageants namely Meenakshi Seshadri, Juhi Chawla, Sushmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, Dia Mirza, Lara Dutta to name a few. Some of them have become stars after they became successful models like Arjun Ramphal, while others have graduated after their stint as child models and child actors like Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia, Sreedevi and Neetu Singh.

 It is said that an agent discovered Sarah Michelle Gellar while eating in a restaurant when she was four years old. Every one wonders how nice it would be if they were discovered like that. Most actors spend years honing their craft and attending auditions before they get their big break.

Acting is as much an art as talent. Some are born actors, while others train to achieve perfection like Naseeruddin Shah, who is a product of the National School of Drama, Delhi. Many others spend years training to become even good enough for small parts. Shahrukh Khan after completing a course in Mass Communications from Jamia Millia University, Delhi, stepped into a small role in TV serial ‘Fauji’ and soon success dawned on him.

Many from the film fraternity say that in addition to attending acting classes and/or workshops, one needs to get some headshots and portfolio made before knocking on the doors of production houses for a role.

It is advisable to find work in a community theater in your own city and even consider donning the role of an extra for a foothold in the industry. These days there are many reality shows which offer participants an entry in Bollywood/Tollywood while even SMSs do the rounds stating that some well-known directors are on the lookout for fresh faces. Let us not forget Shekhar Kammula’s blockbuster ‘Happy Days’. Even Ekta Kapoor’s production House Balaji Telefilms is also on the lookout for fresh faces for their innumerable TV soaps and there have been successful actors from the small screen who have crossed into Big Showbiz namely Prachi Desai.

Qualities Required

To become an actor, one primarily needs an outstanding acting talent with a stage personality. Other requirements are good memory, health, physique, grace, coordinated movements with perfect rhythm. An aptitude for dancing and singing, a well modulated voice with proper pronunciation, also ability to learn lines quickly and with a high degree of imagination and sensitivity and emote the role to perfection. One must have lot of energy and enthusiasm to withstand the rigours of hard work as the scene is not canned in the first shot. One also has to be patient to take in harsh criticism from colleagues, producers, directors, mentors and critics.

Entry  

Gaining a foothold into the acting world is through various channels. Many of them land up in Mumbai hoping to bag a role in films. Modelling is a popular mode, while many others have gained entry into film through television and to television through modelling. The needs of modelling and acting are not same but the common traits are stage personality, good sense of rhythm, stunning face and arresting figure, poise and professionalism. Deepak Parsher got a chance in films but failed to hang on though being a successful model.

Prospects have not been rosy for a lucky few though they have been talented. However, the invasion of the satellite television network has widened opportunities. There has been a noticeable revival of interest in theatre too and many actors like Shabana Azmi, Tom Alter, Farooq Shaikh are going back to stage to exhibit their acting skills as there is instant applause from the audience.

There is no dearth of payment for the talented. Some of them command very high prices after carving a niche for themselves in the profession. Some actors who have not shone have diversified from acting to compering shows, contests, award ceremonies, anchoring and hosting television shows and film entertainment programmes.

It is time that all budding actors pull up their socks fast and take the plunge in acting as according to CII report, by 2011, the Indian film industry would be worth around Rs 20,000 crore and by implementing the three Ds- Dedication, Determination and Discipline, one can achieve greater heights.

Institutes offering courses  

There are many degree and diploma courses in drama/acting available in the country and some of them are run by well-known actors. Such courses expose the students to all departments of acting.

• Film and Television Institute of India, Law College Road, Pune 411004 (Maharashtra) offers Certificate Course in acting for a period of six months and actors like Jaya Bhaduri, Shatrughan Sinha are some of the well known alumni

  *    Andhra University, Waltair, Andhra Pradesh, offers Diploma in Acting. Minimum qualification required is 10+2/Intermediate or equivalent exam. The course is a period of two years

       * University Of Hyderabad, P.O. Central University, Hyderabad 500046, Andhra Pradesh, offers one year course in acting and the minimum requirement is a Bachelor's degree.

       * Jamia Millia University, New Delhi, offers a course in Mass Communications

       * Actors like Padmini Kholapure, Anupam Kher also run acting schools in Delhi and Mumbai respectively to train budding actors.

        * Madras Film institute, Chennai      

      * National School of Drama, Delhi