ACTING AS A CAREER IN BOLLYWOOD – 10 : SAMAR JAI SINGH

(This is in continuation of my previous blog 17/11/12 )

“WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED AS AN ACTOR IN BOLLYWOOD”

Once you get that initial break through  in the Bollywood film Industry,  It is very vital that you maintain a good relationship with the people, who hired your services. Should have good rapport with the actors and technicians you have work with. Most importantly you have to develop and maintain a good equation with the  public at large, your audiences,   admirers , and fans.

“Unfortunately this is not taught in any Film Academy,  Acting School, Acting Institute or  by any Acting  trainer under the sun”

“PERCEPTION” IS OF TOP MOST IMPORTANCE IN THIS GLAMOUROUS WORLD OF BOLLYWOOD.

WHEN PEOPLE START KNOWING YOU

The first stage is when you establish a relationship with the industry and your audience comes  along  with your  first break. This is a stage when people start knowing you.  They start acknowledging your presence in malls, gym and even on the streets,  when you move amongst the industry circle for meetings, auditions or events, you are given more attention. You jump queues and preference is given to you in audition  situations. Thus people have started  recognizing you.

WHEN YOU ARE REMEMBERED  AS AN ACTOR AND A PERSON

This is a stage in your career when you are remembered for the parts you have  played, the slots and character zone you fit in . During the narration  or casting process  when your name is popped up, Industry folks remember you for the work you have already done.

When your audiences and  admires look forward to see you in a specific role. You have made a mark for yourself. Now you are REMEMBERED for the roles you have done or  some actor has done  which you could have done better.

PERSONAL NETWORKING

Personal networking is of a lot of importance for an actor. Once you are accepted  and remembered as an actor by certain sections in the industry, this is the time you should expand your horizons. Move beyond, try to reach people you have not worked with.

I have personally seen known actors going out the way to be in the  lime light. Move out of your comfort zone, meet makers you  intend to work with, express your desire to be part of their project. As I always mention it is a very small industry. If you can deliver and you are good to work with, those makers would look forward to work with you.

HIRING MEDIA SERVICES

This is the  phase where you are already a known actor. It’s the time when you need to constantly  move up the ladder of popularity. You have to “be in the news come what may”. What ever stage your project is, whether it is in pre production stage, when you are preparing for your part, it may be  on the floor , or it is  about to be released.

“THE BUZZ SHOULD NEVER STOP”

Every film/ T.V show has a budget fixed for its publicity and promotion. You should plan to get the maximum Share from the pie. Once you have arrived, hire a P.R agency and a media planner. Decide and design how you want to be projected amongst the industry  folks  and the public at large. Use this media  propaganda  to create a ‘PERCEPTION’ of yours. ‘’STARS  ARE CREATED THROUGH PUBLIC PERCEPTION”

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST

“DEVELOP GENUINE PUBLIC RELATIONS, NEVER EVER DO PUBLICITY THROUGH RELATIONS”

Not only in the field of acting, but in life, never use  people as stepping  stones. I know about some actors,  acting trainers and tutors who treat their pupils as ‘FOUNDATION STONES’ (Neev ka Pathar). Never be insensitive to relationships.

THE HABIT OF FLAUNTING ONE’S  PRESONEL  PICTURE ALBUM

Picture with your family and professional colleagues , people you have worked with is for the fond memories, not for taking personal and professional advantag out of that.

Since last 23 years in this bollywood industry, I have been fortunate to work with legends like Mr.Amitabh Bachchan  (Ab Tumahare Hawale Watan Sathiyon ), late Shri. Amrish Puri saheb  ( Vishwaatma  and Gadar –Ek Prem Katha ), Dharamji (Apane),  Mr.Sunny Deol (Gadar and Apne ), Mr.Akshay Kumar (Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyon and Master Chef Season 1 ), Salman Bhai (Ek Tha Tiger ). I have collection of films working stills as well as personal pictures with these stars. But I never felt  the need to show them off .

I have observed this fetish amongst some aspiring actors, junior artists, assistants  on the set and even acting tutors showing off the pictures clicked with stars as if they have contributed to their stardom. It reflects a very small town mentality.

One should get over this road side aphrodisiac sellers mind set, who shows his collections of pictures with most virile man of the film industry. They market their spurious  products taking help of framed pictures with likes of Dara Singhji, Dharamji, Mr.Bachchan, Vinod khanna saheb, Mr.Sunny Deol, etc to name a few.

I know of a spot boy in the industry. His name is Thapa, who is popularly known as ‘super fast’. Name given to him because he is so swift on the sets, he serves hundred of unit hands without taking a breather. I met him for the first time in 1994 April. I was shooting for Prakash Mehra saheb  ‘’SAMRAT

 

ASHOK’’ . Then he was a 55 years old man. He had already  spent around 35 years in the industry. Something  remarkable super fast had shown me  was the collection of pictures he had. He had pictures with all the stars down the years. Right from Dada Muni (Ashok Kumar Saheb ) to Dilip Kumar Saheb , Rajender Kumar Saheb to new Comers like Sunil Shetty and Akshay Kumar but he never took advantage of these  ‘keep sake’ picture . He never sold him self through these photographs.

Last time I  met  ‘Super Fast’ was in 2010 in Film City. I came to know he is catering  incharge at Mr.Subhash Ghai’s Whistling woods Film School. I was heartily happy for him because here was  a genuine and  sincere man, who was hired for his hard work and passion to serve and not for his album of pictures.

So, KNOW YOUR JOB, WORK HARD AND BE A GENUINE HUMAN BIENG   

SAMAR JAI SINGH

www.kreatingcharakters.in

 

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