An actor tries to portray the actions and motivations of some other character for particular period of time. Today acting career stands for successful life, glamour and glitzy lifestyle, limelight, huge fan following, name and fame. Besides the name and fame, huge money is assured for a successful actor.

Film industry in India is well established and it has global competence. There are tremendous job opportunties in film industry, satellite channnel serials and other programmes, drama companies, advertisement agencies, etc. Government of India offers job opportunities in Doordarshan, Film and Telivision Institute of India (FTII, Pune), National School of Drama (NSD, New Delhi). Many private acting schools have tie-ups with film producers and offers jobs just after successful training course in acting. 

In this profession one commands salary by the virtue of his acting skills and ability to strike the right chord with the audience. Salaries are different at different production houses. The remuneration ranges from Rs. 5,000 to few crores for a particular project.

It is said that actors are born and not made however acting schools hone acting skills. A formal training programme gives training and exposure that increases the chances of success. The minimum educational qualifications required to get admitted in such a course is ‘a graduation degree in any discipline. Some private training schools least bother about academic qualifications and give utmost importance to natural talent and previous acting experience.  

• Good vocal projection, clarity in speech, imitating dialects and accents.
  
• Physical and emotional expressiveness.
  
• Ability to imagine and visualize.
  
• Improvisation observation and emulation.
  
• Singing and dancing skills.
  

 If you record “Yes” for maximum questions then it indicates that you have potential for perusing career in the field of acting.

• Do I have ability to express emotions effectively?
• Can I convey my emotions with subtle details?
• Do I have ability to imagine and visualize?
• Do I keen observation power?
• Do I have good vocal projection, clarity in speech, imitating dialects and accents?
• Do I have ability to work with people?
• Do I enjoy theatre/setup environment?.
• Do I like to work for several hours (8-12hrs or more) per day on stage/setup?
• Am I ready to travel frequently?
• Do I am a disciplined person?
• Am I ready to stay away from family for several days?
• Am I ready to learn new things?
• Do I have media managment skills? 

• Actor/actress
• Co-actor/co-actress
• Supporting actor/actress
• Master of acting school.
• Consultant

• Cinema houses
• TV production houses.
• Acting schools.
• Film institutes
• Drama Schools

• Diploma course in Dramatic Arts. Eligibility: Graduation in any stream with atleast 10 years experience in amateur drama. Centre: National School of Drama, New Delhi. 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Arts. Centre: National School of Drama, New Delhi.  http://nsd.gov.in
• Courses in Film and Television in Direction, cinematorgraphy,Editing,Sound Recording and Sound Design, Acting, Art Direction and production design, Animation and computer graphics, feature film and screenplay writting. Centre: Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. www.ftiindia.com

• Daisy Irani’s Film Institute, 682, Roop Kala,16th Road, Khar (W), Behind Khar  Gymkhana, Mumbai-400052.
• Saraswati Music College, A-1/226, safdarjung enclave, New Delhi-110029 Website: www.saraswatimusiccollege.org
• National School of Drama, Bahawalpur House,1 Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi 110001.Website: www.nsd.gov.in
• The Imago School of Acting, Sudhan Bhawan (1st floor) 37, Saidulajab Village, Saket, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, New Delhi-110030. 
• Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Law College Road, Pune –411004, Maharashtra. Website: www.ftiindia.com
• Taneja’s Actors Studios, 102 Horizon Apartments, 9th Road Extension J.V.P.D Scheme, Juhu, Mumbai-400049. 
•  Asha K. Chandra’s Acting School, 6/C, first Floor,Sangeeta Apartments, Opp. S.N.D.T. College,Behind Rituraj Shopping Complex, Juhu Tara Road,Juhu, Mumbai – 400029 
•  Actor Prepares, 2nd Floor, Film Industry Welfare Trust House, Next to Ajivasan Hall, Juhu Road, Santcruz (West), Mumbai – 400054. 

• Film and Television Institute of Andhra Pradesh, Saraswathi Nilayam, 8/3/169/69 Siddartha Nagar, Adjacent to Vengal Rao Nagar, Hyderabad-500038. 

Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) Entrance Examination: The FTII is considered as a Centre of Excellence not only in India but also in Asia and Europe. FTII is a member of CILECT an international association of film schools. FTII Entrance Exams are usually conducted in the month of May/ June. www.ftiindia.com 

National School of Drama (NSD) Screening Test: It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India.Located in Delhi.  The School conducts Screening Test towards its three year course leading to Post Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Arts. http://nsd.gov.in

There are many job opporunities in Hollywood and other film industries.