Mukesh Chhabra Advises Aspiring Actors to Master Their Craft Before Coming to Mumbai

Chhabra recently appeared on actor Shekhar Suman’s chat show *Shekhar Tonite*, where he stressed that actors should develop their skills and gain confidence in their craft before arriving in the entertainment capital.

According to Chhabra, Mumbai can teach an aspiring actor patience, but it cannot replace the preparation required to become a good performer.

“Until you feel you are fully prepared, you shouldn’t come to Bombay and try. You should work on your craft. Bombay doesn't teach you work, it teaches you patience. You should know how to work, that's why you came to Bombay,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with Shekhar Suman’s own journey, Chhabra said talent is something an actor needs to bring with them rather than expect the city to provide.

“It's not like, when Shekhar Suman came to Bombay, he became talented, you were always talented. Bombay taught you patience, how to work. If you get it, you have to do it well. So, what they do is, when they come to Bombay, they learn everything, apart from patience and talent,” he added.

Chhabra also pointed out that many newcomers spend considerable time preparing themselves for aspects of the entertainment industry other than acting.

He said that aspiring performers often focus on their appearance and other skills while neglecting the most important requirement: their acting ability.

“Apart from acting, they learn everything. And I always say, if you are a good actor, the producer will teach you boxing. The doctors will fix your skin. The hair stylist will cut your hair. The designer will craft your outfit,” Chhabra said.

With a career spanning casting, acting and filmmaking, Chhabra has become one of the prominent names associated with talent discovery in Hindi cinema. He trained at Delhi’s Shri Ram Centre before establishing himself in the industry.

His casting credits include several acclaimed and commercially successful films such as *Gangs of Wasseypur*, *Rockstar*, *Kai Po Che!*, *Dangal*, *Haider* and *Jawan*, among others.

His work on *Gangs of Wasseypur* was particularly noted for its large ensemble cast, which included actors such as Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda, Huma Qureshi and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film helped bring greater visibility to several performers associated with it.

Over the course of his career, Chhabra has also been associated with discovering or introducing actors including Rajkummar Rao, Sushant Singh Rajput, Mrunal Thakur, Pratik Gandhi, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh.

His comments come as a reminder to newcomers looking to build careers in Hindi cinema that preparation and acting ability remain central to making the most of opportunities once they arrive in Mumbai.