The dream of becoming a successful film actor attracts thousands of young people every year. Fame, recognition, and the hope of earning lakhs of rupees fuel this ambition. While opportunities may appear promising on the surface, the reality of the film industry is far more complex and unforgiving. At the core of success in cinema lies one uncontrollable factor above all else — luck.
Dreams Are Valid, Blind Faith Is Dangerous
Aspiring to become a good actor is not wrong. Believing in your passion is important. However, building your entire life around the assumption that success is guaranteed in films is a serious mistake. Hope should never turn into blind obsession.
Education and a stable profession should never be abandoned for cinema alone. The wiser path is to pursue acting alongside a job or business, using available time to explore opportunities without risking financial security. Contrary to popular belief, theatre experience, acting school certificates, or even artist union membership cards do not guarantee work.
In reality, most opportunities come through coordinators and personal networks, not purely through talent.
A Harsh Industry With Limited Space
Many individuals who have depended solely on cinema for years continue to live in debt even today. Generations of film families dominate the industry — grandparents ruled the screen, their children followed, and now even their grandchildren are entering films.
For outsiders and small artists, opportunities are extremely limited. The future looks even tougher with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, advanced VFX, and digital recreations. Technologies that can generate characters and visuals are slowly reducing the need for large numbers of artists.
Even big-budget films take years to complete, while remuneration for artists continues to shrink. Monthly income stability is rare.
The Three Categories of Artists
The industry broadly consists of three types of artists:
Junior Artists: These artists usually work through agents. Payments may be low, but they are relatively consistent and timely compared to others.
Dialogue Artists: They struggle the most. They must continuously run between coordinators and production offices to secure roles. Payments are often delayed, and even 24 hours of continuous work may result in a single day’s pay.
Padding Artists: These artists operate through personal managers who negotiate roles directly with production teams. In many cases, even if someone else clears an audition, the role may eventually go to a padding artist. Today, many such artists are shifting to television serials due to lack of film opportunities.
Hidden Costs and Wasted Years
Auditions are expensive. Travel, autos, fuel, food, and time demand constant investment — often thousands of rupees — with no guarantee of selection. Many are forced into background roles via coordinators just to stay connected to the industry.
The most valuable loss, however, is time. Years of youth are often wasted chasing uncertain opportunities. A safer alternative is creating short films with friends, releasing content on YouTube or OTT platforms, and experimenting creatively without abandoning financial stability.
A Final Word of Caution
From the outside, cinema appears glamorous. Many believe every actor earns lakhs. This is a dangerous illusion. Opportunities are limited, competition is brutal, and success reaches barely one in a hundred.
If parents are investing in your education, respect that effort. Secure a job or build a business, no matter how small the income. A guaranteed monthly salary provides dignity and peace of mind. Businesses, too, allow flexibility and growth over time.
There are countless real-life examples of people who quit jobs for cinema, failed to secure roles, struggled in serials, lost businesses, and now face unemployment due to age and financial setbacks.
Cinema should remain a passion, not a gamble with your future. If luck knocks, welcome it — but never shut the door on education, employment, or self-reliance.
These words may sound harsh, but they come from experience and concern. Think carefully. Choose wisely.
