‘If you don’t have contacts in the industry, you will lag behind’

With no film background or godfather, it’s safe to say that actor Manjot Singh has made a name for himself in the industry on his own. Though the initial stage, he says, “was a smooth ride”, the struggle started when he shifted base to Mumbai.

“When I was in Delhi, I was studying and shooting back to back for Oye Lucky Lucky Oye (2008), Udaan (2010), Student of the Year (2012) and Fukrey (2013). My first four films happened very smoothly. When I eventually shifted to Mumbai, I struggled for a year and I realised that it’s very important to have contacts. You will not get work like that in the industry. Even if you are a talented actor, if you don’t have contacts in the industry, you will lag behind,” says the Dream Girl actor.

His reserved nature, and disinclination to go out and ask for contacts and knock at the doors for work did hurt his chances but when it comes to performing in front of the camera, he never shies away. Instead, he finds the space most comfortable to grow as an actor and person.

“I would feel shy from taking numbers of my costars and directors and asking for work. But soon I realised that you will have to be a go-getter and shed all the inhibitions. Surprisingly, I’m the opposite in front of the camera and whenever I hear ‘action’, something happens and I just go with the flow,” says Manjot adding, “I’ve grown as an actor, my confidence has risen.”

The industry has opened up in the past few years, and competition has grown. And Manjot agrees. “No one is your friend. Everyone is selfish and thinks about themselves first. You can’t be upset about the fact that your friend didn’t tell you that your friend went alone for an audition and didn’t inform you about it. The competition is really high that way.”

Talking of auditions, one might find it hard to believe