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Who is a Actor?
Without wonder and insight, acting is just a business. With it, it becomes creation ~ Bette Davis
When we laugh, cry, or feel inspired by a performance, it is the actor behind the role who brings that emotion to life—on screen, on stage, or on television. Acting is not just about fame or red carpets. It’s about discipline, hard work, and relentless practice. Behind every moment of glamour is a long journey of auditions, rehearsals, and growth.
If you have ever dreamt of becoming an actor, this guide is for you. Learn what an actor really does, how to start your journey, what skills and qualifications you will need, and whether acting is the right career for you.
Actor in a Nutshell
An actor performs roles in films, TV shows, theatre, or web series by interpreting scripts and portraying characters. They rehearse, memorise lines, and work with directors and co-actors. The job requires creativity, emotional depth, adaptability, and often involves auditions and irregular hours. Continuous training and experience are key to success in this competitive field.
Quick Facts for Actor
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Industry
Entertainment
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Average Salary in India
₹27500
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
Individuals can take up a career as actors, but it is not gender-specific. Men, women, and others can choose a career as actors. In India, male and female actor enjoys equal benefits because gender is insignificant in this career. The profession is suitable for everyone who possesses great artistic and acting skills.
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Any special needs
Yes
Everyone, including those with physical disabilities, is appropriate for individuals who opt for a career as an actor. A career as an actor is well suited to everyone, even those with special needs. Acting requires a lot of field research and physical movement.
It becomes difficult for physically challenged people to match the profession. Hence, it can be a cumbersome process for physically disabled people to grip along with the work. However, for a few specific roles, he or she might be the right fit.
Table of Contents for Actor
What is the role of Actor?
Individuals in the acting career in India make an effective profession out of playing small parts and never have a featured job, which can at present still be an extremely fulfilling career. There are several approaches to getting into character and there are actors who frequently research the roles, hobbies, or activities of the characters they play so that they can place themselves in that outlook.
Individuals who opt for a career as actors are required to study the role they want to play and audition accordingly.
An actor is required to know the character at a personal level so that he or she can develop it into role interpretations.
Individuals who opt for a career as actors are required to perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
A successful actor is one who knows how to play various roles that demand contrasting emotions and characteristics from each role.
There might be instances when your role will require you to know a certain form of art.
Individuals who opt for a career as actors are responsible for working closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
An actor is responsible for studying and rehearsing roles from scripts in order to interpret, learn and memorise lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
The role of an actor is to promote his or her film through interviews, stage shows, performances, interactions with the audience, and many others.
Types of a Actor
There are a variety of actors in the industry based on their skills, experience, expertise, and knowledge. This includes types of actors like theatre artists, screenwriters, and film critics. Here, in this section, we have mentioned all the types of an actor and actor career options or careers related to acting.
Theatre artist: Theatre refers to a branch of performing arts which are concerned with acting out stories in front of an audience, using a combination of speech, gesture, music, dance, sound, and spectacle. Along with the standard narrative dialogue style of plays, theatrical performances take forms.
Film critics: Film critics and reviewers are the professionals who write essays or articles describing a movie's content and plot along with analysing its theme and evaluating how engaging the viewing experience was. Film critics are also responsible for interviewing actors and actresses or other individuals involved in making or producing a film.
Screenwriter: A screenwriter, also known as a scenarist, is a professional who writes screenplays for television, film, video games, and comics. Screenwriters are required to be good at writing, and storytelling, and have a vivid imagination. These types of actors love movies and television and think they have the passion to make it in this competitive industry.
Film Director: Individuals who opt for a career as film directors are responsible for things like defining artistic and dramatic aspects of filmmaking, selection of cast members, and production design. A director is one of the few professionals who are required to put their intimate involvement during every stage of filmmaking and film production.
What is the workplace/work environment of Actor like?
Individuals in the actor career path are expected to work outside at real locations most of the time. The film actors working for big media productions sometimes work in big films or project sets. The professionals are also required to work under unfavourable weather conditions and late-night shifts are not something new in the industry.
Does Actor require travelling?
Likely
Individuals in the actor career path are required to work across various locations both countrywide and globally. Travelling is an essential part of an actor’s work. Depending on the demand of script and production houses, the professionals can be working anywhere around the world.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Acting is a full-time job. Individuals who opt for a career as actors are required to make important decisions related to roles and the creative approach of shooting. Individuals in the actor career path are required to work on shoot locations and stay there for days, even months if required.
Employment Nature
Contractual
Individuals in the acting career in India are required to usually work on a contract basis. The professionals are hired for a particular project and are required to work until all the requirements of the project are met. However, there are some production houses that hire actors on a permanent basis to work on several smaller projects rather than a long-stretched film.
Work Place
Home Office, Virtual Workplace, On-Field
Individuals in the actor career path are expected to work outside at real locations most of the time. In an acting career in India, the professionals working for big media productions sometimes work in big film or project sets.
Presence in Geographical Area
Urban
Almost every media or production house is based in Mumbai, making it a hub for acting. Individuals who opt for a career as an actor are expected to work in Mumbai for at least one project. However, the odds are you’ll be working in Mumbai for a lot of your film projects as the film city is situated in Mumbai and all the big banners and production houses have their head offices in Mumbai.
The secondary cities for the cinema and filmmaking industry would be New Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The South cinema industry is one of the biggest cinema industries followed by Bollywood. There are more opportunities available in these cities and it is easier to gain experience working with several media houses.
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure for actors is high. The work environment of actors is not a cakewalk. Individuals who opt for a career as actors are required to work at odd hours putting in much more effort than most of the crew members. Depending on the project and the deadlines, individuals in the acting career in India are sometimes required to work for months continuously in different sets of locations around the country or world.
Overtime Details
Individuals in the acting career in India are required to make important decisions related to filmmaking and the creative approach to shooting. Hence, they are required to work on shoot locations and stay there for days, even months, if required.
The working hours are not fixed and there is no particular starting and shutting downtime. On a usual basis, the actors are required to work for 12-14 hours per day. The work hours can be extended depending on the requirements of the project.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 50 Hours
There are no specific work hours. Sometimes, their work starts at night because of the demand for a script. Hence, the work hours vary from project to project. Quite often, individuals in the actor career path as actors are required to work overtime in order to complete a shoot or meet a deadline.
How to become a Actor?
Steps to become a Actor
If you have dreamt of becoming an actor and have an interest and passion for the acting field, and if you have the ability to deliver your script and express emotions on the camera, then a career as an actor is the best career option for you. Below, we have listed the steps for how to become an actor in India.
- Develop Relevant Skills
- Courses to Pursue/Formal Training
- Pursue Certification Courses
- Gain Relevant Experience
- Bring Passion into Practise
- Create a Portfolio
- Build an Impressive Resume
- Create Professional Headshots
- Associate Yourself With an Acting/Talent Agency
- Hire an Agent
- Apply for a Role as an Actor
- Landing a Career as an Actor
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Actor?
When it comes to how to become an actor, the first thing that they should know about how to start an acting career with no experience and also actor education requirements. Here we will discuss what skills actors need and how to start an acting career with no experience.
Technical Skills: For as long as a candidate knows how to do things, they’ll have an easy time learning how to do it. Individuals who opt for a career as actors have a little knowledge and some technical understanding of every piece of the filmmaking process is crucial, and this includes camera work, lighting, sound, special effects, design, post-production process, and more.
Creativity: Creativity is an essential part of acting and characterization, and it’s impossible to make films without creativity. An acting career in India needs creative talent to be able to visualise the production of the film. From the very beginning of the actor's career till the end, you are required to see the role from everyone’s perspective, everyone feeds into and off of the ideas for the film.
Script Reading: Film actors spend hours, months, and even years physically making a film, but there’s no way they can make a successful film without having the skills required for written and visual script reading. Individuals in the acting career in India are required to understand the story they are trying to portray in order to create a story well throughout every element of the production.
Problem-Solving Ability: Individuals in the acting career in India are required to play many roles, and it is important for them to be responsible for every task their position requires, and they should be able to contribute to every section by understanding how their work is affected and affects the work of everyone around them.
Communication Skills: Irrespective of the industry one works in, communication is the key. But when you are a film actor working on set with countless other crew and cast members, having good communication skills is essential. Without the ability to communicate effectively, no amount of experience or acting expertise can help you bring a vision to life and effectively communicate a story.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Actor?
Certification courses help the candidates to get an edge over other potential individuals. Certification courses are beneficial to increase the candidate’s existing knowledge and skills. Here are some of the certifications that an individual can pursue in order to learn more skills related to the profession.
Internship Availability
Film acting is a creative and artistic work, hence acting careers in India have a lot of internship opportunities available for students aspiring to become acting professionals. These internships help the students to develop advanced skills and enhance their career in acting and their professional working skills along with developing a great portfolio.
In the internship, candidates can work as an intern assisting the camera production team, assistant director, assistant production controller, camera operator, and camera assistant. Theatres are also a great way to sharpen your acting skills and become a profound actor.
The responsibility of an actor is to teach the candidates about professional work in the industry hence it requires them to be extremely attentive, observing huge to little details applied in film acting. Candidates can choose from a variety of internships available which require different work and responsibilities for different projects.
Actor Jobs and Salaries
Theatre artist
- Average Salary 20000
- Starting Salary 3000
Job Description
A theatre actor acts in plays and different kinds of live creations, for example, productions, supper theatre, and men's club appear. Now and again, they go on a visit. Theatre actors have the ability for performing and engaging others. With the most widely recognized scene being a live stage, theatre acting does exclude the advantages of various takes and altering that film and TV entertainers appreciate.
Salary Description
The average total compensation for a theatre actor who started as an actor in the industry is somewhere between Rs. 3,000 per month. After gaining some experience, they can expect a monthly pay of Rs. 5,000 per month. The top-level salary for a theatre actor is somewhere between Rs. 20,000 per month.
Commercial actor
- Average Salary 35000
- Starting Salary 20000
Job Description
The commercial advertising actors express ideas and portray characters according to the product demand of the project. They interpret a writer's script to entertain or inform an audience.
Salary Description
The average total compensation for a commercial advertising actor who started as an actor in the industry is somewhere between Rs. 20,000 per project. After gaining some experience, they can expect a pay of Rs. 35,000 per project. The top-level salary for a theatre actor is somewhere between Rs. 5 lakhs per project.
Television actor
- Starting Salary 1200000
- Junior Level Salary 1200000
Job Description
Television actors are the professionals who play roles and perform in different operas in the diverse field that is television today. They are typically required to put in long hours working on television sets or on location.
Salary Description
The average total compensation for a television actor who started as an actor in the industry is somewhere between Rs. 12 lakhs per month. After gaining some experience, they can expect a pay of Rs. 30 lakhs per month. The top-level salary for a theatre actor is somewhere between Rs. 50 lakh per month.
Film actor
- Junior Level Salary 2000000
Job Description
An actor’s main responsibility is to completely speak to the character they are playing and to persuade the audience that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation.
Salary Description
The average total compensation for a film actor who started as an actor in the industry is somewhere between Rs. 20 lakhs per project. After gaining some experience, they can expect a pay of Rs. 30 lakhs per project. The top-level salary for a theatre actor is somewhere between Rs. 3 crores per project.
What is the job outlook for Actor?
Acting career in India is one of the most prominent majors offered in the universities that offer the course, hence it is expected to get very competitive in future. More the experience in the industry, the more important and difficult it gets to be ahead of the competition.
Employment for film acting is expected to grow as much as up to 10 per cent in the upcoming ten years. This rate of growth ensures that the competition remains fierce in this industry with new talent entering the industry every year and engaging in the field. There are many paths available for candidates to get started with their acting career in India.
Frequently Asked Questions for Actor
Que. How do I become an actor with no experience?
Ans.If you are a fresher, you are required to develop your skills and talent and create a strong portfolio and resume and submit it to atleast five to ten production houses every week. You must also build your network and connections.
Que. How can I start acting after 12th?
Ans.After 12th, you can opt for a Bachelor's degree in Acting and can do internships in the relevant companies or drama theatres.
Que. How do you become a film actor?
Ans.An increasing number of acting schools are offering bachelor's and master in film acting. Most film actors typically don’t have a bachelor's in film or a related field but have several years of work experience. They often begin their film directing career as a commercial actor, theatre actor, or assistant to an established actor.
Que. How much does a film actor make?
Ans.The average total compensation for a film actor who started as an actor in the industry is somewhere between Rs. 20 lakhs per project. After gaining some experience, they can expect a pay of Rs. 30 lakhs per project. The top-level salary for a theatre actor is somewhere between Rs. 3 crores per project.
Que. How many hours does a film actor work?
Ans.The actors are required to work for 12-14 hours per day. The work hours can be extended depending on the requirements of the project. Actors work in outdoor settings most of the time. However, there are no specific work hours.
Sometimes, their work starts at night because of the demand for a script. Hence, the work hours vary from project to project. Quite often, they are required to work overtime in order to complete a shoot or meet a deadline.
Que. What skills do film actors need?
Ans.Actors are required to possess skills such as creativity and a passion for acting, as well as the ability to maintain a singular focus even in the stressful and fast-paced environment of the production set.
Que. What is the salary of actor?
Ans.The Actor salary in India ranges between Rs 0.2 lakhs to Rs 20.0 lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 2.3 lakhs.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
Marlon Brando earned $3.7M for 13 days of work in Superman (1978).
Fact 2
Shah Rukh Khan is among the world’s richest actors with 80+ Bollywood films.
Fact 3
Alam Ara (1931) was India’s first talkie film with spoken dialogue.
Fact 4
Katharine Hepburn won 4 Best Actress Oscars, the most in history.
Fact 5
Naseeruddin Shah has acted in 200+ films across genres and countries.
