“Some journeys don’t begin with big dreams. They begin quietly, as a feeling you cannot name but cannot ignore. For me, that feeling was cinema.
I’m Naresh, from a small town called Pileru, Nallagutta Thanda, near Tirupati. Life there was simple and grounded, and cinema was something we watched together during festivals — a moment of excitement and wonder. Yet every film I watched left me with a sense of belonging, a whisper that this world was familiar.
During graduation, I made twelve short films with no experience, only curiosity. That curiosity took me to Hyderabad in 2016, where I joined Ramanaidu Film School and pursued a Diploma in Film Acting.
Roles in Evariki Cheppadu and Bhaaje Vaayu Vegam followed. Seeing myself on screen was exciting, but I realised how much more I had to learn.
My journey then led me to Mumbai to pursue theatre arts. With basic Hindi and limited resources, the city was overwhelming, but I joined the theatre group and found a gem in the theatre world — my guru, Yashwant Wasnik ji.
He taught me not just theatre, but how to truly observe life. Slowly, I mastered Hindi and honed my craft. Today, I act in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and English — each language opening new possibilities.
To survive, I worked in ads, shared rooms, and rehearsed endlessly. Every challenge shaped me. Then my showreel reached Rajkamal Films International, and I was cast in Amaran with Shivakarthikeyan garu and Sai Pallavi as a soldier in the CAT team.
Later, I acted in the Hindi web series Chidiya Udd with Jackie Shroff and completed over 30 short films. Every role taught me something new.
Back home, recognition is quiet. My family worries about the uncertainty of acting, yet they see my dedication. I’m not chasing fame; I’m here because this is where I feel fully alive.
My message to aspiring artists is this: your beginning does not define your limit. Language can be learned, craft can be built, and your journey belongs only to you. Theatre gave me courage, cinema gave me direction, my village gave me roots, and every struggle gave me clarity.
I don’t know how long it will take, but I will get there. And when I do, I want my family and community to know that even from the quietest places, powerful journeys can begin.”
- Naresh, Film Actor, Theatre artist