Actor Prepares

Actor Prepares
Name	Actor Prepares
Established	2005
Founder	Anupam Kher
Type	Drama school
Location	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares

Actor Prepares is a private acting school founded in 2005 in Mumbai by Anupam Kher. The institute offers actor training, workshops, and production opportunities for stage and screen practitioners from across India and abroad, and operates within the broader Indian film and theatre networks linked to Bollywood and international festivals. Its programs intersect with professional pathways connected to Film and Television Institute of India, National School of Drama, and independent studios in New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru.

History

Actor Prepares was established by Anupam Kher following his career in films such as Saaransh and collaborations with directors like Mahesh Bhatt, Yash Chopra, and Karan Johar. Early years saw guest tutors from theatre and film practitioners associated with National School of Drama, Barry John's workshops, and alumni of Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. The school expanded through partnerships with companies involved in Indian Panorama and events at venues such as Prithvi Theatre, NCPA and festivals including the Mumbai Film Festival and International Film Festival of India. Over time Actor Prepares engaged with international artists linked to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and touring productions from United Kingdom and United States.

Courses and Curriculum

The curriculum includes full-time residential and part-time programs modeled on techniques taught at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Stella Adler Studio, and methods attributed to Constantin Stanislavski. Course offerings range from foundational acting, camera acting, and method acting to workshop modules in voice and movement led by instructors with backgrounds in productions by Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, and independent companies like NFDC. Specialized modules cover audition technique for casting processes used by casting directors from Anupama Chopra-associated projects and familiarity with production workflows in studios like Filmistan and facilities used in Film City, Mumbai. The school also runs short courses with visiting faculty from institutions such as Juilliard School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and conservatories linked to Cirque du Soleil performers for physical theatre.

Teaching Method and Techniques

Training integrates approaches influenced by Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg, and Uta Hagen alongside contemporary practices from practitioners associated with Meisner Technique and Jacques Lecoq. Practical modules emphasize scene study, improvisation, movement derived from collaborations with choreographers from Shiamak Davar and voice work in the manner of coaches who have worked on productions by Gulzar and Prakash Jha. Camera-facing techniques reference conventions used in films by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and serial work for broadcasters such as Star Plus and Zee TV. Pedagogy includes audition simulations reflecting casting processes experienced by actors in Bollywood and international co-productions with links to companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Faculty and guest instructors have included theatre directors, film actors, and casting professionals with credits alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Vidya Balan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and producers involved in projects from Yash Raj Films and Red Chillies Entertainment. Alumni have progressed to work in films, television, and theatre alongside directors such as Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, and in web series for platforms like Hotstar and Voot. Visiting faculty and collaborators have included figures connected to National School of Drama, Barry John, and international trainers from Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

Campus and Facilities

Located in Bandra and additional centres in Andheri and satellite workshops in New Delhi and Pune, facilities feature rehearsal studios equipped for camera work, black box theatres, voice labs, and movement spaces used for collaborations with choreographers who have worked with Shiamak Davar and Terence Lewis. Technical support includes indexing for casting calls and demo reels for filmmakers from studios such as Yash Raj Films and production houses like Dharma Productions. The campus hosts masterclasses in venues including Prithvi Theatre and partners with co-working and production spaces affiliated with ND Studios.

Productions and Outreach

Actor Prepares stages regular productions, short films, and showcases for casting directors and festival programmers from events like the Mumbai Film Festival, International Film Festival of India, and fringe theatre circuits including NCPA programming. Outreach includes community workshops, collaborations with NGOs working in arts education, and initiatives aiming to bridge alumni to industry opportunities with casting networks that serve Bollywood, regional cinemas such as Tollywood and Kollywood, and international co-productions. The institute also organizes showcases linked to talent agencies, independent producers, and casting directors who have worked on films by Karan Johar and Rajkumar Hirani.

Category:Drama schools in India