Music, Dance, Acting and Film Careers in India

Overview

Music, Dance, Acting and Film

Careers on stage and screen

What you need to know

1
This map covers music (classical and film), dance, theatre and acting, and film-making: direction, editing, camera and sound.
2
Start early with a guru, a music school or graded exams. After Class 12 you can do a BPA or BA in Music or Dance; after graduation, national institutes like NSD, FTII and SRFTI.
3
Most artists earn from many small sources: teaching, shows, studio work, ads and online. Income is often uneven, so plan a backup skill.
4
Never pay for an audition. Real casting does not ask a stranger for money.

Official sources

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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01Branch

Every year: the calendar

When things usually happen

What you need to know

1
CUET (UG) for BPA and BA Music at central universities: usually in May. Auditions or practical tests follow.
2
SRFTI entrance: forms usually in January and February, first test in February.
3
NSD: forms usually in March and April, first auditions in May and June, final workshop in Delhi in June. FTII: recently, forms in March and April and the written test in April.
4
Kalakshetra prospectus: usually out in February. Gandharva Mandal music exams: usually twice a year, in April–May and November–December.
5
Exact dates change every year: always check the official website before you apply.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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02Branch

Who does what

Many kinds of artist

Learn from these 2

Official
Sangeet Natak Akademi: Kathak KendraThe national institute of Kathak and what it teaches.
Free
Official
FTII: admission processAll the film crafts you can study, in one list.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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02Who does what

Kinds of work

What you need to know

1
Music: classical or film singer, instrument player, composer, music teacher, sound and recording engineer.
2
Dance: classical dancer (Kathak, Bharatanatyam and others), choreographer, dance teacher. Theatre: actor, director, set and light designer, drama teacher.
3
Film: director, screenwriter, cinematographer (camera), editor, sound designer, art director, producer, screen actor.
4
In classical music, many learn for years from one guru, often in a gharana (a family style of music). This takes patience: most scholarships ask for about 5 years of training.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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03Branch

School years and Class 10

Start practising early

Learn from these 4

Official
CBSE: curriculum (music and dance subjects)Hindustani and Carnatic music, and classical dance syllabi.
Free
Official
Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya MandalGraded exams from Prarambhik to Alankar.
Free
Official
Delhi High Court: Sangeet Prabhakar judgmentWhen a music exam certificate counts for a teacher post.
Free
Official
NCPCR: guidelines for children in entertainment (PDF)Hours, school, earnings and safety for child artists.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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03School years and Class 10

Music and dance in school

What you need to know

1
CBSE offers Hindustani music and Carnatic music (vocal, melodic instruments, percussion) as subjects, and Indian classical dance in Classes 11 and 12. Ask if your school teaches them.
2
Any stream after Class 10 is fine for most arts degrees. Pick subjects you can score well in, and keep practising daily.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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03School years and Class 10

Graded exams and gurus

What you need to know

1
Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal runs graded exams from Prarambhik (beginner) to Visharad and Alankar in vocal, instruments, tabla, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi, at about 800 centres.
2
Prayag Sangeet Samiti (Prayagraj) gives Sangeet Prabhakar. In a 2025 case, the Delhi High Court treated it as equal to a bachelor's in music for a Kendriya Vidyalaya music teacher post. Still, check each job advert.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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03School years and Class 10

Child artists: the rules

5 hours a day

At least 20% of the child's earnings

What you need to know

1
A child may act in films, TV, ads or online shows only with permission from the District Magistrate, for at most 5 hours a day and not more than 3 hours without rest (reported).
2
At least 20% of the child's earnings must go into a fixed deposit in the child's name, schooling must not stop, and a parent or guardian must be on set for a child under 6 (NCPCR guidelines).

Official sources

ncpcr.gov.inNCPCR: guidelines for children in entertainment (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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04Branch

After Class 12: degrees

BPA, BA Music and arts universities

Learn from these 5

Official
NTA: CUET (UG) syllabusDownload the Performing Arts (dance, drama, music) syllabus.
Free
Official
Delhi University: BA Music audition notice (PDF)What happens at a music audition.
Free
Official
Kalakshetra: prospectus (PDF)Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music and visual arts diplomas.
Free
Official
Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya: admissionHow the aptitude test works.
Free
Official
Indira Kala Sangit VishwavidyalayaBPA, BFA and other courses.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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04After Class 12: degrees

BPA and BA Music

What you need to know

1
A BPA (Bachelor of Performing Arts) or BA in Music takes 3 or 4 years after Class 12. Most need a practical test or audition.
2
Central universities admit through CUET (UG), which has a Performing Arts subject (dance, drama, music). Example: Delhi University's BA (Hons) Music gives 50% weight to CUET and 50% to an audition.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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04After Class 12: degrees

Arts universities and institutes

What you need to know

1
Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (Lucknow): music and dance degrees and diplomas; an aptitude test is compulsory. Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh): 4-year BPA and BFA after Class 12.
2
Kalakshetra (Chennai), an institution of national importance: 4-year diplomas in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music after Class 12, up to age 25, by interview and aptitude test.
3
Kathak Kendra (Delhi), the national institute of Kathak under Sangeet Natak Akademi, also teaches Hindustani vocal, tabla and pakhawaj.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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05Branch

Theatre and acting

NSD and the stage

Learn from these 2

Official
NSD: admission notice (PDF)All five courses, eligibility, scholarship and selection.
Free
Course
FTII: short coursesShort acting and film workshops, online and in many cities.
Paid

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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05Theatre and acting

National School of Drama

3-year full-time courseNSD Delhi runs

At least 6 theatre productions

₹9,500monthly scholarship

What you need to know

1
NSD Delhi runs a 3-year full-time course in acting, design and direction (32 seats). You need a graduation and at least 6 theatre productions; age limit 18 to 30 in the notice, relaxed for SC, ST and OBC.
2
One-year courses: dramatic arts (Gangtok), acting (Bengaluru), Indian classical theatre (Varanasi) and theatre-in-education (Agartala). These need graduation and 4 plays.
3
Selection: a first audition in many cities, then a workshop in Delhi. Students get a monthly scholarship: ₹9,500 in the 3-year course, ₹6,000 in one-year courses.

Official sources

nsd.gov.inNSD: admission notice (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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05Theatre and acting

Acting for the screen

What you need to know

1
FTII Pune has a 2-year MFA in Screen Acting for graduates: a written test, then audition and interview.
2
Start with school, college and local theatre groups. Plays build the experience NSD asks for, and short acting workshops (FTII runs some) help you test your interest.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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06Branch

Film-making and film crafts

Direction, camera, editing, sound

Learn from these 3

Official
FTII: prospectus with fees (PDF)Courses, seats, test pattern and fees.
Free
Official
SRFTI: prospectus (PDF)Bridge year, MFA courses and the entrance test.
Free
Official
SRFTI: MFA courses and admissionLatest notices and results.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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06Film-making and film crafts

FTII Pune

₹1.1 lakh

₹66,000

What you need to know

1
FTII became a deemed university in 2025 and now gives an MFA in Cinema: direction and screenplay, cinematography, editing, sound, art direction (3 years) and screen acting and screenwriting (2 years). One-year TV courses too.
2
Any bachelor's degree is enough, except art direction, which needs a degree in fine or applied arts, architecture or interior design. Seats are few: 11 to 16 per course.
3
Fees in the latest prospectus: about ₹1.1 lakh for the first semester and about ₹66,000 for each later semester, with hostel. EWS students can get 30% off tuition and hostel rent.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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06Film-making and film crafts

SRFTI Kolkata and Itanagar

What you need to know

1
SRFTI is also a deemed university (2025). Its film courses are a 1-year bridge year plus a 2-year MFA in direction, cinematography, editing, sound, producing and animation (12 seats each). A 2-year MFA in electronic and digital media too.
2
Graduates in any subject can apply; final-year students too. The common entrance test also fills seats at FTII Itanagar.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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07Branch

Scholarships and awards

Money for training

Learn from these 3

Official
CCRT: scholarships and fellowshipsChildren's talent scholarship and other schemes.
Free
Official
CCRT: Young Artistes scholarship rules (PDF)Fields, eligibility and how to apply.
Free
Official
Sangeet Natak Akademi: Yuva Puraskar rulesWho can be nominated and the prize.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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07Scholarships and awards

For children and young artists

₹5,000 a month for 2 yearsfor young artistes

What you need to know

1
CCRT Cultural Talent Search (age 10 to 14): ₹3,600 a year plus up to ₹9,000 a year towards the guru's fee, renewable up to age 20 or a first degree.
2
Ministry of Culture scholarship for young artistes (age 18 to 25): ₹5,000 a month for 2 years for advanced training in music, dance, theatre and folk arts. You need at least 5 years of training with a guru or institute; up to 400 awards.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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07Scholarships and awards

Fellowships and awards

What you need to know

1
Ministry of Culture Junior Fellowships (age 25 to 40, ₹10,000 a month) and Senior Fellowships (over 40, ₹20,000 a month) for 2 years of research or project work.
2
Sangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (up to age 40) carries ₹25,000. You cannot apply yourself: experts and institutions nominate artists.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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08Branch

Jobs and pay

How artists really earn

Learn from these 3

Official
IPRSRoyalties for songwriters, composers and music publishers.
Free
Official
YouTube Help: Partner Programme rulesWhen a channel can start earning.
Free
Article
Outlook: the life of junior artistsDaily pay and long gaps without work (reported).
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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08Jobs and pay

How people earn

What you need to know

1
Teaching (home classes, schools, music academies), performing (concerts, events, weddings, temples, festivals), studio work (singing, playing, dubbing), ads and OTT shows, and crew jobs on film and TV sets.
2
Songwriters and composers can join IPRS, and singers and musicians can join ISAMRA, to collect royalties when their songs are used. You must be a member to collect.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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08Jobs and pay

Honest pay

₹1,000 a dayMumbai were paid

₹35,400 basicstarting

What you need to know

1
Junior artists (background actors) in Mumbai were paid about ₹1,000 a day on average, and many go months without work (reported).
2
A Kendriya Vidyalaya primary music teacher (PRT Music) is on pay level 6, starting at ₹35,400 basic a month (reported). It needs a bachelor's in music.
3
A few stars earn very well; most artists mix several kinds of work. Keep a degree or second skill as a backup.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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08Jobs and pay

YouTube and Instagram

1,000 subscribersads you need

What you need to know

1
Many musicians and dancers now find students and shows online. To earn from YouTube ads you need 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
2
Post your own work. Using film songs or other people's music without permission can get your videos removed.

Official sources

support.google.comYouTube Help: Partner Programme rules↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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09Branch

For girls

Safety on set and on stage

Learn from these 2

Official
SHe-BoxGovernment portal for workplace harassment complaints.
Free
Article
LiveLaw: Kerala High Court on film sets and POSHProduction units must have an Internal Committee.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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09For girls

Safety at work

What you need to know

1
In 2022 the Kerala High Court said a film production unit with more than 10 workers is a workplace and must have an Internal Committee for harassment complaints (POSH Act) (reported).
2
Kerala's Hema Committee report (2024) described harassment and unfair treatment of women in the Malayalam film industry (reported). Speaking up is your right.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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09For girls

Auditions safely

What you need to know

1
Go to auditions at a real office or studio, in daytime, with a parent or friend. Tell family where you are.
2
Never send private photos or videos, and never agree to a "compromise" for a role. Report it.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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10Branch

Avoid scams

Fake casting calls and paid auditions

Learn from these 2

Official
National Cyber Crime Reporting PortalReport online fraud; helpline 1930.
Free
Article
Tribune: fake casting agent arrestedHow the flight-booking audition scam worked.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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10Avoid scams

Red flags

What you need to know

1
"Pay a registration, portfolio or audition fee": real casting does not charge you.
2
"You are shortlisted, pay for your flight or hotel": in 2025 Delhi Police arrested a man who posed as a casting agent online and took money from at least 17 young artists this way (reported).
3
Messages from fake Instagram accounts using a real casting director's name, or asking for your Aadhaar, bank details or private photos.
4
"Guaranteed role after our paid acting course": no course can guarantee work. Check the institute first.

Official sources

tribuneindia.comTribune: fake casting agent arrested↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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10Avoid scams

Where to complain

1930money online? Call

What you need to know

1
Lost money online? Call 1930 at once or report on the cyber crime portal. Keep screenshots and payment receipts.

Official sources

cybercrime.gov.inReport cyber fraud (or call 1930)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Music, Dance, Acting and Film

Usual months

₹Rough cost