MUMBAI: There are thousands of actors who play supporting roles to the protagonists, give the film a new lease of credibility, and areas, if not more, talented than the main leads. However, they do not receive as much fame and stardom as they deserve. In our Casting Call segment, we present a list of some of the most significant Indian television, web, and Bollywood actors who we hope eventually get their due in the future.

We got in touch with Ankit Narang, who is a known name in the television world. Ankit spoke at length about how he entered the industry, his struggle, and more. Read on.

How did you get into acting?

I always had an inclination towards acting, but I didn’t admit it when I was young. I always said that I wanted to become a doctor and pilot. However, I told my father that I want to become an actor when I was in the 9th grade, and to my surprise, he did not overreact. Instead, he was very normal about it. He suggested that I find out how to go about it. After my HSC, I came to Mumbai, did my college here, and started auditioning. One fine day, I got a call that I was finalized, and the rest is history.

Tell us about the projects that you’ve done.

I did a show called Bhoomika, which never got aired. Then, I did Tum Dena Saath Mera as the main lead and then Pavitra Rishta and Bade Ache Lagte Hai. I also did an amazing show on Zindagi Channel called Bhage Re Mann and, finally, Divya Drishti. I also have done theatre for 3 years, and right now, I am preparing for my solo theatre performance called 'Hero'.

How difficult is it to survive in a city like Mumbai?

It's expensive to live in a city like Mumbai. Moreover, when you are struggling, you really have to ensure that you spend where necessary and not waste money partying. There is saying in Gujarati that translates into 'Mumbai me khana to aapko miljayega, Rehna nahi milega', because accommodation is really expensive here and so is traveling. Also, as actors, we need to keep ourselves fit, which again requires a lot of money. We also have to keep investing in ourselves by learning dance forms, martial arts, doing acting workshops, etc. Having said that, if actors prioritize the most important things rather than wasting money on partying, survival can become easier.

Are actors paid well?

It depends. When you start your career, obviously, you are not paid well and you have to work for about 12 to 14 hours a day. One does get exploited in the industry at the beginning, but that is in every field and that is okay. That is how you value your work and your hard-earned money. But as you progress in your field and start doing good work, people start realizing your caliber as an actor and that's when your market value is built and you start earning a decent amount of money.

Here’s wishing Ankit all the best for his future projects.