Prof. Suresh Sharma was born in 1959 and educated in Lucknow. Soon after receiving his degree, he joined "Sambhav," a Delhi-based theatre company, and appeared in many of its prestigious productions. He has worked with nearly every eminent director in India and appeared in over thirty plays under various directors. In addition to directing plays, Prof. Sharma has translated the book Stanislavsky System into Hindi for the first time under the title "Stanislavsky ke Abhinay Siddhant."
Prof. Sharma was appointed Director in August 1999, following his appointment as Chief of the National School of Drama Repertory Company at the National School of Drama. He has also set up his Acting School at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Prof. Sharma, tell us something about your struggling days While I expressed my desire to choose drama as a career, my family simply denied it. For them, it was a matter of shame. Being a theatre artist was not considered a reputable profession in those days. This ideology has remained pretty much the same today also. So, my parents asked me to leave the house. I used to get only 200 rupees monthly as a part of my scholarship, so for sustenance, I started doing film reviews on the radio. However, after watching my plays and noticing my pictures in the newspapers, my family began to appreciate me.
How did the audience respond to your first drama? When the govt. announced a workshop, people generally assumed it to be on automobiles or something related to the technical field. But they got amused when it turned out to be a theatre workshop. And when we represented Oedipus, we got mixed reactions for showcasing the romantic relationship between a mother and son. However, it got acceptance by the audience.
Tell us about your journey of establishing your own Drama School at Mandi When the govt. announced a workshop, people generally assumed it to be on automobiles or something related to the technical field. But they got amused when it turned out to be a theatre workshop. And when we represented Oedipus, we got mixed reactions for showcasing the romantic relationship between a mother and son. However, it got acceptance by the audience.
Tell us about your journey of establishing your own Drama School at Mandi While doing plays, I came across Ratan Thiyam Sahab. He has been an influential personality ever since then. Apart from being a renowned figure in the field of art, he was also a successful businessman. I got inspired by him and thought of being like him someday. So, I came here, married Seema Ji, and things continued.
What hurdles did you face while establishing your dream project? There were numerous hurdles in our way. I started my journey empty-handed and kept on working tirelessly to save pennies. It took us almost 31 years to complete our dream project. Sometimes I wonder if it is a dream or a reality. It's still unbelievable to me. We have made numerous sacrifices to achieve it. As they say, to gain something, you have to lose something.
"We lost our youth, comfort, and the precious phase of our children growing as we would be busy working and earning for the future.Now we have everything except the things we have already lost"
Still, we face allegations such as how we got so much funding and whether our organization is legal. But on getting answers, the fingers get down.
How is today's struggle different from your time's struggle? During our time, we had only Doordarshan to watch drama and learn. Today there are numerous resources for exposure. Today acts are taught and presented in almost all colleges and Schools that were not common during those times. We were paid in pennies; today, people get quite a good amount since their training phase. I believe theatre is a mixture of all arts, whether music, singing, dancing, or acting, so those who step into theatre can also work in the film industry.
What does success mean to you? The definition of success differs from person to person. Once they achieve their target, they change it and are never satisfied with the results. Spending time with my students and living my passion makes me feel happy and content. And even if I die, my legacy will continue for at least thirty years. That is a real success for me!
Final Words
Prof. Suresh Sharma is a living example of how hard work pays off. Despite having financial and social constraints, he did not lose hope and kept working tirelessly towards his dream and now has become an influential name in the acting industry.
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