Consistency in portraying a character is vital for actors across different mediums, each presenting unique challenges. In theatre, chronological progression guides character development, whereas screen projects may limit this liberty.
1. Can you share your journey into acting and voice artistry? What motivated you to pursue these fields?
My professional journey traces back to my childhood in Nagpur city, born into a Maharashtrian family deeply immersed in a rich cultural environment. Raised by an artistically inclined family, with a father passionate about music, literature, and theatre, and a grandmother who was a qualified classical singer, I absorbed a diverse range of influences. This upbringing cultivated keen observational skills in me. In my early years, I excelled in drawing and painting, earning accolades. I was always fascinated by stage performers from any field and often used to mimic famous personalities and even people I met.
Meanwhile, my grandmother saw a musical spark in me and encouraged me to pursue Indian classical singing, in which I trained for 7 years. I even began singing for live shows commercially. However, due to fewer professional opportunities in my city and societal pressure regarding security, despite topping architecture entrances, I chose engineering for a secure career.
College life provided the freedom to explore my artistic passions. Excelling in academics while winning accolades in theatre and music, I brought laurels not only to my university but also to my country. Later, however, a corporate IT job in Mumbai didn't align with my true interests. I left the job, returned to my city, struggled financially, but resumed theatre activities, realizing my strengths lay in the art. Balancing part-time jobs, radio work, anchoring, and teaching just for survival, I sought opportunities to grow in my chosen field.
During a challenging period, theatre, particularly acting, emerged as my true passion. This revelation led me to embark on a professional journey, including commercial plays, television shows, short films, and feature films. The onset of COVID-19 brought setbacks to the entertainment industry but revealed another facet of my passion — Voicing. Today, alongside acting assignments, I am actively involved in diverse voicing projects, from animation dubbing to corporate voice-overs and audiobook narrations to movie dubbing. Having found my path, I am eager to explore further.
2. How do you maintain consistency in voice characterization when portraying the same character across different mediums?
Consistency in portraying a character is vital for actors across different mediums, each presenting unique challenges. In theatre, chronological progression guides character development, whereas screen projects may limit this liberty. My approach varies with each project, focusing on fundamental aspects like the character's purpose, mannerisms, and accent based on the script. Reading between the lines, drawing from experience, and mental programming contribute to embodying the character.
Practice is key to maintaining consistency of character, akin to maintaining physical strength. In screen and voice projects, the ability to switch the character on and off is crucial due to multiple takes and schedules, while in theatre, the character remains active on stage until leaving the stage. So the more focused and away from distractions I am, the more consistent I am in my performance. Reading the scripts multiple times always helps me to embody the nuances of the character more.
3. How different is it to get into character for a role as an actor than a voice actor?
Voice acting is a vital branch of the broader acting spectrum. In daily life, we unconsciously engage in acting, adjusting our language and tone based on the situation, context, and the people we are with. Each medium presents distinct challenges; on camera or stage, facial expressions and body language complement spoken words. Despite these challenges, visible cues aid communication.
Conversely, in voice acting, conveying emotions solely through the voice demands intricate work. The absence of visual cues requires a balance between expressiveness and naturalness to connect with the audience. Dubbing, for instance, involves matching the acting and voice of another actor, creating the illusion of that actor speaking in a different language. Mastery of all acting aspects individually enables an actor to portray a character either just by miming, voicing, or acting out completely in any medium.
4. As someone fascinated by arts, what form of art amongst the various forms you've tried has been your favourite?
My childhood honed my keen observational skills, now integral to my success. I got popular in my city for adeptly mimicking people, including famous personalities, showcasing their voices, expressions, and body language. During the early years of stage, I performed solo mimicry shows, focusing on impressions of renowned Indian actors.
I expanded into anchoring for major brands, as a singer in local musical shows, and later combined mimicry with singing for comic reality shows on television. Stand-up comedy, a by-product of theatre, also became a part of my repertoire. Over time, I ventured into writing, directing, and acting for theatre. In my deep connection with the entertainment industry, I cherish the art of mimicry as my personal favorite. It has really complemented my acting and voicing journey in unimaginable ways!
5. What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
The foremost advice for a successful professional journey in the entertainment field is to consistently embrace learning and maintain passion. In my workshops and judging events, I emphasize to aspiring artists that the acting industry, like conventional ones, undergoes constant change. Actors must adapt to evolving times and audience preferences. For instance, the rise of OTT platforms has created new opportunities for experimentation.
It's crucial to comprehend your market boundaries, whether local, regional, or national, and progress accordingly. While ambition is encouraged, actors should proceed step by step. Although formal training from reputable institutes can enhance skills, nothing rivals the effectiveness of learning through theatre. Aspiring artists should question their expectation of instant success in auditions without relevant experience, recognizing that success in this field depends on skills, hard work, and teamwork, rather than mere luck and glamour.
They should not take both success and failure too seriously and pave their pathways with patience, self-confidence, worthy choices, and perseverance for a long-lasting career. Remember, in the entertainment field, uncertainty is constant. Surrounding yourself with talent can be helpful as well as intimidating, but cultivate resilience. Have a financial backup to fearlessly explore opportunities away from your city until your breakthrough, allowing you to captain your own artistic journey.
Bio:
Shantanu Thengdi is a seasoned Indian actor and voice artist with over 17 years of extensive experience in the entertainment industry. Boasting an impressive portfolio, he has contributed to over 70 theatre productions and participated in more than 30 screen projects, earning recognition through numerous State and National level awards.
Among his notable achievements are standout performances on popular Marathi television comic reality shows such as 'Chala Hawa Yeu Dya - Hou De Viral' on Zee Marathi and 'Ek Tappa Out' on Star Pravah, where he reached the Semi-Finals. Shantanu has showcased his versatility as a lead actor in internationally acclaimed short films like 'Blind Spot' (2017) and 'Diamond' (2021), while also embracing the role of an antagonist in the upcoming independent Hindi feature film 'Nisataran.'
Beyond his on-screen accomplishments, Shantanu has established himself as a sought-after voice talent, lending his voice to audiobook narrations, movie and web series dubbing, animation projects, and corporate presentations. His esteemed clientele includes notable names such as Jio Cinema, Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Polycab, Byju's, Maruti Suzuki, Pocket FM, Kuku FM, Plasto Pipes & Tanks Ltd., Licious, SBI, and more.
Additionally, Shantanu has taken on roles as a mentor and judge for various events associated with prestigious brands like CEAT Tyres Ltd. and Persistent Systems Ltd. He also conducts workshops for aspiring individuals, including freshers and children. Adding another dimension to his talents, Shantanu has showcased his writing skills through contributions to various theatre plays and corporate videos, collaborating with esteemed brands such as Euro School, L&T Electric and Automation, Schneider Electric, and others.
Interviewed by- Shreya
Edited By- Pragya Lamba
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