I started my acting journey 23 years ago after graduating from the National School of Drama. After three years of learning acting and drama, I wanted to give myself a chance to professionally pursue acting. I was sure that I wanted to be a credible actor. It was very important for me. Acting for me wasn’t just a hobby. I wanted people to like my work. It was a passion that later became my profession. Success became synonymous with hearing people say “Annup is good at his job.” For me, that was my measure of success, and not what people were ready to pay me or what I should be charging them.

That comes anyway once your work is appreciated and people express a desire to work with you. I wasn’t so concerned with the payment. If I got an assignment, I would give it my 100 per cent, my all. My gift would come to me when people would say that I was brilliant.

When you become successful, people appreciate you and one gets what comes with success―recognition and awards. You get famous and it gives you more money. Obviously, that makes you very happy.

Annup Sonii

But is that real happiness? Is that the benchmark for happiness? If your happiness is going to depend only on your success, you are definitely going to get hurt some time. Success never remains at that same level. This is a cycle that is repeated in life―what goes up also eventually comes down. And one never knows how low you are really going to fall. That is a lesson in itself. You can’t let your life’s happiness depend on this success.

You must have a life outside work too. I have seen some very successful people who are actually very unhappy. When you climb up, you find that there is still someone above you and you want to conquer him. But when you do that, you find another two people above that level too. Even if you reach the very top of your profession, you are eventually going to come down. No one can stay in one position for a lifetime. And when you start coming down, you are completely shattered.

If you are grounded, then you can handle your life even if you are down. You are practical and you know that your happiness does not depend on that. This is not to say that I am a saint and I won’t feel some tinge of regret if I fail. Certainly, I will, but I will also be able to recognise the fact that this is just a phase and it will eventually be over. Don’t they say, ‘this too shall pass….’

Tomorrow a time may come when I am out of work. But it won’t be forever or for long. I know that this is just a phase and if I am sure about my craft and my abilities, I know I will eventually pull through.

Let me talk about my profession. It is difficult and stressful and anybody can emerge as your competitor here. This is not to say that other professions don’t have competition. Let me put it this way: a doctor, lawyer or an MBA can only have competition from someone else from the same profession. But that doesn’t apply to acting. Anyone―doctors, lawyers, MBAs included―whether it is someone with a qualification or without―anyone can be your competitor in acting. This is an open field. But you will survive if you are confident about your acting craft.

Ups and downs are part of everyone’s journey―actor, star or superstar. Just tell yourself that this phase will soon pass.

Annup Sonii: ‘Ups and downs are part of everyone’s journey―actor, star or superstar’

The competition is cutthroat, but you should prepare yourself and have confidence that your job is good. Sometimes, the project you are on may flop and your film is affected. Continue to do your job well and you will be noticed for your work. Don’t blame yourself if things go wrong; don’t be harsh and take the onus of every failure on your shoulders. Filmmaking is a team product, and depends on a lot of factors.

When people tell me that Crime Patrol is successful because of me and that I anchor it so well, I tell them that I am just a tiny part of Crime Patrol and lots of factors contribute towards its success. Whatever part I am handling, I give it my 100 per cent to contribute to its success. I will be stupid if I think I am the sole cause of the show’s success.

One thing I firmly believe in―you always need someone to talk to. Listen to your elders: don’t they always say that ‘Arre, baat kar lo, baat karne se man halka ho jata hai.’ Don’t keep things in your heart.

Another thing I want to share is that whichever profession one belongs to, have a life apart from it. I have so many friends who have no relation to the film and TV industry. Sometimes, I go to them for advice, as they are able to give it objectively.

Equally, my family is very important to me. I also have a couple of very close friends in the industry, like-minded people who understand this world. But you have to use your discretion to decide when these friends can advise you or a friend from outside the industry is best. Sometimes, an outsider who is close to you can give a different perspective to your problem.

But definitely, you must open up to a friend if you have a problem. Don’t keep it bottled up inside your heart. I find that I can easily give excellent advice to another person, but often can’t find a solution to my own problems. That’s where a true family friend can help. It might sound clichéd to say, “Be positive,” but it is a sane solution. In this fast-paced world of cutthroat competition, where everyone is chasing their passion, profession and money, a positive attitude is what helps you survive, keeps you sane and helps you to adhere to the values of a good human being.

A graduate from the National School of Drama, Annup Sonii has acted in films, television and theatre. He is best known for the television series, ‘Crime Patrol’ on Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited, which he has anchored for a decade. He is also the author of the bestselling book, ‘Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories’.

Annup has played important roles in several popular television shows, including ‘Balika Vadhu’, ‘CID Special Bureau’, ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii’, ‘Sea Hawk’, ‘I Love You’, ‘Kartavya’, and ‘Virudha’. Among his prominent Hindi feature films are ‘Godmother’, ‘Fiza’, ‘Kagaar’, ‘Footpath’, ‘Gangajal’, ‘Apaharan’ and ‘Striker’.