Shivam Roy Prabhakar, a young man, learned his lesson early in life. After five years in the industry, the 23-year-old from Kasganj (UP) has already tried his hand at writing and directing in addition to acting.
“See, acting as a profession alone won’t work in today’s time, multi-tasking is of utmost importance. The biggest names in the industry are trying their hand at writing, production, and direction. So, I have two films as protagonists ready to release, have directed a music video, and giving the final touch to the film script of Raam Rachi Rakha. I am looking forward to acting and directing it in the coming months,” shares the Jijaji Chhat Par Hai actor.
The film is in pre-production, and they hope to begin filming in Ayodhya soon.
“I am playing lead in The Third Hacker with newcomer Priya Sharma. Third Hacker will have an OTT release. The makers intend to release Love in Dehradun in theatres. In the latter, I am paired opposite Karishma Wable. I hope that both of my projects will come out later this year,” he adds.
Prabhakar has featured in two songs. “Chaal Ghazab Hai with Zannat Zubair sung by Pawni Pandey and Prince Yadav was my first song followed by Haan Karde with Ashi Singh. “I have dabbled into direction with Kailashi Avinashi for singer Vardaan Singh, a Lucknowite,” he tells.
Talking about his journey, he says, “Someone spotted me and offered me to do a role in Ram Leela. Initially, my parents refused but later agreed. I topp-ed my district in Class X and started doing plays in Delhi as well as with Aligarh Muslim University drama club.”
He met actor Mohd Ali Shah, nephew of Naseeruddin Shah, at AMU and was asked to relocate to Mumbai.
“For the initial two months, I stayed in his flat but then you have to fight your own battle. I started the drill of auditions and did many small characters to sustain. Episodic in CID and Crime Patrol helped me sustain. In between, I got to do a small role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan followed by roles in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Dasvi, and Suryaputra Karna.”
