“It will be like going to a certified doctor or someone who calls himself one. Though in this case, it’s not a question of life and death. A detailed study of the fundamentals of theatre does lead to great actors.

Think Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan Khan and Nandita Das: they were all students of theatre,” reasons 38-year-old Jehan Sam Manekshaw, co-convener of Mumbai’s first private school for drama, The Drama School, Mumbai (DSM). Founded by Theatre Professionals, a company that Manekshaw is part of, DSM will have its first batch begin in July, the applications for which have begun.