Kuldeep Singhania - If Plan A Doesn't Work There Are 25 Other Alphabets In The Dictionary (Actor)

Bollywood means business, and the product that you are trying to sell in this business is You.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I come from a Middle-class background. My dad is a retired officer from RBI and my mom is a housewife. The journey in the industry has been a roller coaster ride. I used to do theatre and Nukkad Natak during my school days but when I thought of considering it as a profession, there was a straightaway outrage from the family and relatives. 

They wanted me to become an engineer, get a job, marry and get settled. And a major reason for that being that there was no one that we knew of that was from the industry, so it was very difficult to deal with society and relatives and parents and make them believe that I wanted to take up acting as a career. 

I Still remember there was a time when I went into hyper depression and wanted to end my life, just because I was feeling helpless and no one and I mean literally no one believed that I could make it in the industry. Then I started doing yoga and meditation and enter the spiritual world which gave me the confidence to face the world. 

Gradually I started getting ramp shows for brands like TOI, DNA Fashion Big Bazaar which gave a little exposure and lot of confidence. Then after almost 2 years of initial struggle, I got my first break as an actor in Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms show and things started to get better from there.


2. Did you ever think or dream of being an actor?

Yes, acting was not something that I took up one fine day after seeing any Bollywood movie or anything. I loved expressing myself since childhood and performing in front of an audience. I used to do theatre during my school days and felt happy and liberated while doing it. 

That's when I thought of taking this up as a career and not just as a hobby. Even during my teenage years, I was so sure that I wanted to earn from this industry only, that I dropped out of college so that I could focus completely on my career.


3. How can one approach their career and have the confidence and belief to become an actor?

To be honest, if you seriously want to enter the media industry and earn a living, you need to be very clear in your mind that this is not something that which will get you fame, money and success overnight. Yes, we see a few cases here and there, where people get lucky and get chances overnight, but let's be honest that chances are very less. 

The only way out to increase your chances of getting work in the industry is to focus on improving your skill, your craft every single day. Understand that Bollywood means business, and the product that you are trying to sell in this business is You. 

So do everything possible that will help sell you in this industry, learn acting professionally, take care of your body, your face, learn dance, do theatre, I mean do whatever is possible in your hand to enhance your skills which will ultimately build your confidence that will help you crack auditions and help you get your first job as an actor.


4. If not this, what would you be doing?

I would probably be playing Cricket or doing Aeronautical engineering. I love space and I can literally binge-watch anything and everything regarding space. It's vague, but one of my dreams is to earn so much money that I could visit mars one day.


5. For a complete outsider with inroads, what advice would you like to give?

There will be tough times, there will be times when not only your parents, your relatives but you yourself will start doubting yourself. But just keep going. Work on your craft every single day. Meet new people every day. Start networking. Do everything possible that will take you closer to your dreams every single day. 

And remember if plan A doesn't work there are 25 other alphabets in the dictionary. But just don't give up on your dreams.


6. What is your mantra of success?

Ans:- I love these three golden words which most of you might have heard of which are " Don't give up ". Well, the irony is most of us have heard of them but when situations come, unfortunately, 99% of us give up. Some because of financial issues, some because of relationship issues, personal issues and what not. 

I always tell people, tough times don't last, tough people, do. So even if you are in the worst phase of your life, even if you don't have anyone to support you, even if everybody around you says you cannot achieve your dreams, if just don't give up and keep on going and going perfecting your skill, your craft, one day or the other, the results will come. 

Also, make sure you use the Law of attraction to achieve your goals faster.


7. Which is your favourite book and why?

I actually have 2 - The Secret -by Rhonda Bryne and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kyosaki.

Why because one teaches all of us how powerful we are as human beings and how powerful our thoughts are and we can literally create and live our dream life if we know how to use the law of attraction properly. And rich dad poor dad because it teaches us - The secrets about money that neither our school nor our society, not even our dad taught us.


- Kuldeep Singhania (Actor)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuldeep-singhania-940736186


Interviewed By Pratibha Sahani