Mumbai, October 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Actor Suhail Nayyar has fondly recalled his years at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, describing the prestigious film school as a world of its own where cinema becomes an inseparable part of everyday life.
Nayyar, who is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Udta Teer, shared his experiences during a conversation with IANS in Mumbai’s Andheri West area, where he also discussed his other projects.
Reflecting on his time at FTII, the actor said the institute offered such an immersive environment that students could spend years discussing films, performances and filmmaking without wanting to leave.
“FTII is like a different country in itself. If there was currency, people wouldn’t come out of it. So many things are happening. Cinema becomes an inherent part of your life in the institute, you are talking about films while sleeping, discussing performances. And when you are doing it for 2-3 years, something shifts,” Nayyar said.
He added that attending the institute had created a clear distinction between the two phases of his life.
“I can just look at my life, Before FTII and After FTII. I was really lucky that I knew about it, and I was able to give the entrance exam. I was really lucky I got selected,” he said.
Nayyar explained that the institute’s value extended beyond technical training, as students also learnt what they needed to unlearn to develop as performers.
“You get training there, what you have to learn. And, what you have to unlearn. You will learn it first then you will understand. Being in that environment is something else. That place has so much history,” he said.
The actor also recalled working at locations steeped in cinematic history, including Shantaram Pond and Prabhat Studios. He said he had filmed an exercise project at Prabhat Studios, the same studio where veteran actor Dev Anand had once worked.
Calling FTII a historically significant institution, Nayyar described it as the “Oxford of acting”.
Recalling His Experience With Rishi Kapoor
Nayyar has previously spoken about working with the late actor Rishi Kapoor and his son Ranbir Kapoor, noting that the two have very different personalities.
He worked with Rishi Kapoor in the streaming film Sharmaji Namkeen and with Ranbir Kapoor in Ramayana: Part 2.
Asked whether Rishi Kapoor had been intimidating on set, Nayyar said the veteran actor was approachable and often spoke about food, his experiences during film shoots and cinema.
The recollection offered a glimpse into Nayyar’s experiences working alongside established performers, even as he credited his time at FTII with shaping his own journey as an actor.
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