Who dares, wins

ACTING COACH SAURABH SACHDEVA IS WININING HEARTS AS AN ACTOR BOTH ON THE BIG SCREEN AND OTT. HE TALKS TO SUMAN SHARMA ABOUT HIS RESURGENCE

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Saurabh Sachdeva's journey reads like a quiet triumph carved in persistence and heart. Once a dyslexic child who struggled to find his place, he grew into one of India's most respected acting coaches before stepping in front of the camera himself. From Sacred Games to Animal, his characters, often intense, complex, unforgettable, reflect the depth of someone who has spent years understanding human truth. Yet beneath the grit lies a rare gentleness: a mentor who shapes performers with empathy, and an actor who brings emotional honesty to every frame. His story is a warm reminder that talent blooms beautifully, even when it begins in doubt. Excerpts.

YOU BEGAN YOUR ACTING CAREER WITH MAROON IN 2016, AFTER HAVING ALREADY SPENT NEARLY 15 YEARS AS AN ACTING COACH. WHY DID IT TAKE THAT LONG FOR YOU TO STEP INTO FILMS?

Because I simply didn't have the courage back then. I wasn't afraid of acting. I never doubted my craft but I was deeply unsure of myself. I would worry about the smallest things: How will I talk to reporters? How will I navigate the industry? Will people respect me? Even asking for work felt overwhelming. Talent wasn't the issue; self-esteem was. I constantly felt incomplete, as if something in me wasn't enough. Then in 2015, I went back to my own coaches and worked intensely on myself. They pulled me out of that shell, helped me reclaim my confidence, and from there, the work began to flow. Eventually, I started my own acting school, The Actor's Truth.

WHAT WAS THE TOUGHEST PHASE OF YOUR LIFE?