Bollywood Actors Who Became Acting Coaches
Posted On: 26 Jun 2026 | Last Updated : 26 Jun 2026 | Views : 22
Bollywood is not just about dazzling performances and stardom; it is also about nurturing the next generation of talent. Over the years, several Bollywood actors turned acting coaches, sharing their expertise through renowned Bollywood acting schools and acting academies. These celebrity acting teachers have gone beyond the silver screen to become mentors, helping aspiring performers master the craft of acting. From conducting acting workshops to founding actor-run acting schools, these Bollywood stars as mentors have played a vital role in shaping future stars of the film industry. Here are some prominent Bollywood actors who not just owned or founded acting schools but also instrumental in the inspiring journey of Bollywood actors who became acting coaches and educators.
1. Anupam Kher - An Actor Prepares
One of the most popular Bollywood acting gurus has been Anupam Kher. A veteran of over 500 films, Anupam Kher founded ‘An Actor Prepares’ acting institute in 2005, which is one of the most reputable Mumbai-based institutes with branches in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. It has trained notable actors including Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, and Kiara Advani.
2. Shekhar Suman - Shekhar Suman Film Academy (SSFA)
Famous television and film actor Shekhar Suman joins the elite list of Bollywood actors who turned acting gurus and coaches. The actor-director recently announced the launching of his acting academy Shekhar Suman Film Academy (SSFA) in 2026 which opened registrations for its first batch offering a three-month course focusing on acting techniques, voice training, and camera readiness, co-founded with his son, Adhyayan Suman.
3. Subhash Ghai - Whistling Woods International
One of India’s biggest actor-run acting schools is director Subhash Ghai’s founded massive film and media arts institution, 'Whistling Woods International' (WWI) Actors' Studio in Mumbai that has nurtured several talented performers who have gone on to make their mark in the entertainment industry. Notable alumni include actors Aahana Kumra, Pavail Gulati, Shashank Arora, Rajshri Deshpande, Nakul Sahdev, and Sahil Vaid. Through their impressive work across films, television, and digital streaming platforms, these actors have built successful careers and earned recognition for their versatile performances.
4. Barry John - Theatre Action Group & Barry John Acting Studio
Renowned theatre director and acting mentor Barry John has played a pivotal role in shaping some of India's finest acting talent through the 'Theatre Action Group' (TAG) in Delhi and the 'Barry John Acting Studio' (BJAS) in Mumbai. Although primarily known as an acting coach rather than a Bollywood star, he has appeared in films such as Shatranj Ke Khilari, Gandhi, Massey Sahib, Teen Patti, and Tere Bin Laden. Over the years, Barry John has trained several acclaimed actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, who honed his skills at TAG before becoming a Bollywood icon; Manoj Bajpayee, celebrated for performances in Satya and The Family Man; Avinash Tiwary of Laila Majnu and Bambai Meri Jaan fame; and pan-Indian star Dulquer Salmaan, known for films such as Sita Ramam and Kurup, among others.
5. Roshan Taneja - Roshan Taneja School of Acting
Another unforgettable Bollywood talent mentors were actor and acting coach Roshan Taneja who was widely regarded as one of the pioneers of professional acting training in India. After studying method acting in the United States, he returned to establish the ‘Roshan Taneja School of Acting’ in Mumbai, which became a launchpad for numerous successful performers. Over the decades, he mentored several Bollywood stars, including Naseeruddin Shah, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor, and Govinda. He had acted in films like Paraya Ghar and directed the Jaya Bachchan and Danny Denzongpa starrer Abhi To Jee Lein (1977).
6. Shiamak Davar - Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts (SDIPA)
Talk about film industry acting coaches or should we say dance coaches, how can Shiamak Davar be far behind. Shiamak Davar credited for introducing Western forms of dance to India is one of the top coaches in Bollywood. He established his SDIPA in 1992 which initially was known for dance but also offered acting programs to students. They conducted classes and acting workshops by Bollywood actors who taught dance and acting combinations which add great value, especially in Bollywood musicals. He not only appeared in movies including Kalyug, Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate and Lafangey Parindey but choreographed songs for Dil To Pagal Hai, Taal, Bunty Aur Babli, Dhoom 2, Saawariya, Yuvvraaj, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Jagga Jasoos, etc. Some of many Bollywood celebs he mentored were the likes of Shahid Kapoor and Sushant Singh Rajput.
7. Hemendra Bhatia
Hemendra Bhatia was an alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India and one of the best Bollywood acting trainers who initially acted in the TV series Bharat Ek Khoj and films like Karamati Coat (1993), Satta (2003), and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005). He joined the Bhartendu Natya Academy as a teacher and later served as the first dean of Anupam's acting school, ‘Actor Prepares’ and was an acting coach to prominent actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Deepika Padukone and Anupam Kher.
8. Kishore Namit Kapoor - Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute
Many may not know Kishore Namit Kapoor who is one of the key Bollywood actors and personalities who was also a prominent acting coach. Kishore Namit Kapoor after graduating from FTII in 1970 went on to feature in several films including Faraar (1975), Kranti (1981), Armaan (1981), Ashanti (1982), Sarfarosh (1985), Taaqatwar (1989), Sailaab (1990), and Saajan (1991), etc. He founded the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute in Mumbai in 1983 which offers a structured 3-month professional course that covers everything from Basic Foundations and Emotional Access to Advanced Screen Acting and Camera Techniques. Some of his students have been Varun Dhawan, Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Imran Khan, Prateik Babbar, Arjun Kapoor, etc.
9. Saurabh Sachdeva - The Actor’s Truth
Saurabh Sachdeva is a veteran acting coach and actor known for his roles in Sacred Games, Animal and Baaghi 4. He founded ‘The Actor’s Truth’ in Mumbai and is known to train actors who teach acting. He has coached renowned stars including Rana Daggubati, Harshvardhan Rane, Freida Pinto, Anushka Sharma, Bobby Deol, John Abraham, Varun Dhawan, Raghav Juyal, Kubbra Sait, Richa Chadha, and Tripti Dimri.
10. Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Several Bollywood actors have established their own acting schools and academies to train aspiring talent, often utilizing their years of industry experience to mentor new performers. One such actor turned coach is Nawazuddin Siddiqui who after graduating from the National School of Drama, began his film career with small roles in Sarfarosh, Shool, and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.. He earned his first major breakthrough with Black Friday, directed by Anurag Kashyap, and further rose to prominence with Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2. His career reached new heights through acclaimed performances in The Lunchbox, Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Early in his career through Bollywood mentor programs, he gave acting classes to aspiring actors and, notably, trained Ranveer Singh for his debut film, Band Baaja Baaraat.
11. Makarand Deshpande
Actor, writer and director Makarand Deshpande who is often seen in supporting roles in films like Jungle, Sarfarosh, Swades, Makdee, Satya, Darna Zaroori Hai and others has also been a mentor and acting coach besides having his own theatre called Ansh Theatre Group. He has mentored numerous actors through his theatrical workshops and plays.
12. Vikas Kumar
Primarily an actor and dialogue coach, Vikas Kumar has played supporting roles in movies like Handover (2012), Prithipal Singh: A Story (2015), Ajji (2017), Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018), and others has coached artists including Kartik Aaryan, Amruta Subhash, and Mrunal Thakur. He has also worked as a dialect coach for Vidya Balan in Ishqiya (2010), Kalki Koechlin in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), Lisa Haydon in The Shaukeens (2014), and Aditya Roy Kapur in Fitoor (2016).
13. Atul Mongia - The Artist Collective
Atul Mongia is a prominent acting coach and filmmaker behind ‘The Artist Collective,’ which is one of the most famous acting schools in India. Atul Mongia is widely regarded as a pioneer in introducing structured acting workshops to Hindi cinema. Since 2009, he has conducted workshops for more than 40 films, collaborating with acclaimed filmmakers such as Zoya Akhtar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Sharat Kataria, Navdeep Singh, Vikramaditya Motwane, Kanu Behl, and Reema Kagti, helping make actor workshops a standard practice in the industry. He owns the renowned ‘Imago Acting School’ in Delhi, founded by theatre stalwart Barry John. Over the years, he has trained countless aspiring major Bollywood A-listers actors through workshops conducted across India.
14. Atul Mathur - ANK Theatre Group
A veteran associated with the ANK theatre group, Atul Mathur is one of Bollywood’s most sought-after acting coaches, who has trained and mentored several acclaimed performers, including Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Eijaz Khan. Over the years, he has guided numerous film, television, and OTT actors, many of whom have gone on to achieve significant success and establish themselves as leading talents in their respective fields.
15. Neeraj Kabi
Neeraj Kabi is an acclaimed actor and acting coach known for training future stars of Bollywood. His three-decade long career involves theatre, film, television, and international productions, and has earned widespread acclaim for his work in projects such as Ship of Theseus, Talvar, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!, and the globally acclaimed series Sacred Games. He has played a pivotal role in nurturing acting talent while continuing to push artistic boundaries. His versatility, discipline, and dedication have made him a distinguished figure in Indian performing arts.
