The Craft of Acting: Living Truthfully On and Off Stage | Aham Sharma | TEDxNMFC
Actor Aham Sharma takes the TEDxNMFC stage to explore the often misunderstood craft of acting—not as entertainment alone, but as a philosophy of living.Drawing from renowned acting coaches like Uta Hagen and Stella Adler, he unpacks how great acting goes far beyond memorizing lines or following direction.True performance, he argues, is about empathy, vulnerability, sensitivity, and understanding the human condition.Sharma discusses how actors learn to observe, feel, and respond with honesty—skills that not only bring characters to life, but also make us more aware and compassionate individuals.He explains acting’s powerful societal contribution through storytelling, cinema, and representation, demonstrating how films can inspire, challenge, empower, and educate audiences.On a personal level, Sharma shares how acting transformed him from a painfully shy individual into someone capable of expressing freely and engaging with the world.He concludes by introducing five powerful questions actors use to prepare for roles—questions that can guide anyone toward greater clarity and purpose in life: Who am I? What do I want? Why do I want it? How will I get it? What challenges must I overcome?With a message grounded in passion and lived experience, this talk highlights how the philosophies of acting can help us strategize, grow, surrender, and ultimately live in the present moment—both on stage and in life. Aham Sharma is an Indian actor from Salimpur, Bihar, India. Best known for his work in Indian television, he has also featured in several Bollywood films including 1962 My Country Land which premiered at Marche du Film of the 69th Cannes Film Festival. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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