Bollywood’s a hard nut to crack: Anshuman Singh

His name may not ring a bell as of now, but if go by actor Anshuman Singh’s word; it won’t be long before it will. He was the mysterious agent Jimmy in Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod. Not a big role really, but the debutant surely caught eyes for his fresh looks and screen presence.
This very confidence is clearly visible as he already has rejected three films. But can a newcomer afford rejecting offers? “I am very clear about what I am doing,” says Anshuman, ‘Patient and calculated’ in his own words, adding, “The most difficult step for any debutant is to get a good launch pad, but I guess I’ve already cracked that one.Now whatever I’ll do, will gradually build my image in the industry. And I haven’t left my medical degree aside to act in average films and be forgotten in some years. I’m here for the longer race, and for that I’ll have to watch my steps with care.”
A trained singer, Anshuman chose to play a negative character as he feels they are more challenging. “A negative role has more potential with strong character many times. And unlike earlier, we don’t have fear of being trapped in an image if once come as a negative character.”
But he admits it wasn’t an easy ride. It took almost nine months and 15 auditions before he cracked the industry which he describes as “a hard nut. I had no godfather to pull the strings for me, but I was mentally ready that I will have to work hard to sell myself in the B-Town.” He adds that it’s a part of the job, “The producers meet hundreds of people every day and they all want to be stars. How many will they entertain at the end of the day? But the industry does recognize true talent and if you have it in you, you will get your place and respect.”
Anshuman shares that even when he was in Russia pursuing his medical degree, there wasn’t a single day when he didn’t dream of becoming a star. “I followed my father’s wish, but from within I always knew I will be an actor.” So have all those years of academics gone in vain now? “Not at all. I have a degree to fall back on. And staying alone in a strange country prepared me well for what I am doing right now, struggling in a strange industry with unknown people! And it adds weight to your image, when you say you’re a doctor, even in the glam world. For an actor, all experiences add to his way to stardom.” So what is that he is chasing, satisfaction or stardom? “Stardom will follow if I satisfy the actor in me,” prompt comes the reply.