“A good director creates an environment, which gives the actor the encouragement to fly.” These are the words of Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon. This quote shows the heavy responsibility placed on a film director, and these are severe words for anyone to fulfill.
As such, only a man of varied skills would be able to do multiple roles within one project, and to do so successfully requires an acute and precise understanding of the medium of film. Enter Anil Singh Chandel, an Indian actor, producer, and director best known for his debut film “Mid Day Meal”.
Anil Singh was born on the 10th of December 1991 in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, where he spent his childhood till he left for Raigarh for further studies; after his studies, Chandel initially started working at companies such as Reliance Telecom and Fullerton India. He eventually quit these companies to create his own Construction and Project management firm, Chandel India Pvt. Ltd.
In 2022, Chandel released his debut film, Mid Day Meal, designed to address food insecurity. The movie follows a professional chef who decides to help poverty-stricken children and cook and deliver mid-day meals to them; the movie earned an estimated 100,000,000 Indian Rupees as per its IMDB page. The film was written, directed, produced, and acted in by Anil Singh Chandel, proving his ability to take on multiple responsibilities and unique challenges in each field. His latest accolade is receiving the Indian Achievers Awards, organized by the national news magazine Power Corridors. The award recognizes and highlights educational achievements, social activism, and entrepreneurship.
“For aspiring young actors and producers, the world of acting and producing offers a unique platform to express creativity,tell important stories and connect with audience on a deep emotional level “ says Chandel. It's a chance to bring characters to life, inspire change, and leave a lasting impact. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of performing or the behind-the-scenes magic of creating, pursuing acting and producing can be a fulfilling journey of self-discovery and artistic growth.
For aspiring actors, Anil suggests they consider freelancing options like auditioning for roles in films, TV shows, and commercials, as well as offering their acting services for voice-over work or corporate videos. Producers can freelance by taking on projects such as producing short films, commercials, music videos, or web series. Both actors and producers can also offer their expertise for scriptwriting, directing, casting, and production coordination on a freelance basis. Online platforms and networking events can help connect them with potential gigs.
One of the most intriguing questions for artists looking to get into this field is how successful figures like Anil Singh Chandel found their inspiration to enter the entertainment industry. Anil shares that he has been a cinephile from a young age. Anil says “I always wanted to be an actor then from my favorite actors' journeys and successes for motivation and now I'm here.”
