Renowned actor Anup Soni, recognized for his notable roles in ‘Crime Patrol’ and the widely acclaimed series ‘Tandav,’ recently shared insights into his journey from being an acting instructor to a successful actor. Soni, a National School of Drama (NSD) graduate, has notably mentored actors like Akshaye Khanna, Tara Deshpande, and Priyanka Gill.
In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Anup Soni revealed the origins of his teaching career, driven by a lack of acting opportunities despite his NSD credentials. Expressing his restlessness and need for constant activity, Soni disclosed, “I am a very restless soul; I don’t like sitting idle. I always feel the need to do something.”
Despite teaching notable personalities like Akshaye Khanna during this phase, Anup Soni decided to abandon his teaching career due to its lack of contribution to his acting journey and its time-consuming nature. Reflecting on this decision, he explained, “That’s when I realized that I didn’t want to be a teacher; I wanted to be an actor.” The frequency of his teaching classes gradually decreased, and he decided to prioritize his acting aspirations over teaching commitments.
Recalling his teaching stint, Soni shared the influence of Kishore Namit Kapoor, who appreciated him and increased his teaching fee from Rs 300 to Rs 400 per class. Despite the financial incentive, Anup Soni chose to step away from teaching as he realized it wasn’t aligned with his passion for acting. “But after a point, I didn’t want to get busy teaching. Kishore Namit Kapoor really liked me. I would charge Rs 300 per class, that he increased to Rs 400, and from once a week, I was taking a class four days a week. But I had to leave it,” he reminisced.
Anup Soni emphasized that the pivotal moment in his life was the decision to not pursue activities solely for financial gain. This choice marked a turning point in his journey, leading him to focus on his true passion for acting.
