Want to be an actor? Here are 12 'audition' tips from a top casting director

Are you one among the millions who dream of becoming an actor and flock to the city of dreams? If you nod in affirmation, then you need to go through these tips before you make your first appearance for an audition. Shanoo Sharma, the casting director of Yash Raj Films, in her column on Film Companion, spills the beans on how the aspiring actors should prep themselves up before going for an audition. 

Shanoo is credited for casting Ranveer Singh, Bhumi Pednekar among many others. After her more than 10-year long experience as a successful casting director, she wraps up all the mantras of how to make an impression during and after an audition, in 12 tips. Excerpts:

1) Do your research:  Everyone is always out to give advice, so make sure you know who the right advisors are. Listen to everyone, but only do what your inner voice agrees with...It is important to have knowledge of how to groom yourself before you face the camera. To be able to see, ‘Do I need to sleep with people to get to the camera today? Do I really need to flirt and kiss asses and buy presents and gifts? Do I really need to show flesh or wear tight clothes?’ Everything is available today...You must gather as much knowledge, before you even step into the field, of what you’re getting into and how to go about it...Spend less time on Instagram and work on your craft.

2) Work hard on improving yourself: Improving yourself, learning something new and being open to change everyday is the key! You should never think you know it all and don’t need to learn more. If your stomach is full, there will be no hunger. So always give yourself the space to learn more.

3) Don't flatter the casting director: Gifts, compliments and sweet words lose their charm when they have a motive of work involved. A gift of gratitude is always wonderful, but to think that you have impressed the casting director through these gestures and you will get work is pointless. 

4) Don't flirt with him or her: t happens all the time, and trust me it’s not nice because one is aware of the motive and it’s not flattering for anyone to know that. Any actor who tries to flirt with me, I screenshot, save messages and keep a folder on my phone. 

5) Don't beg for work: Being harassed by people who constantly insist on being cast is not at all pleasant. At times it’s almost a put off. I mean we are all here to do a job. You the actor, and I the casting director.

6) Be ready to unlearn: There are hundreds of courses with different methods – some I’m unaware of. But you have to unlearn. Leave your method behind. Submit yourself. It’s the toughest job today to unlearn. It’s an art to listen. Magic happens in omissions. Magic happens when you don’t know what you’re doing, and a moment is created. 

7) Audition and then forget about it: Don’t call. Don’t ask. Don’t wait. Don’t figure out whether you’ve got it or not. If you’ve got it, we’re not going to sit and wait for you to call us. We’re going to call you. It’s a simple rule.

8) Keep grooming yourself: Follow what’s in vogue, or become a trend setter, but whatever you do, make it simple. Don’t be too loud, because that comes across as trying too hard to be noticed.

9) Respect all roles: Initially they used to say, ‘Nahi yaar. TV karenge toh nahi hoga.’ TV actors like Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy have become big. ‘No, if I play a heroine’s friend.’ Parineeti Chopra was Anushka Sharma’s friend in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl... The idea is to act, and to do good credible work in whichever form offered to you.

10) Turn the camera away from yourself and look outside: I see a lot of aspiring actors and models putting photos of themselves and their bodies on social media. Lots of pictures of gym workouts...When we look up someone online, we always look for an interesting profile, a well-travelled person who reflects his personality through what he uploads, and who he follows. It tells you a lot about a person. An interesting profile is way more important than the amount of followers you have...Watch people, watch their body language. Be curious about things. Question them and then answer them.

11) Have an interesting persona: When I’m looking for a lead girl or boy, I don’t only look at their craft and their visual, I also am looking at what their first interview, first TV appearance, and first award speech would be like. I am looking for a personality. A personality that is real, confident and attracts all who come across it.

12) Make your own identity: Become who you are and show this world something new. Don’t try be the next SRK or Salman Khan. Create your own tribe. Ranveer Singh has done it. Alia Bhatt has done it. Vicky Kaushal has done it. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has done it.

(Read the full column here.)