New Delhi: Main Actor Nahin Hoon, written and directed by Aditya Kripalani, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Satarupa, was released in theatres across the country on 8 May.
Kripalani has used Instagram not just to promote the film but also as a space to teach acting and filmmaking. Through reels, he explains the nuances and tips of filmmaking and acting, which are directly connected with his upcoming film. The film explores how the art of acting can be learned through the intervention of the internet. In many ways, the film is an extension of Kripalani’s social media.
The film itself mirrors the internet-driven world of today. Much of the narrative unfolds through video calls, redefining how acting can be learned in the age of the internet. This makes the film feel deeply contemporary and portrays how artists connect, collaborate, and survive in today’s online creative culture.
In one of his Instagram posts, he asks struggling filmmakers and actors what drives them to continue performing their art despite so much struggle, and why they think their work matters. He also asks filmmakers to email their stories with the subject line “Main Actor Hoon.” In other reels, he talks about the importance of riyaaz (discipline) in an artist’s life. These themes are further explored in the film, where Siddiqui’s character is constantly learning and practising through video calls with Satarupa’s character.
Kripalani uses his social media to talk about the struggle of living and working in Mumbai, suggesting that unless newcomers establish an emotional relationship with the city and see it beyond work, surviving there will never become easy. Alternatively, Satarupa’s character struggles to establish an emotional connection with Mumbai. The filmmaker also draws a parallel about how hustling is important, but practising the craft is even more significant.
Main Actor Nahin Hoon is a story about a retired banker (Siddiqui) living in Germany and a struggling actress (Satarupa) in Mumbai. They connect during an audition for an international project. Later in the film, Siddiqui accepts Satarupa as his acting mentor, and their sessions are conducted via video calls.
In many ways, Siddiqui’s character can be seen as a personification of Kripalani’s online audience, people who constantly engage with his reels to understand acting and filmmaking. Just like the aspiring artists who follow Kripalani online, Siddiqui’s character learns and observes through conversations and video calls. Satarupa’s role, meanwhile, reflects what Kripalani is going through while teaching the art and making space for himself. Together, their dynamic mirrors the teacher-student relationship that Kripalani has unknowingly built with a generation of aspiring filmmakers and actors online.
During the promotions, Kripalani shared that Siddiqui did not charge any fee for the film. Kripalani said that Siddiqui believed in the script and the film’s vision so deeply that he chose to be a part of it without taking money, making the project more personal than its commercial value.
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From theatres to online praise
Within hours of its release, social media was flooded with reactions appreciating Siddiqui and Satarupa acting as well as Kripalani’s direction.
“Main Actor Nahin Hoon’s entire premise feels like it was built around everything Nawazuddin Siddiqui actually represents in real life—the struggle, the craft, the quiet defiance,” wrote an X user.
Another X user called the film “a must-watch for all,” praising the performances, story, and direction.
Early online reactions have highlighted how the film appears to blur the line between Siddiqui’s real-life journey as an outsider making space for himself in the industry.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)