Mallika Nayak - Auditions Are Free of Cost Workshops That Increase Your Level of Confidence as a Performer (Television Actor & Voice Artist, India)

Mallika Nayak is an Indian film and television actress. She has been working in the Hindi TV Industry for more than 15 years. She has appeared in various episodic shows including Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Savdhaan India, and CID.

Mallika has also done a few fashion shows. She had worked in many TV ads and print shoots

Instagram -  @mallika453

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

My journey is very long and elaborate one so it’s difficult to sum it up in an answer, but to put things in a jest ... I was a ramp model as a teenager, got married for love at the age of 21 and gave up my career to manage my home and 2 kids that follows soon. 

Since my home required me to be present I started painting from home and held exhibitions for the same; as my children became a little bigger I trained for voicing and became a voice artist; later down the lane due to circumstances I got completely back to being a career woman and started acting.

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

As I said before circumstances i.e. my divorce needed me to be out there again fending for myself and my kids so I decided to take up acting; acting because I was already a voice artist and “voicing” is acting behind the mike, so decided to come in front and do the same, and by the grace of God I kept getting work one after the other. It’s been 8 years as an actor and over 12 years as a voice artist now.

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

According to me one should do their homework and train to become an actor, know basics of the field before you get into it, confidence comes when you know your job, once you have been trained give as many auditions since auditions are free of cost workshops that increase your level of confidence as a performer.

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

If not acting I would have happily managed my home and continued as a painter simultaneously.

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

Train yourself in this field and then approach people and auditions according to me are a must , the more you give the better you get, you will be rejected many times but unconsciously you have learnt from that character you depicted for those few minutes and have gone a step ahead.

6. What is your mantra of success?

Mantra is there is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs if you want to last long at the top.

7. Which is your favourite book and why?

Favourite book is my bible “The Secret” that I follow with all earnestly.

- Interviewed by - Shivani Singh