Manas Gupta

I am an FTII-trained actor and acting coach based in Mumbai, with extensive experience in both film and theatre. My journey began in Delhi, where I spent years doing theatre, working closely with directors, assisting on productions, performing in plays, and building a strong foundation in stage craft. I have also mentored and conducted multiple children’s theatre workshops, which taught me how to cultivate imagination, confidence, and creative freedom in young performers. These experiences continue to shape my teaching style—rooted in patience, discipline, curiosity, and honest artistic exploration.

My formal training at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) deeply influenced how I approach acting and teaching. Working in front of the camera at FTII helped me understand subtlety, emotional truth, internal rhythm, and how to adapt performance to the technical demands of filmmaking. This blend of theatre grounding and cinematic training enables me to guide complete beginners as well as aspiring actors who want structured, professional-level learning.

In Mumbai, I run regular and weekend acting workshops under my own banner, including my signature training program “Anatomy of a Scene.” Through these workshops, I have worked with 50+ actors, helping them build strong creative foundations, better on-camera presence, authentic emotional expression, and a structured approach to craft.

My classes are designed for beginners but offer depth, technique, and individual attention. Training typically includes:
1. Voice, Breath & Speech – Breath control, resonance, articulation, free and expressive voice work essential for both stage and screen.
2. Body Awareness & Psychophysical Work – Releasing tension, connecting emotion with physicality, and understanding the body as the actor’s primary instrument.
3. Meisner Technique – Moment-to-moment truthfulness, listening, responding, and breaking patterns of self-conscious performance.
4. Uta Hagen’s Techniques – Character analysis, substitution, crafting behaviour, and detailed exploration through her Nine Questions.
5. Michael Chekhov Technique – Imagination-based tools, psychological gestures, atmosphere work, and expanding inner creative impulses.
6. External-to-Internal & Internal-to-External Acting – Learning different approaches to character creation and discovering what works best for you.
7. Imagination & Sensory Work – Strengthening creativity, emotional access, and the ability to build believable inner worlds.
8. Scene Work & Script Breakdown – Understanding beats, objectives, stakes, relationships, actions, and emotional logic in a simple, beginner-friendly way.
9. On-Camera Training – Understanding close-ups, marks, continuity, framing, eye-lines, emotional modulation, and what the camera reads.
10. Monologue Preparation – Selecting, shaping, rehearsing, and performing monologues for auditions and self-tapes.
11. Confidence & Presence Building – Overcoming fear, releasing blocks, and developing grounded confidence as a performer.
12. Creative Discipline – Learning rehearsal habits, observation skills, consistency, and mindset required for long-term artistic growth.

My goal is to create a safe, structured, and inspiring space where beginners can explore acting without fear, and where aspiring actors can develop technique, emotional clarity, and professional readiness. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking for serious training, my classes help you discover your unique process—and the actor within you.