Fom imitating teachers in a school classroom in Purnia, Bihar, to earning international acclaim on the world premiere stage of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026, actor Anurag Thakur’s rise in Hindi cinema and streaming entertainment is a testament to grit, craft, and unwavering persistence. Known to audiences for his memorable Haryanvi portrayal in Vikramaditya Motwane’s acclaimed Netflix drama Black Warrant and his praised turn in Nayi Naveli, the Purnia-born performer recently opened up in an exclusive conversation about his unconventional journey into acting. Growing up in Bihar without industry connections or formal knowledge of filmmaking, Thakur knew only one dream after watching Shah Rukh Khan on screen: he wanted to become a hero. Despite applying to the National School of Drama (NSD) six times without getting in, he refused to abandon the stage—immersing himself in Delhi and Mumbai theatre before breaking into screen projects with Taandav, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Garmi, Black Warrant, Nayi Naveli, Rajkummar Rao’s upcoming ed-tech drama Raftaar, and Richie Mehta’s biographical feature Phoolan. For aspiring actors, cinema lovers, and readers across Patna, Purnia, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, New Delhi, and Mumbai, Thakur’s story offers an inspiring blueprint of how small-town talent can carve a distinct identity in Bollywood.

Growing Up in Purnia, Inspired by Shah Rukh Khan, and Facing Six NSD Rejections

Recalling his early days in Purnia, Bihar, Anurag Thakur admits he initially had no technical understanding of cinema or acting craft—only an infectious admiration for Shah Rukh Khan and a knack for mimicking people around him. During his school days, his English teacher spotted him imitating his mannerisms in a classroom skit and remarked that he acted remarkably well—suggesting that he train at the National School of Drama (NSD), the alma mater of legends like Om Puri.

When Thakur eventually traveled to New Delhi, he discovered that NSD admission required graduation, six years of theatre experience, and three letters of recommendation. Undeterred, he dove headfirst into stage acting and applied to NSD six separate times—never clearing the final cut, yet continuing to perform in theatre to this day. His first ever earnings came back in school when he won ₹50 for securing third place in class and handed the money proudly to his grandfather; years later, his first acting paycheck went toward gifts for his family and a ₹799 pair of shoes for himself.

From Commercials and 'Taandav' to 'Black Warrant' and 'Nayi Naveli'

Thakur’s transition from stage to screen began with an advertisement, followed by a brief appearance in Ali Abbas Zafar’s political thriller series Taandav. Encouraged by theatre friends in Mumbai who had watched his stage performances, he kept auditioning relentlessly—landing a physics-themed show, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Garmi, and then his breakthrough role in Black Warrant.

Reflecting on Black Warrant, Thakur noted that speaking authentic Haryanvi despite hailing from Bihar convinced casting directors and filmmakers that he could disappear into diverse characters. Addressing mixed critical reactions to Nayi Naveli—where newcomers faced scrutiny while his own performance drew praise—Thakur stayed grounded, explaining that constructive criticism simply pushes actors to work harder and focus on subtle phonetic nuances like distinguishing 'sh' and 's' sounds to keep characters rooted.

Working With Rajkummar Rao in 'Raftaar' and Premiering 'Phoolan' at TIFF 2026

Looking ahead, Thakur is set to appear in Raftaar, backed by Rajkummar Rao and cast through renowned casting director Mukesh Chhabra, whom Thakur credits as a pillar of support in his career. Set inside India’s booming online coaching and education sector, Raftaar follows a gifted teacher who builds an ed-tech empire from scratch, with Thakur entering around the interval as the company’s sharp-witted sales head. Praising Rajkummar Rao as a remarkably secure and generous co-star, Thakur recalled how Rao actively pulled him into improvised moments even in scenes that were not originally written around him.

Alongside Raftaar, Thakur is earning international spotlight for Phoolan, directed by Emmy-winning Delhi Crime filmmaker Richie Mehta and starring Sneha Kumari in the title role alongside Aakash Dahiya and Vikram Pratap Singh. Adapted from Phoolan Devi’s autobiography I, Phoolan and unfolding over a tense day-and-a-half timeframe distinct from Bandit Queen, the film received a standing ovation at its Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026 world premiere in September ahead of its global streaming debut on Amazon Prime Video.