Choices
When Choices Aren’t Yours Where silence is scripted but voices are stifled
Between applause and ambition lies a quiet storm. One not always visible but deeply felt. Every year, as teenagers across India cross the uncertain bridge between school and the world beyond, dreams are often whispered but rarely heard. The months between March and April, the so-called season of futures, become less about celebration and more about surrender. And in a country where mark sheets are worshipped more than mindsets, many find themselves walking paths they never chose.
This is not the silence of peace. It is the silence of being unheard.
For many young Indians, especially those who find joy in the stage, behind the camera, or in creative expression, choices feel less like freedom and more like a test. The entertainment world with its lights, glamour, and stage-ready appearance might seem like a land of dreams. But for students in modest homes, those dreams are seen as distractions rather than destinies. Acting is called a hobby. Dancing is labelled a phase. And just like that, the curtain falls before the audition even begins.
The truth is that the entertainment industry in India, while vast and vibrant, is still not considered a real career by many families. Engineering and medicine continue to be praised while acting, dance, or direction are treated like passing interests. Students who write poetry in science class or rehearse lines during lunch breaks are often asked to grow up. But what if growing up means leaving behind what makes you feel most alive?
There is a quieter stage that stands within all this noise. The National School of Drama in New Delhi. Established in 1959 under the Sangeet Natak Akademi and later becoming an independent institution under the Ministry of Culture, NSD has shaped Indian theatre and entertainment silently but powerfully. While coaching centers for engineering and medicine flood every city, institutions like NSD barely make it into family conversations. This is surprising in a country where homes are filled with music, films, and the very art forms that NSD trains for.
At NSD, acting is not just taught as a skill but as a way of life. Students go through rigorous training that includes body movement, voice modulation, stage design, and even the psychology of a character. For three years, they are immersed in a space where art is not simply performed but lived. It is not about fame. It is about honesty. And it is about storytelling in its rawest form.
Some of India’s most powerful actors studied there. Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan Khan, Seema Biswas, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Neena Gupta, and Pankaj Tripathi are just a few examples. Their names are respected not just for their popularity but for their depth. They didn’t take shortcuts. They took the long, uncertain road through discipline, doubt, and dedication. And what they earned was not just applause, but respect.
But courage like that does not always begin in classrooms. It begins in quiet homes, where a student decides not to follow the obvious path. It begins in arguments, in fear, in broken dreams and slowly rebuilt hope. It begins with one brave step toward something nobody else understands yet. Choosing a creative career is not just about talent. It is about strength. And often, it is about standing alone.
That loneliness is real. Especially in middle-class Indian households where security is everything and success is measured in monthly salaries. Students are trained to seek stability over satisfaction. Parents, out of love or fear, advise their children to keep the arts on the side. But interest without commitment is like a plant without water. It looks fine for a while but slowly fades.
What happens then, when the choice is not really yours? Some give in. They attend engineering lectures with empty notebooks and heavier hearts. Others rebel and are called ungrateful or unrealistic. A few take the longer path. They teach themselves. They build portfolios in secret. They study from YouTube, from community groups, from mentors who understand. They survive off belief.
For them, places like the National School of Drama are not just institutions. They are sanctuaries. But even NSD faces its challenges. Invisibility, underfunding, and public ignorance. In today’s world of quick fame and viral content, the value of serious training often gets lost. Influencers may be more recognized than stage actors. But when India celebrates a film at an international festival or applauds a play that sparks social change, it is often NSD alumni at the heart of that work.
In 2005, the school founded the Bharat Rang Mahotsav, which is now India’s largest theatre festival. It brings together performers from all across the country and even abroad. But how many school students have heard of it? How many parents even know such a festival exists? The issue is not a lack of talent. It is a lack of conversation.
Entertainment is not just about escape. It is about reflection. From plays that question injustice to films that celebrate resilience, art shapes how we think and feel. In a world where debates fail, sometimes a poem or performance can move a heart. That is the real power of the arts. But if we do not allow our children to participate in that world, we are silencing future voices who could make a difference.
Why then, are we still so afraid? Is it because the path is unpredictable? Or is it because we were never allowed to explore it ourselves? The truth is that stability can never replace joy. And while it is important to be realistic, it is even more important to be honest. A young person who creates is not wasting time. They are building bridges to emotions that textbooks cannot teach.
This essay is not just a reflection. It is a request. A request to listen to those who feel their dreams slipping away in the name of logic. A request to parents, teachers, and institutions to include creative careers in career guidance talks. A request to make space for both engineers and entertainers. Because one builds bridges and the other tells us why they matter.
To every student who has hidden their passion, this is your reminder. You are not alone. There are places like NSD that believe in you, even if no one else does. Your voice is valid. Your dreams are possible. And one day, your story will be worth telling.
In the end, the most powerful performers are not the ones with the loudest voices. They are the ones who remained honest. Even when the choice was never truly theirs.
By: Tushant
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