--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What drew me into being an actor was that…" description: "\"What drew me into being an actor was that I never got cast in the school plays - and it used to kill me.\" — Naseeruddin Shah" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/naseeruddin-shah-5603_actor_what-drew-me-into-being-an-actor-was-tha_2631075.jpg" --- # What drew me into being an actor was that I never got cast… ![“What drew me into being an actor was that I never got cast in the school plays - and it used to kill me.” quote by Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/naseeruddin-shah-5603_actor_what-drew-me-into-being-an-actor-was-tha_2631075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/naseeruddin-shah-5603_actor_what-drew-me-into-being-an-actor-was-tha_2631075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/naseeruddin-shah-5603_actor_what-drew-me-into-being-an-actor-was-tha_2631075.jpg) > “What drew me into being an actor was that I never got cast in the school plays - and it used to kill me.” [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor explains that early rejection fueled his passion for acting. **In simple terms:** Rejection sparked his drive to act. Key Takeaway Use setbacks as motivation. Themes resilience ambition identity Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational personal development When to use this quote - acting auditions - career pivots - personal growth Key Concepts selfdiscovery careerdevelopment Questions to Reflect On - What does failure teach you about yourself? - How can you transform past hurts into creative energy? A Different Perspective Focusing on past pain can hinder present joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-plays/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I got cast in a school play and I fell in love with that. I felt comfortable on stage and found out it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/i-got-cast-in-a-school-play-and-i-fell-in-love-with-that-i-felt/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) > [I was in high school, and I was the guy that always got cast in the school play. 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I was a little nervous because it was my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/it-was-so-much-fun-to-work-with-the-cast-on-school-of-rock-i-was-a/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [You see, I remember myself as a tall, lanky, awkward college fellow who was cast in school theatricals, on the strength of his height…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/you-see-i-remember-myself-as-a-tall-lanky-awkward-college-fellow-who/) [Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/) > [I think I discovered I wanted to be an actor when I got the first pay cheque.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-think-i-discovered-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-when-i-got-the-first-pay/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I am a very blessed actor because I have always got the chance to portray various characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/i-am-a-very-blessed-actor-because-i-have-always-got-the-chance-to/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [Before 'Sarkar,' I used to introduce myself as Kay Kay, the actor and then that got reduced to just Kay Kay as people realised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/before-sarkar-i-used-to-introduce-myself-as-kay-kay-the-actor-and/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [I wanted to be an actor ever since I got on stage for the first time, aged 13. 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For any comic trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/i-got-cast-on-madtv-as-one-of-eight-permanent-cast-members-chosen/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [I was lucky - the first eight productions I auditioned for, I got cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/i-was-lucky-the-first-eight-productions-i-auditioned-for-i-got-cast/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) ## More by Naseeruddin Shah > [Hindi cinema has only one religion, and that's money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/hindi-cinema-has-only-one-religion-and-that-s-money/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [To me, the most important elements in a theatre are the actors and the texts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/to-me-the-most-important-elements-in-a-theatre-are-the-actors-and-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Actors have to learn that they are as important to a movie as the camera is, as important as the sound is, and less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/actors-have-to-learn-that-they-are-as-important-to-a-movie-as-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I do what work I get. I'm disappointed half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-do-what-work-i-get-i-m-disappointed-half-the-time/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [The film industry does not interest me greatly. The people, I don't mingle with them much. I meet them when I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/the-film-industry-does-not-interest-me-greatly-the-people-i-don-t/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [When I was 14 and went on the stage for the first time, it stimulated me so much that I was convinced that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/when-i-was-14-and-went-on-the-stage-for-the-first-time-it-stimulated/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I don't want any memorials or a grave which my children would have to look after or feel guilty about. 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I scoff at the quality at poseurs masquerading as masters of the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-don-t-scoff-at-the-desire-to-make-good-movies-i-scoff-at-the/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [I realise that I have made quite a few of the same mistakes with my kids that my dad made: not so much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/i-realise-that-i-have-made-quite-a-few-of-the-same-mistakes-with-my/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [It would be impossible to find an actor to portray Om Puri, so I wouldn't even attempt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/it-would-be-impossible-to-find-an-actor-to-portray-om-puri-so-i/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) [Explore all 100 Naseeruddin Shah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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