From selling door stoppers to loading and unloading at Jet Airways; Vishal Sudarshanwar opens up on transition from cricket to films

He might be a household name today, but actor Vishal Sudarshanwar has had his share of struggles in the past. Known for his films such as Mardaani 2 and Thackeray, as well as his latest, Yodha, the actor says that this journey has not be easy. He started off as a cricketer, and then changed to showbiz.

“I always dreamt of becoming a professional cricketer, playing for the national team or in state Ranji matches, and I dedicated over a decade of my life to cricket. However, destiny had different plans for me. After leaving cricket and my hometown, I moved to Pune and began working as a salesman in a Honda showroom. It was there that I met Yogesh Rane sir, a theatre enthusiast, who introduced me to the world of theatre and cinema. This introduction changed my life. Coming from a small town and a middle-class family with secure dreams for their children, I realised that I didn’t want to confine myself to one job or business for my entire life. What fascinated me about theatre and acting was the freedom to embody different characters. As an actor, I could be anything, anyone, anytime. I could live many lives in one life, and that’s when I decided to pursue acting as my profession,” he says.

Talking about training in acting, he says, “I received formal training in theatre in Pune and continued to hone my skills when I moved to Mumbai. I worked with various theatre groups and also individually to learn the craft of acting and filmmaking. One senior Bengali actor, Arindam Dada, advised me to “get yourself educated if you want to work with the biggies,” which changed my approach to learning. I immersed myself in the study of both theatre and cinema, and this journey of learning continues to this day. Every character, every story, every movie teaches me something new, and the training never stops.”

However, getting role in the industry was tough, he says. “Getting a break in the film industry was incredibly challenging, as it is for many actors. Dreams do come true, but not without sacrifices, tears, and perseverance. It demands everything from you, including pain and loneliness. However, if you have the discipline, the resilience, and the unwavering determination to never give up, along with at least one person who believes in you—like my wife, Elsa—you can overcome the obstacles. I took on various odd jobs, from selling door stoppers to working in logistics, and even loading and unloading at Jet Airways. But I persevered, and eventually, I got my break in movies, leading me to leave my salesman job behind,” he says.

Ask him if he regrets choosing showbiz over cricket, and he says, “Not at all. I poured my heart and soul into cricket, leaving no room for regret. Similarly, I gave my all to acting. In fact, the lessons I learned from cricket—hard work, survival instinct, competitiveness, never giving up, discipline, and resilience—were instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges of Mumbai’s film industry. I am immensely grateful for my cricketing days. As a testament to life’s twists and turns, I find myself currently shooting a movie next to a cricket pitch in Shivaji Park, Dadar, where I once dreamed of playing cricket alongside the greats like Sachin Tendulkar. Life has a funny way of coming full circle.”