1st November 2023, Mumbai: Actor Neel Samarthh, who was most recently seen in the program Sapnon Ki Chhalaang, believes he would have gone into music if he hadn’t made it in acting. Indeed, the actor claims that he has always desired to sing professionally and compose songs.
“I think I would have been into music composing as a lyricist and a singer. I came to Mumbai with the dream of becoming a singer. One day, one of my roommates, who was an actor, invited me to accompany him to an audition. When we went there, a casting director noticed me and asked if I was an actor. I hesitated and said I didn’t want to as I didn’t have any acting experience. However, he insisted and asked me to at least introduce myself. I reluctantly gave a brief introduction, and then he asked me to perform a small part of a script. Surprisingly, I was selected for the audition. It was at that moment that I realized I had a hidden talent for acting,” he says.
He adds, “Before this, I had done a short film in Nagpur, and I was offered a negative role in it. The experience was unique because they came to my hometown to shoot the film, and in the very first scene, I managed to perform well in a single take. This experience made me realise that besides singing and music, I had more skills that I should explore. Although I had this thought in my mind, I didn’t take it seriously until I cracked the audition for that advertisement.”
Talking about his journey, he says, “In the beginning, life wasn’t easy for me when I came here because I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t have any connections or support, not even a single person I knew. So, I had to start from scratch and meet new people. At that time, I wasn’t a skilled actor; I was just someone aspiring to become better and improve my acting abilities. Now, after spending a lot of time in the industry, I realise that going through those initial challenges was crucial. I started with small and diverse roles just to make ends meet. It was a period of immense pressure, but in those circumstances, I learned a lot. So, I wouldn’t call it a struggle; I’d say it was a learning phase. It’s the reason I’ve grown as an artist. Initially, I worked for money because everyone wants fame, but when you’re starting out, you often have to take on small roles. When I first came here, I had very little money, and despite coming from a well-off family, I never asked my parents for financial help. I had a lot of self-respect, and I managed with the meagre savings I had. Even today, I face challenges, but I don’t see them as struggles. I view every day as an opportunity to learn and grow, whether it’s enhancing my acting skills or improving as a person. Acting has been my anchor during times when money was scarce. It helped me acquire various skills and become a better human being. So, I wouldn’t call it a struggle; I’d say it’s a positive journey, and I’m not sure which word would best replace ‘struggle; in this context.”
Ask him who is his inspiration in the acting world, and he says, “I consider myself to be old school when it comes to Bollywood, and I’ve always had great admiration for Anil Kapoor. I’ve watched many of his films, and he has portrayed a wide range of characters with different shades. He’s a versatile actor who can play negative, positive, comedy, romantic roles – he’s a complete package. In the modern era, I look up to Ranbir Kapoor. He’s subtle and composed in his acting, and he, too, can portray a variety of roles effectively. Both of these actors are remarkable in their own right. However, if I had to pick an overall inspiration, Shah Rukh Khan has always been and will continue to be my inspiration. I believe he’s exceptional in every aspect of his craft.”