'My First Telugu Film Never Released,' Says Nakkul Mehta On His Struggles In Industry

Before Nakkul Mehta became a familiar face on television and theatre, his acting career started with a project that never made it to screens. In an interview with India Today, the actor reflected on his early experiences, the challenges he faced, and what success means to him today.

“My first brush with cinema was a Telugu film which never came out—one of those works,” Mehta revealed. “When I went to Hyderabad, Shreya Saran was the name everywhere. I had already seen her work because I was there for three months with nothing to do, so I would go and watch her films. She had probably just started then, but she was extremely successful straight away. Then I went back to theatre, did some advertising, and found my way. She, on the other hand, has

been working consistently and has been at it for 25 years. That’s the difference.”

Reflecting on why he chose acting, Mehta admitted it wasn’t a decision born of a clear calling. “Initially, I’m not even sure why I wanted to be an actor. A lot of people growing up used to say, ‘You should do acting.’ I enjoyed entertaining people and being at the centre of it, but I don’t think I had a clear purpose then.”

Mehta described the challenges of starting in the South film industry. “Doing a South film was very hard for me because I didn’t know the language. The circumstances in which we made that film were challenging, and I felt like I had no allies, no support. This had nothing to do with the industry; it had everything to do with the people I was working with at that point.”

These early struggles, he explained, helped him discover what truly drew him to acting. “After that experience, I realised I enjoyed something about the life between ‘action’ and ‘cut’. Then I started doing television, and somewhere along the way, I discovered the joy of getting a scene right.”

Today, Mehta’s understanding of success has evolved. “A show or film may not reach people, but what I felt that day was success for me. Now, on every show, if you can have two or three great days—days where you personally feel you did your best—that, to me, is success. That’s very different from starting with the mindset of ‘I need this show to work.’ That’s how it starts for most of us: I need this to work so I get more work.”

On the topic of growth and learning, Mehta shared, “I’m not sure I’d use the word ‘reinvent’, because that would be giving yourself too much credit—like you invented this great talent. It’s about constantly learning. My inspiration is Shreya. When you look at her 25 years of a flourishing, value-creating career, you realise you can still feel anxious and still want to learn. If I can be that, I would feel successful.”

He also praised the longevity and professionalism of celebrated figures in sports and entertainment. “To have that spirit, especially when you are such a successful commercial star, is not easy. She has seen all the fame and success and continues to see it. I don’t know what that would do to me. It’s like Sachin or Virat Kohli playing for 25 years—it’s not a small thing. To still have the hunger, to still be a phenomenal professional. If I could just keep that spirit, I wouldn’t care about outside success—how much your shows are loved or whether people love you. Just having that spirit is phenomenal. If I can retain that, then I think I would have done well, honestly.”