“I come from a lower middle-class family and once had what many would call a secure life, working at MakeMyTrip with a good salary. But my heart was elsewhere. After training in Delhi, I left the job and moved to Mumbai to pursue acting. It was the toughest decision of my life. With no financial backup, I had to manage both my expenses and family responsibilities.

In Mumbai, I turned to theatre arts. I travelled across India performing and learning through every play. In 2019, I got my first acting project with a National Award-winning director, but the film never released. Many projects I was finalised for were also shelved. To stay connected to my craft, I worked with students from FTII and other film schools in Pune.

In 2023, I moved to Hyderabad and within three days got the chance to work with director Anshul Sinha in his micro films. Out of five, I acted in three, and during one screening a renowned Telugu director appreciated my performance. That moment gave me encouragement.

Alongside acting, I trained in action-reaction, widely used in South cinema. Once I injured my shoulder during practice and had to rest, but my master supported me until I recovered. Later, I spent three months in Kerala learning Kalarippayattu which is an ancient martial artform, which tested my limits and gave me discipline I now share with others.

Back in Hyderabad, I started my journey as a writer, then worked as assistant director and actor. I reunited with Anshul Sinha for the film ‘Million Views.’ After months of effort, Million Views is now my first theatrical feature film, set to release in Nepal. After 10 years of struggle, seeing my work on the big screen feels like a dream come true moment.

I also worked with directors Ugendra Muni and Vijay Kumar Kalivarapu, who remembered me from a short film festival. In 2021, I had shot a short film in my hometown, Dhanbad, but couldn’t afford professional post-production. Out of necessity, I learnt editing and other skills myself. Hyderabad gave me the strength to grow in those areas.

What I’ve learnt is that no matter how long the struggle, the right stories eventually find their way to the screen.”

– Nishant Dhanaanjayy