Himanshu Goel.
For actor Himanshu Goel, the journey to the big screen has been built over years of theatre, auditions, short films, music videos and the persistence required to continue pursuing acting when opportunities do not arrive immediately. A year after making his feature-film debut with Sundarnagar Ki Sundari, Goel is now looking ahead to his next major Hindi feature, Chapter 9 1835.
The transition from stage performances and smaller projects to feature cinema has allowed Goel to experience different sides of acting. While Sundarnagar Ki Sundari marked an important milestone in his career, he considers the years before the film equally significant in shaping his approach to performance.
The Journey Before the Big Screen
Before entering feature films, Goel worked across theatre, short films and music videos. His acting credits include projects such as Coach, Mahamrityunjay and Pakki Wali Yaari, giving him opportunities to work with different performers and directors while exploring varied forms of storytelling.
Those years also taught him that an acting career rarely progresses in a straight line. Auditions can lead to long periods of waiting, while opportunities may sometimes not materialise.
"There were times when I would give an audition, put in everything I had into the preparation and then simply have to wait. Sometimes there would be no response, and sometimes a role would not work out. Initially, that uncertainty was difficult to handle," says Goel.
Over time, however, his approach changed.
"I gradually understood that an actor cannot measure his progress only by the number of roles he gets. I started focusing more on becoming better at the craft and being ready whenever the right opportunity came," he adds.
Rather than allowing those experiences to discourage him, Goel continued working across different formats and developing his craft.
Theatre as the Foundation
Among the experiences that remain central to Goel's acting journey are his years on stage. Theatre required him to perform in real time, without the possibility of stopping and repeating a scene.
"I remember coming back from performances physically exhausted, but still feeling that I had learned something new about myself as an actor. Theatre taught me that there is no retake when you are performing live. If something goes wrong, you have to stay present and continue," he says.
That discipline later became valuable when he moved into film.
According to Goel, theatre and cinema demand different approaches, but the fundamentals of performance remain similar - understanding the character, remaining present and being truthful to the situation.
"Theatre teaches an actor honesty, discipline and patience. Performing live in front of an audience doesn't give you the opportunity to hide. You have to be completely present, and that constantly pushes you to improve," he says.
Even after entering feature films, Goel says he wants to maintain his connection with the stage.
"Cinema has given me a larger canvas, but theatre continues to keep me grounded. I don't want to lose that connection because it is where I continue to learn," he adds.
Entering Feature Films
The years of preparation eventually led Goel to Sundarnagar Ki Sundari, which was released in August 2025 and became an important milestone in his professional journey.
Moving into a feature film introduced him to a different scale of filmmaking, involving multiple departments, technical requirements, repeated takes and a filmmaking process that extends beyond an individual performance.
"Sundarnagar Ki Sundari will always be a very special film for me because it gave me the opportunity to experience the responsibility of working on a feature film and connecting with audiences on a much larger platform. It taught me a lot about filmmaking, performance and the importance of being prepared every single day," says Goel.
For the actor, the film represented a transition from years of theatre and shorter-format projects to the experience of working on a theatrical feature.
A year after its release, he says he sees the film as one of the foundations for the next stage of his career.
The Next Chapter
Goel is now preparing for Chapter 9 1835, his next major Hindi feature. The project is being directed by Sachin Gupta and produced under Chilsag Studios.
The film is being positioned as a patriotic mystery drama combining suspense, emotional elements and a human story. For Goel, the project represents another opportunity to explore a different cinematic space.
"With every project, I want to learn something new. Chapter 9 1835 is another step in my journey. I am excited about the story, the character and the opportunity to work with a team that believes in meaningful storytelling. At the same time, I know that every new film comes with a new responsibility," he says.
Goel believes that his experiences across theatre, short films and his first feature have made him more conscious of the importance of preparation.
"The biggest lesson I have learned is that you have to keep working even when nobody knows what the next opportunity will be. You have to be ready for the opportunity when it comes. That is something I learned through theatre and continue to carry with me in cinema," he says.
Looking Ahead
For Goel, the period following Sundarnagar Ki Sundari has been less about looking back at a debut and more about preparing for what comes next.
From theatre performances and auditions to short films, music videos, his first feature film and now Chapter 9 1835, the actor describes his career as a gradual progression rather than an overnight journey.
"I don't think an actor ever reaches a point where he can say that he has learned everything. Every character, every director and every performance teaches you something different. My aim is to continue working, continue learning and hopefully take on characters that allow me to explore different sides of myself as a performer," he says.
As Chapter 9 1835 moves forward, Goel remains connected to the stage that shaped his early years. For him, moving from theatre to cinema does not mean leaving one medium behind, but carrying the lessons of one into the next.
From the uncertainty of auditions to the discipline of live performance, from short-format projects to Sundarnagar Ki Sundari and now Chapter 9 1835, Goel's journey continues to evolve - one performance and one opportunity at a time.
