World Theatre Day Special: Manoj Bajpayee To Rajkummar Rao And Pankaj Tripathi, 5 Actors Who Started Their Careers On Stage Before Making It Big In Bollywood

Celebrating World Theatre Day 2025 with a list of actors from Chandan Roy Sanyal to Rajkummar Roy, who started their career with theatre.

World Theatre Day 2025: Actors That Started Out With Theatre

Chandan Roy Sanyal

Long before he stole scenes in films like Kaminey and Aashram, Chandan Roy Sanyal honed his craft in Delhi’s vibrant theatre circuit. He graduated with an honors degree in Mathematics from Zakir Husain College, and credits his time in theatre with shaping his intense and unconventional approach to acting. Notably, he was also in England enacting Shakespearean plays for a Royal Shakespeare production, travelling the world with it. During that period, he was focused solely on theatre, with plans to stay in London and pursue it further. He came close to securing a place in the West End Theatre, with their show nearly finalized for a run at the Piccadilly Theatre, London.

Rajkummar Rao

A powerhouse performer, Rajkummar Rao’s roots lie in theatre. Trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he sharpened his skills as part of Delhi’s theatre scene. While pursuing his Arts degree at Delhi University, Rajkummar Rao was actively involved in theater, performing with Kshitij Repertory and Shri Ram Centre in Delhi. His performances in plays provided the strong foundation that led to his remarkable transformations in films like Shahid, Newton, and Trapped.

Manoj Bajpayee

Manoj Bajpayee’s journey is truly inspiring. From performing in village nataks in Bihar to joining Delhi’s prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) repertory company, Bajpayee’s grounding in theatre laid the bedrock for his raw and layered screen performances in Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur, and The Family Man. Manoj Bajpayee’s strong theatre background, spanning 10 years, is evident in his acting, and he has often spoken about the magic and transformative power of the art form, which he considers his passion and escape.

Pankaj Tripathi

Before he became the face of nuanced, rooted characters in Indian cinema and OTT, Pankaj Tripathi was a regular at NSD, where he trained extensively after performing in village plays. His decade-long theatre experience continues to inform his natural, effortless style, visible in Mirzapur, Mimi, and Kaagaz. Pankaj Tripathi has a strong connection to theatre, having honed his skills through street plays and theatre in his village before attending the National School of Drama (NSD). He was recently appointed as the festival ambassador for Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024, the largest international theatre festival in Northeast India.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

From Mandi in Uttar Pradesh to the grand stages of NSD, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s theatre background is the backbone of his craft. He spent seven years working in Delhi, including three years at the National School of Drama and four years performing in street plays. His years in theatre taught him the patience and perseverance that later translated into unforgettable performances in Gangs of Wasseypur, Sacred Games, and Manto.