All posts tagged: NSD

Zaigham Imam Casts 6 NSD Actors For His Social Thriller, Says “You Need Powerful Actors, Not Just Stars”

Zaigham Imam Casts 6 NSD Actors For His Social Thriller, Says “You Need Powerful Actors, Not Just Stars”

Published by Parlour News

Zaigham Imam Brings Together Six NSD Actors For The Narmada Story (Photo Credit –Facebook) When telling authentic and socially relevant stories, casting actors who can bring depth, realism, and emotional truth to their performances is crucial. Perhaps that is why filmmaker Zaigham Imam has brought together an impressive lineup of six actors associated with the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) for his upcoming film The Narmada Story. The film features acclaimed performers Raghubir Yadav, Mukesh Tiwari, Anjali Patil, Sadanand Patil, Ishteyak Khan, and Alok Chatterjee, all of whom come from strong theater and performance backgrounds. Their presence adds a layer of authenticity and gravitas to a film deeply rooted in social issues, crime, justice, and human resilience. Set in Madhya Pradesh, The Narmada Story follows the journey of two women who confront disturbing realities while exposing a powerful nexus of crime and corruption. Inspired by real-life events, the film is designed as both an engaging crime drama and a socially relevant narrative that raises awareness about issues affecting women and society at large. Why …

‘I became Ashwatthama’: Nawazuddin Siddiqui recalls NSD Holi when bhaang made him believe he was immortal | Bollywood News

‘I became Ashwatthama’: Nawazuddin Siddiqui recalls NSD Holi when bhaang made him believe he was immortal | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

3 min readNew DelhiMay 1, 2026 08:30 PM IST Nawazuddin Siddiqui, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD), is often celebrated for his slow but steady rise to success. Now that he has earned widespread recognition, the actor recently revisited some of his most memorable—and amusing—days at NSD, including one Holi celebration where he got heavily intoxicated on bhaang and believed he was the immortal Ashwatthama. Nawazuddin recalls NSD’s Holi Speaking to Radio Nasha Official, Nawazuddin recalled, “There’s a tradition at NSD—on Holi, experts gather to prepare thandai. The first time I had it, they kept pouring it into my mouth, and I just kept drinking. Initially, I felt nothing. After about an hour, they urged me to have more, and I did. That’s when I became Ashwatthama. I started imagining I had a bow and arrow—climbing trees, jumping on walls, and performing nonstop for nearly five hours.” But the episode didn’t end there. The haze lasted for another three hours, during which he became convinced that stepping outside a drawn circle would …

Naseeruddin Shah says ‘only failures come back to teach’ at NSD: ‘I consider it my responsibility to help these kids’ | Bollywood News

Naseeruddin Shah says ‘only failures come back to teach’ at NSD: ‘I consider it my responsibility to help these kids’ | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

2 min readChennaiFeb 7, 2026 09:03 PM IST Bollywood veteran couple Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah are both alumni of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD). The institute has many other renowned alumni, including Om Puri, Irrfan Khan, Anupam Kher, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta, Piyush Mishra, and others. However, in a recent interaction, Naseeruddin and Ratna admitted that they did not learn acting from the institute. Speaking to Curtain Call With Aahana Kumra, Naseeruddin said, “There was no acting teacher worth the name at NSD when I was there.” He shared how one teacher at the institute taught him the discipline of acting, but no one taught him about the craft during his time there. “But as far as the craft of the work itself, apart from gaining experience in acting over several plays over the years, I didn’t learn anything about acting while I was at NSD,” he added. Ratna had a similar experience. She said, “Ditto, when I went to NSD, seven years later after he had passed out, …

Pankaj Tripathi admits judging female batchmate for smoking during NSD days: ‘But then I realised…’ | Interview

Pankaj Tripathi admits judging female batchmate for smoking during NSD days: ‘But then I realised…’ | Interview

Published by Parlour News

Actor Pankaj Tripathi is now producer Pankaj Tripathi, too. The acclaimed actor has presented the recently released web series, Perfect Family, which premiered on YouTube this Friday. The show explores topics such as therapy, mental health, and personal growth. In a candid chat with HT to mark the show’s release, the actor-producer spoke about all this and more. Pankaj Tripathi has turned producer with the web series, Perfect Family. Pankaj Tripathi on Perfect Family As a creative person, Pankaj says he turned to production not for money, but for good storytelling. “Content matters; the story does! Even in this (show), na maine ek rupaya lagaya hai, na main ek rupaya profit ka loonga isse (I have neither invested anything in it, nor will I take a single rupee of profit from this). Ajay Rai, my old friend and producer from Gangs of Wasseypur, has made this. I came on board to present it after he showed me two episodes. I felt this was a good story that needed to be told,” he explains. Created by …

Shah Rukh Khan is a ‘natakwala’ first and a superstar later, shares NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy: ‘It takes guts to stand out’

Shah Rukh Khan is a ‘natakwala’ first and a superstar later, shares NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy: ‘It takes guts to stand out’

Published by Parlour News

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, adored by fans both in India and across the globe, has built a lasting legacy in the industry. Recently, National School of Drama director Chittaranjan Tripathy praised Khan, calling him a ‘natakwala’ first and a superstar later. He emphasized that it takes immense courage to stand out in the complex world of showbiz. In an interview with PTI, NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy, an accomplished theatre, TV, and film artist, expressed his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan’s incredible journey from being an ordinary person from an ordinary family to achieving global fame.  He highlighted superstar’s deep connection to theatre, noting that he considers him a theatre artist first and a superstar second, crediting his theatrical roots for much of his success. He said, “I consider him a natakwala first, he is a superstar later,”  He expressed that SRK’s journey from an ordinary individual to achieving extraordinary success resonates deeply with him. Although not in the same position, he feels a sense of connection due to their shared background in theatre, almost …

Shah Rukh is ‘natakwala’ first, superstar later: NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy | Bollywood

Shah Rukh is ‘natakwala’ first, superstar later: NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy | Bollywood

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, Shah Rukh Khan is a ‘natakwala’ first and superstar second, says National School of Drama director Chittaranjan Tripathy who somewhere sees himself in the story of the Bollywood star, an “ordinary person from an ordinary family” rising to extraordinary heights. Shah Rukh is ‘natakwala’ first, superstar later: NSD director Chittaranjan Tripathy Tripathy, an accomplished theatre, TV and film artiste, said it would be NSD’s good fortune if the superstar visits as a guest. The drama school is known for its illustrious alumni, including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and Irrfan. “Shah Rukh Khan has done a lot of theatre with Barry John . I consider him a theatre person… I consider him a natakwala first, he is a superstar later,” Tripathy told PTI in an interview during a visit to the news agency’s headquarters. The NSD director said he feels happy a theatre person has become “such a huge superstar”. “I think that an ordinary person from an ordinary family rose to extraordinary heights, I see myself in that. I am like, ‘wow’, this …

More behind the stage than meets the eye: NSD director on theatre, its problems and prospects

More behind the stage than meets the eye: NSD director on theatre, its problems and prospects

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, Theatre has survived it all, the advent of cinema, television and now OTT, says National School of Drama director Chittaranjan Tripathy, doffing his hat to the “addiction of a live medium” but also acknowledging that there is neglect and a crisis of content. More behind the stage than meets the eye: NSD director on theatre, its problems and prospects Tripathy, who has been director of the prestigious drama school for a little over a year, said there should be a cultural renaissance in the land that gave the world the “Natya Shastra”, the treatise on performing arts believed to have been written more than 3,000 years ago. The virtues of theatre as described by the western world have all been mentioned in “Natya Shastra” that faces neglect in the country of its origin, Tripathy told PTI in an interview during a visit to the news agency’s headquarters. “If you read the 6,000 shlokas in ‘Natya Shastra’, you’d feel you have read this somewhere, but not here, in some other place. Our home is …

Irrfan Khan’s NSD batchmate Alok Chatterjee passes away, Swanand Kirkire pays tribute to theater actor: ‘Ek nayaab abhineta…’

Irrfan Khan’s NSD batchmate Alok Chatterjee passes away, Swanand Kirkire pays tribute to theater actor: ‘Ek nayaab abhineta…’

Published by Parlour News

Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Renowned theater artist Alok Chatterjee, who was a contemporary of the late Irrfan Khan at the National School of Drama (1984-1987), passed away on January 7 at the age of 64. He had been struggling with health complications for some time, which ultimately led to multiple organ failure, according to reports. Lyricist and singer Swanand Kirkire paid a heartfelt tribute to Alok Chatterjee on Instagram following his passing. Sharing a poignant photo of Alok dressed in a formal shirt and gazing away from the camera, Swanand expressed his grief in Hindi.  He wrote, “Alok Chatterjee.. ek nayaab abhineta chala gaya! Woh NSD mein Irrfan ke batchmate the (Alok Chatterjee .. A unique actor is gone! He was Irfan’s batchmate in NSD.” In a touching metaphor, he added, “Irrfan agar Kalidas the toh Alok Chatterjee Vilom! Vilom apne Kalidas se milne chala gaya! Rest in peace Aalok Bhai (If Irrfan was Kalidas then Alok Chatterjee was Vilom! Vilom went to see his Kalidas! Rest in peace brother Alok)!” Take …

Theatre actor Alok Chatterjee dies, Swanand Kirkire remembers Irrfan Khan’s NSD batchmate: Ek nayaab abhineta chala gaya | Bollywood

Theatre actor Alok Chatterjee dies, Swanand Kirkire remembers Irrfan Khan’s NSD batchmate: Ek nayaab abhineta chala gaya | Bollywood

Published by Webster

Jan 07, 2025 01:57 PM IST Alok Chatterjee died at around 11 pm on Monday night. His last rites will be held on Tuesday. Lyricist Swanand Kirkire on Tuesday shared that theatre actor Alok Chatterjee died. Taking to Instagram, he posted a photo of Alok. He also penned a note for him. Alok was the National School of Drama (NSD) batchmate of late actor Irrfan Khan. Alok Chatterjee was a gold medalist at NSD. Swanand Kirkire posts note for Alok Chatterjee In the photo, Alok was seen looking away from the camera in a formal shirt. Swanand captioned the post in Hindi and English, “Alok Chatterjee.. ek nayaab abhineta chala gaya! Woh NSD mein Irrfan ke batchmate the (Alok Chatterjee .. A unique actor is gone! He was Irfan’s batchmate in NSD.” “Irrfan agar Kalidas the toh Alok Chatterjee Vilom! Vilom apne Kalidas se milne chala gaya! Rest in peace Aalok Bhai (If Irfan was Kalidas then Alok Chatterjee was Vilom! Vilom went to see his Kalidas! Rest in peace brother Alok)!” he concluded. About …

After 12 Years, 2 Depressions & Losing A Job At NSD, This Popular Cast Member Still Struggles To Find ‘Good Roles In Films’!

Published by Webster

Panchayat Season 3 Has received rave Reviews. (Photo Credit – Instagram) ‘Dekh Raha hai Binod..’ If you have heard these lines anytime in the Internet sphere in the past 3 years, you will be familiar with the face of Durgesh Kumar—the slow-rising star of the mega series Panchayat. The Heartland show about Phulera and its eccentric characters has become one of the biggest shows on Indian OTT. As a result, it has brought massive fame to all its cast members. But it turns out just virality or popularity does not guarantee good roles, as Durgesh Kumar reveals. In a surprising interview, Banrakas, aka Durgesh, opened up about not getting good roles despite his critically acclaimed performance in Panchayat. It took Durgesh Kumar 12 years, two depressions, and the loss of a job at the National School of Drama for him to taste fame. The actor, well-known for playing Bhushan, also known as Banrakas, in Amazon Prime Video’s Panchayat, is a viral sensation. Even though the actor demonstrated his abilities in three seasons of Panchayat, he …