From Stage to Screen: DSM Alumni Thriving in Film
At Drama School Mumbai (DSM), students don’t just learn to act—they discover their voices as storytellers. Many DSM alumni have transitioned from stage to screen, bringing with them the skills, discipline, and insights they honed at DSM. Meet four alumni who are making waves in Indian cinema, each with a unique path shaped by their training.
Adarsh Gourav: Embracing the Art of Storytelling
“DSM taught me the importance of storytelling.”
– Adarsh Gourav
Known for his captivating roles in The White Tiger, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Guns and Gulaabs, and more, Adarsh Gourav’s journey began at DSM in 2016. For Adarsh, DSM was where he learnt to value storytelling deeply. “DSM taught me the importance of storytelling,” he says, explaining how his training focused on both acting techniques and the heart of character development.
At DSM, Adarsh was immersed in training that covered physicality, voice modulation, and emotional depth, allowing him to inhabit diverse roles fully. “I learnt to approach each character as a unique story,” he explains. This comprehensive training, combined with DSM’s collaborative environment, taught him the value of feedback and teamwork—essentials in both theatre and film. Working with fellow actors and faculty nurtured his confidence and ability to embrace vulnerability on stage and screen. Today, Adarsh credits DSM for instilling in him the discipline and creativity that guided him through his film career.
Srishti Srivastava: Lage Raho!
“Imagination comes from theatre.”
– Srishti Srivastava
Srishti Srivastava has charmed audiences with roles in Gully Boy, Gulabo Sitabo, and Girls Hostel. Her journey at DSM was filled with humour and hard work, and she fondly remembers the challenges and growth it brought her. “I remember performing a monologue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and thinking, ‘This is terrible!’” she laughs, recalling her early days.
DSM taught Srishti that each performance is a fresh experience. “You perform like it’s the first time, every time,” she says. Her toolkit includes techniques like Kalaripayattu and voice work, and she believes imagination is rooted in theatre. Exercises at DSM transformed her approach, and her mantra “less is more” helped her transition smoothly to the screen. Today, Srishti carries her DSM experience into every role, ready to tackle any challenge with humour and resilience. She jokes that a film about her life would be titled Lage Raho! as a tribute to her journey and growth.
Vansh Sethii: Crafting a Cinematic Journey with Depth and Discovery
“DSM was a life experience… it ripped me from my old self and made me a dedicated learner.”
– Vansh Sethii
For Vansh Sethii, DSM was more than training—it was a transformative experience. Known for roles in Highway Love, Tayler’s Version, and Adhura, he sees DSM as a place where he was “ripped from [his] old self and made into a dedicated learner.” Early in his training, Vansh struggled with the concept of “epiphanies,” only to find a breakthrough during a performance exercise centred on goodbyes. “It was the first time I gave up control,” he recalls, a pivotal moment when he learnt to let go and trust others’ ideas.
This openness has become a core part of Vansh’s approach to acting, grounding his transition from theatre to screen. With DSM’s foundational skills, he has crafted a career that balances natural flow with well-honed techniques, pursuing roles that resonate with depth and sincerity.
Nitya Mathur: Confidence Through Creativity
“The vocabulary I gained helps me communicate with directors.”
– Nitya Mathur
For Nitya Mathur, DSM was a game-changer. Known for her roles in Taaza Khabar, Sisterhood, and The Fame Game, DSM equipped her with tools to approach scripts confidently. “The vocabulary I gained helps me communicate with directors and understand the beats,” she shares. One of her biggest revelations was realising that acting is fundamentally the same on stage and screen, with DSM’s training allowing her to explore both.
Interestingly, Nitya initially resisted some of DSM’s practices—she even once vowed to avoid writing reflections during the program, only to later appreciate their role in building self-awareness. For her role as Nikita Waghmare in Sisterhood, she creatively envisioned her character as a “Golden Retriever,” drawing on the animal work she explored at DSM. With confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of self-awareness, Nitya approaches every role with the versatility and insight DSM instilled.
The DSM Advantage: Building Cinema’s Future Stars
Adarsh, Srishti, Vansh, and Nitya exemplify how DSM prepares actors for a competitive film industry. Each has not only honed their craft but developed the resilience, creativity, and collaboration skills essential for success. With DSM’s focus on personal discovery and storytelling, these alumni have become cinema’s rising stars, ready to tell stories that resonate deeply.
Article written by Mayuri Ravindra